Miconia pseudocapsularis Wurdack

Authority

Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1961. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IV (2). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-87.

Family

Melastomataceae

Scientific Name

Miconia pseudocapsularis Wurdack

Description

Latin Diagnosis - M. lateriflorae Cogn. affinis sed cum foliis plinervatis inflorescentiae ramis secundifloris floribus plerumque 5-meris connectivo antice distincte prolongato. Frutex vel arbor parva usque ad 10 m inflorescentia excepta glabra; ramuli teretes. Folia aequalia vel vix inaequalia; petioli 1-7 cm longi; lamina membranacea (6-) 12-21 (acumine excluso) X (2.5-)5.5-12 cm apice subabrupte acuminata acumine 1-2 cm longo basi cuneata 5-plinervata nervis omnino supra subplanis subtus graciliter elevatis nervis primariis per paria plerumque vix inaequaliter insertis nervis secundariis plerumque 5-10 mm inter se distantibus nervulis laxe reticulatis, ad margines integra vel inconspicue crenulata. Inflorescentia inconspicue furfuracea usque ad 10 cm alta cum ramis longis divaricatis secundifloris; bracteolis 0.3 mm longis ovatis caducis; flores 5-meri glabri breviter (0.5 mm) pedicellati. Hypanthium (ad torum) 2.2-2.5 mm altum anguste oblongum; calycis tubus vix 0.1-0.2 mm altus, lobis interioribus 0.4-0.6 mm altis ovatis apice obtusis, dentibus exterioribus acutis non eminentibus. Petala 1.8-2 X 1.1-1.2 mm obovata apice oblique retusa. Stamina isomorphica; filamenta 3 mm longa; antherarum thecae 3 mm longae curvatae subulatae, connectivo postice exappendiculato vel inconspicue calcarato antice sub insertione filamenti 0.4 mm prolongato appendice extremitate 0.1-0.15 mm hebeti-bilobulato. Stylus 7.5 X 0-25 mm; stigma truncatum 0.3 mm diam.; ovarium 3-loculare vix inferum glabrum apice 0.3 mm excavatum et indistincte trilobulatum; bacca i.s. valde 10-costata ca. 4 mm longa; semina 0.4-0.5 mm longa tuberculata.

Discussion

The closest relative of M . pseudocapsularis is an undescribed species from the Gran Sabana and Tafelberg, having the paniculate inflorescence of M . lateriflora but the plinerved leaves and 5-merous flowers of the Terr. Amazonas species. The fresh fruit of M. pseudocapsularis is a spherical translucent white to pale orange berry with high water content; the dried fruit simulates a capsule to such an extent that Dr. Gleason, unable to determine the Steyermark fruiting collection, noted that it might represent an undescribed genus of the Bertolonieae.

In updating Dr. Gleason's manuscript of the Melastomataceae of Panama, I introduced without comment the synonymization of M. disparilis (Standi.) R. O. Williams under M . lateriflora; the basis for this synonymy has been the examination of Baker 116 ( M G 9368), from Marco, Para, Brazil. The species is known from Central America to the Amazon Valley and has been recently collected several times in Para; Froes 23810 (NY), from the Rio Solimoes, is an exact duplicate of Baker's collection.