Brachyotum trichocalyx Triana
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Authority
Wurdack, John J. 1953. A revision of the genus Brachyotum (Tibouchineae-Melastomataceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (4): 343-407.
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Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
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Species Description - Trichomes smooth. Branchlets quadrangular, very sparsely strigulose and very soon glabrescent except for a few short nodal hairs. Petiole 1-3 mm. Blade 5-7 x 3-3.5 mm., ovate with the apex broadly acute to rounded and the base roundedtruncate, the 3 primaries impressed narrowly above and elevated below, the secondaries obsolete; above glabrous; below very sparsely short-strigulose along the veins and glabrous on the surface except for about 4 glandular clusters/mm.2 which turn black with age. Flowers 5-merous, solitary on short leafy lateral branches, with the pedicels 3~5 mm. above the last leaves (bracteoles ?). Hypanthium 5-6 x 5-5.5 mm., 0.8 mm. thick medianly, densely beset with stout patent setae l-3/mm.2 and to 5 x 1 mm. Sepals 9.5-10.5 x 5.5-6 mm., ovate to oblongovate with the apices broadly acute, united at bases 0.5 mm., somewhat imbricate basally, outside glabrous except for a few setae (to 2 mm. long) at the base of the midrib. Petals 18-19 x 14-15 mm., obovate and slightly asymmetrical with the apices rounded to broadly obtuse, the gland-tipped cilia 0.1-0.4 mm. Filaments 5-5.5 mm., as long as the anthers; connective at anther base 1-1.1 mm., free of the anther 0.3-0.4 mm., ventrally not lobed. Style 21 x 0.6 mm., exserted 6 mm. Ovary 5 x 3 mm., moderately long-strigulose on the apical 2.5 mm., the apical lobes 0.7 mm. above the locules.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution: definitely known only from Prov. Loja, Ecuador.
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Discussion
Type Collection and Locality: Jameson s.n. (HOLOTYPE K); "prope Quito."
The Jameson collection without definite locality was numbered 25 by Gray; it seems possible that all of the Jameson specimens cited here are parts of one collection and that the holotype was merely sent from, and not collected near, Quito by Jameson. The Rose et al. collection is in fruit, but there is no possibility of misidentification.
The affinities of this species are quite obscure. Vegetatively it is quite similar to B. nutans or some of the glabrous forms of B. lindenii; the large sepals are reminiscent of B. strigosum and B. fictum. The enormous hypanthial setae are unique.