Clidemia evanescens Almeda

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Clidemia evanescens Almeda

  • Primary Citation

    Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 55: 98. 2004

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Isotype -- F. Almeda 5933

  • Homotypic Synonyms

    Miconia evanescens (Almeda) Gamba & Almeda

  • Description

    Description Author and Date: Frank Almeda, based on Almeda, F. (2009). Melastomataceae. In: G. Davidse, M. Sousa-Sânchez, S. Knapp, & F. Chiang (eds.), Flora Mesoamericana: Cucurbitaceae a Polemoniaceae. 4(1): 164-338.

    Type: Holotype: Panama, F. Almeda et al. 5933 (CAS!).

    Description: Shrub 0.5-4 m tall, the terete upper internodes, petioles, elevated primary and secondary veins on abaxial foliar surfaces, inflorescence rachis, bracteoles, hypanthia, and calyx lobes moderately to copiously covered with asperous-headed hairs. Leaves of a pair ± equal to unequal in length; petioles 1.5-4.7 cm long; blades 9-27 cm long and 3.4-14.5 cm wide, elliptic to elliptic-ovate, apex acuminate to cordate-acuminate, base obtuse to rounded, margin essentially entire, 3-5-nerved, the secondary and higher order veins moderately to copiously beset with minute glands. Inflorescence typically an axillary cluster of dichasia 1-2.5 cm long with branching initiated at the node or terminal with both lateral buds at a node elongating and overtopping the inflorescence; bracts and bracteoles triangular, 1.5-3 mm long, 1-2 mm wide at the base. Flowers 4-merous on pedicels 0.5-1 mm long. Calyx lobes triangular, 2-2.5 x 1.5 mm, typically reflexed, calyx teeth subulate, 0.5-1.5 mm long. Petals glabrous, white and conspicuously reflexed at anthesis and early caducous oblong, 1.5-2 X 0.5-1 mm. Filaments glabrous 1.5 mm long; anthers 1.5 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, yellow or white, linear-oblong, ± truncate to somewhat emarginate at the apex with a dorsally inclined pore; connective prolonged dorso-basally into a deflexed gland-edged appendage 0.5 mm long. Ovary 4-locular, completely superior but tightly enveloped by the hypanthium, apex consisting of a shallow bowl-like depression with a slightly raised perimeter, copiously but inconspicuously glandular-puberulent. Berry bright orange at maturity, 6 x 6 mm, prominently 8-costate. Seeds ± triangular in outline with an irregularly rugose testa and a foot-like projection at the narrow end, 0.5 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Primary and secondary rain forests and cloud forests. 850-1900 m. Also in southwestern Colombia. COSTA RICA (Bello 1540, CAS); PANAMA (Almeda et al. 6490, CAS).

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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