Miconia melanotricha (Triana) Gleason

  • Family

    Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Miconia melanotricha (Triana) Gleason

  • 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, C. Hoffmann s.n. (B, destroyed).

    Description: Lax openly branched terrestrial (sometimes epiphytic) shrub 1-2.5 m tall, the terete or rounded-quadrate uppermost cauline internodes, petioles, inflorescence rachis, abaxial surfaces of bracts and bracteoles, pedicels, hypanthia, and calyx teeth copiously to moderately covered with spreading smooth or distally roughened hairs 0.5-6 mm long intermixed with a sparse to moderate ground layer of minute glandular hairs. Leaves of a pair equal to subequal in size; blades 5-nerved or if 5-7-plinerved then the innermost pair of primary veins diverging from the midvein in subopposite fashion 0.3-1.7 cm above the blade base, ovate to elliptic-ovate, 4.3-11 x 2.2-6.8 cm, apex acuminate, base rounded to subcordate, the margin ciliate-crenate to subentire, the adaxial surface moderately to copiously covered with mostly smooth retrorsely spreading hairs 1-4 mm long intermixed with a sparse ground layer of minute glands; petioles 1.1-4.2 cm long. Inflorescence a long-pedunculate pendent panicle 7.5-21 cm long; flowers 5-merous on pedicels 0.5-1.5 mm long; the linear-oblong tardily deciduous bracteoles 3-7 x 0.5 mm. Calyx tube 0.5 mm long, the calyx lobes 1.5 x 1.5 mm, ovate-oblong to rounded-triangular, the exterior calyx teeth subulate, 1 mm long and shorter than the calyx lobes. Petals deep red, glabrous, obovate and conspicuously concave to cucullate, 6-7 x 4-5 mm. Anthers isomorphic, red or red flushed with blue or purple, 3-4 mm long, linear-oblong with each theca dehiscing by a longitudinal slit; connective neither prolonged nor appendaged but sometimes beset with a few spreading gland-tipped hairs dorso-basally. Style glabrous, 1.5-2.5 cm long; stigma capitate; ovary 3-locular, 2/3 inferior, apex beset with a few erect hairs (sometimes gland-tipped) ca. 1 mm long surrounding the stylar scar. Berry violet-blue to purple, 4-5 x 4-5 mm when dry. Seeds ovoid, the testa vaguely rugulate, 0.5-0.6 mm long.

    Habitat and Distribution: 1400-2850 m. COSTA RICA and PANAMA. (Endemic).

    Taxonomy and Systematics: An unusual variant from Costa Rica (Herrera 5869, CAS) which may ultimately necessitate recognition as a variety, has glabrous internodes, setose nodes, and small stipuliform nodal flaps at the base of each petiole.

    Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.