Miconia biperulifera Cogn.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia biperulifera Cogn.

  • 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: Costa Rica, Pittier s.n. (BR!)

    Description: Shrub or small tree 1-6 m tall, the quadrate to rounded-quadrate uppermost internodes, vegetative buds, young petioles and inflorescence rachis moderately to densely covered with stellulate and asperous-headed rusty-brown hairs. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in size; blades 3-5-plinerved abaxially with sparsely setose pocket acarodomatia formed in the angles between the median vein and each of the two proximal lateral veins, 1.8-6.7 x 0.8-2.5 cm, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, apex short-acuminate, base acute to obtuse, the margin denticulate (sometimes remotely so), the adaxial surface glabrous, the abaxial surface beset with stellulate and asperous-headed hairs on the elevated primaries, lepidote on the actual surface, and sometimes with a scattering of smooth spreading hairs extending from the acarodomatia up a good portion of the blade along or close to the median vein; petioles 0.5-2.7 cm long. Inflorescence a multiflowered panicle 3-8 cm long; flowers 5-merous on pedicels 0.5-1 mm long; the early-deciduous bracteoles linear-oblong to narrowly obovate, 2-3.5 x 0.25-0.5 mm. Hypanthia sparsely lepidote or stellulate-lepidote, calyx tube 0.25 mm long, the calyx lobes rounded-triangular and ± callose-thickened, 0.25 mm long and equaling or shorter than the calyx lobes. Petals white, glabrous, obovate, ± erect and concave at anthesis, 2 x 1.5-2 mm. Anthers isomorphic, 1-2 mm long, white, ± cuneate and widest at the apex with two ± truncate apical pores; connective elevated dorso-basally into an appendage ca. 0.2 mm long and shortly prolonged ventro-basally into a bilobed appendage about 0.25 mm long. Style glabrous, 3-5.5 mm long; stigma capitate to capitellate; ovary 3-locular, 2/3 inferior, apex glabrous, ± rounded to truncate; berry 3-4 x 3-4 mm when dry, blue green at maturity. Seeds ovoid, the testa inconspicuously but uniformly colliculate, 1 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: Locally common in roadside or trailside thickets, secondary growth in cloud forest. 2500-3000 m. (Endemic). COSTA RICA (Almeda & Flowers 2102, CAS); PANAMA (Gómez 21930, CAS).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: The distinctive features of this species include its lepidote indument on abaxial foliar surfaces, pocket acarodomatia with a few smooth setose hairs, white petals, white anthers, capitate stigma, and berries that turn blue-green at maturity.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

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