Brachyotum campanulare (Bonpl.) Triana

Authority

Wurdack, John J. 1953. A revision of the genus Brachyotum (Tibouchineae-Melastomataceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (4): 343-407.

Family

Melastomataceae

Scientific Name

Brachyotum campanulare (Bonpl.) Triana

Description

Species Description - Trichomes smooth. Branchlets rounded-quadrangular, densely fine-strigose to fine hirsute. Petiole 3-7 mm. Blade 13-27 x 11-14 mm., elliptic to elliptic-ovate with the apex broadly acute to obtuse and the base obtuse, the 5 primaries impressed above and elevated below, the 10-20 pairs of secondaries obscurely visible above but hidden by the pubescence below; above densely strigose, the hairs 8-18/mm.2 with their bases sometimes on very low callosities; below very densely loose-sericeous-strigose 20-35/mm.2 Flowers constantly 4-merous, mostly crowdedternate with the dichasium subtended by leaves, rarely solitary or with an additiona pair of flowers at the node below the dichasial node. Pedicel 0.5-2 mm. below the bracteoles, 1-5 mm. above; pedicellar bracteoles 3-9 x 0.6-0.9(-4) mm., linear to ovate, thin, above glabrous, below densely strigulose, mostly caducous before anthesis. Hypanthium 6-7.5 x 3.5-4.5 mm., 0.2-0.3 mm. thick medianly, densely loose-strigose, the fine hairs 15-20/mm.2 Sepals 7-9 x 3-3.5 mm., narrowly oblong, often slightly narrowed from middle to base and tapering to the acute apices only in the terminal 2-4 mm., united at bases about 1 mm., the sinuses rounded-acute, inside usually sparsely strigulose on the apical 1/4-3/4. Petals deep purple, 12-18 x 9-11 mm., obovate or slightly obovate and symmetrical, the apices narrowly obtuse to broadly acute, the gland-tipped cilia 0.1-0.6 mm. (the terminal one 0.8 mm.). Filaments 4-5.5 mm., anthers 5-5.5 mm.; connective at anther base 1-1.2 mm., free of the anther 0.5-0.6 mm., the ventral lobing 0.1-0.2 mm. Style 17-25 x 0.5 mm., exserted 5-7 mm. Ovary 5 x 2.5-3 mm., densely strigulose on the apical 2.5 mm., the apical lobes 1 mm. above the Iocules.

Distribution and Ecology - Distribution: Prov. Loja, Ecuador, alt. 2000-3100 m.

Discussion

Rbexia campanularis Bonpl.Rhexies 35. 1806-1808.

Arthrostemma campanulare (Bonpl.) DC. Prodr. 3' 136. 1828.

Chaetogastra campanularis (Bonpl.) Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. III. 14: 130. 1850.

Type Collection and Locality: Bonpland s.n.(HOLOTYPE presumably in Herb. Humboldt & Bonpland at P; isotypes F, P); "in Peruviae frigidis, juxta Loxam . . . pres de 2000 metres."

Type Photographs and Illustrations: F36135 (presumed holotype or isotype); Rhexies pi. 14 (1806-1808) (as Rhexia campanularis).

The Paris isotype of B. campanulare cited here was used by Naudin in his description of the vegetative features and type of inflorescence of Chaetogastra canescens. His dissection sketch and the dissected flowers in the packet on the same sheet are Rhexia canescens (Brachyotum ledifolium). These detached flowers led to Naudin's mixed description; the leaves of B. ledifolium are never "5 nerviis," and the flowers are usually solitary rather than "solitariis-ternis interdumque pluribus."

B. campanulare is closely related to B. quinquenerve, but may be distinguished by the shape of the often adaxially pubescent sepals, generally denser pubescence, and fewer-flowered inflorescences. B. benthamianum is doubtfully distinct from B. campanulare; only the sparser and coarser foliage pubescence, less acute petal apices, and thicker and somewhat larger bracts differentiate the former. The main veins of the bracteoles of B. campanulare vary from 1 to 5 in number, the shape from linear to ovate,and the tenacity from caducous in bud to persistent until the corolla drops.

Another Jameson specimen s.n. (K), from (or sent from ?) Quito, is closely related to B. campanulare. The thin, 3~nerved, pedicellar bracteoles are ovate, 3- 4.5 x 1.5~2.5 mm., and caducous in bud; however the leaves are much less pubescent above (4-6/mm.2) and the calyx lobes triangular (4.8-5 x 3.7-4 mm.).