Brachyotum parvifolium Cogn.

  • 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 parvifolium Cogn.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Trichomes smooth. Branchlets rounded-quadrangular, very densely and finely rufo-lanulose. Petiole 1-6 mm. Blade 10-16 x 7-10 mm., elliptic with the apex broadly acute to rounded and the base obtuse, the 3 primaries and the secondaries obscured by the pubescence; above very densely and finely loose-strigulose 20-25/mm.2; below very densely rufo-lanulose, the hairs 30-35/mm.2 and to 1.5 mm. long. Flowers 5-merous, solitary on short leafy lateral branchlets. Pedicel 3 mm. above the persistent undifferentiated leaves (bracteoles ?). Hypanthium 5-6 x 5.5-6.5 mm., O06 mm. thick medianly, very densely and finely rufo-lanulose with hairs to 2.5 mm. long. Sepals 5.5-7.5 x 3.5-4.5 mm., oblong-ovate with the apices broadly acute, united at bases 0.4-0.6 mm., the sinuses acute, inside densely fine-strigulose on the apical 1/3-1/2. Petals "sulfur-yellow," 13-14 x 10-12 mm., obovate with the apices obliquely truncate or blunt-rounded with a small apiculus, the marginal gland-tipped cilia 0.1-0.3 mm. Filaments 5-5.5 mm.; anthers 4.5-5.5 mm.; connective at anther base 0.8-1 mm., free of the anther 0.2-0.4 mm., the ventral lobing 0.2-0.3 mm. Style 21 x 0.8 mm., exserted 5 mm. Ovary 4-4.5 x 2.5-3.5 mm., densely strigulose with non-glandular hairs on the apical 1.5-2.5 mm., the apical lobes 0.6 mm. above the locules.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution: Dept. Amazonas, Peru, alt. 2400-2900 m.

  • Discussion

    Type Collection and Locality: Weberbauer 4406 (LECTOTYPE BR; isotype G-DEL; fragment of isotype F); "Peru: Tambo Ventillas apud Chachapoyas," 2400-2500 m. elev.

    Type Photographs: F16715 and Gleason 28-5 (destroyed holotype at B).

    Both B. parvifolium and its nearest relative, B. barbeyanum, are closely related to B. campanulare and B. rotundifolium, differing however in the solitary and constantly 5-merous flowers, more obtuse petals, and usually 3-nerved leaves. Cogniaux thought that the petals of B. parvifolium were probably purple, but Pennell's notes and the appearance of the petals on his collection indicate a yellowish color.