Mecranium axillare subsp. urbanianum (Cogn.) Skean

Description

Description Author and Date: James D. Skean, Jr., January 2011, based on Skean, J. D., Jr. 1993. Monograph of Mecranium (Melastomataceae-Miconieae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 39: 1-116.

Type: JAMAICA. [Hanover]: wooded hill NE of Dolphin Head, 20 Mar 1908, fr, Harris 10315 (holotype BM!; isotypes: BM! F! NY! US!).

Description: Shrub or small tree with leaves that appear essentially glabrous beneath, i.e., lacking hairs at junction of midvein and largest pair of secondary veins on abaxial surface, and with the smallest veinlets usually raised slightly in dried material (viewed at 20x or higher magnification). Twigs essentially glabrous. Leaf blade 7.4-18.7 cm long, 2.3-7.8 cm wide. Petiole 10-59 mm long. Hypanthium 1.6-2.4 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Jamaica: hardwood forests on limestone and disturbed areas on the western half of the island; 300-945 m. (Fig. 19).

Taxonomy and Systematics: Mecranium axillare subsp. urbanianum is endemic to western Jamaica. This glabrous taxon has leaves that lack hairs on the abaxial surface at the junction of the midvein and largest pair of secondary veins. The smallest veinlets of this subspecies usually appear to be slightly raised. Plants from populations in Clarendon Parish have much shorter, narrower leaves with bases that are more rounded than those from the region of Dolphin Head.

Notes: See additional information: Mecranium axillare (Macfad.) Skean