Macairea multinervia Benth.

  • Authority

    Renner, Susanne S. 1989. Systematic studies in the Melastomataceae Bellucia, Loreya and Macairea. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 50: 1-112.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Macairea multinervia Benth.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Subshrub or shrub, 0.2-1 m tall; branchlets, petioles, and peduncles hirsute with long, glandular hairs. Leaves ovate 3-4 x 2.5-3 cm, obtuse or acute, cordate at base, 7-9-nerved, the lateral primary veins arising at the blade base, both surfaces densely hirsute with glandular hairs, the areoles with shorter glandular hairs; petioles 0.3-0.8 cm long. Inflorescence a many-flowered, elongate, terminal paniculate cyme. Flowers with pedicels 3-6 mm long; pedicels, bracts, hypanthium, and calyx lobes hirsute with glandular hairs; hypanthium 3-4 x 2.0-2.5 mm ; calyx lobes narrowly triangular, 2-4 mm long; petals basally white, tuming red with age, apically magenta, 12-14 X 8-10 mm; filaments 8-10 or 7-8 mm long, glabrous; thecae 5-6 mm long, the connective prolonged and expanded dorsi-basally; ovary apically with glandular hairs, 3(-4)-locular. Fruit capsular. Seeds 0.4-0.6 mm long, subcochleate.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution and ecology (Fig. 35B): Macairea multinervia has a disjunct distribution, occurring in the Gran Sabana in Venezuela and in savannas near Humaita on the upper Rio Madeira in Brazil, 1200 km to the south; lowlands to 1300 m.

  • Discussion

    Tetrameris trivalvis Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Ill, 14: 121. 1850b; Tibouchina multinervia (Bentham) Baillon, Adansonia 12: 75. 1876-1879. Type: "Guyana." Moist savannas of Roraima, 1842-1843 (fl), Ri. Schomburgk 706/1073 (holotype: K!; isotypes: BM!, CAS!, G!, OXF!, P!, F photo neg. 36141!, W!; isotype at B destroyed, but represented by a photo, F neg. 16700!). Fig. 27K, L. As pointed out above under Macairea parvifolia, the types of that species and of M . multinervia were probably collected near the Venezuelan/Brazilian border rather than in Guyana. The leaves of Macairea multinervia differ from all other species in being thinner, basally cordate, and 7-9-nerved; however, the flowers of M . multinervia are those of a typical member of the genus.