Miconia limoides (Urb.) Majure & Judd, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas. 7: 269. 2013.

Majure, Lucas C., Becquer, Eldis R. & Judd, Walter S., 2016, Revision of the Lima clade (Miconia sect. Lima, Miconieae, Melastomataceae) of the Greater Antilles, PhytoKeys 72, pp. 1-99 : 57-60

14. Miconia limoides (Urb.) Majure & Judd, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas. 7: 269. 2013. Figs 22F-I , 19D-G

Ossaea limoides Urb., Ark. Bot. 21A(5): 50. 1927. Type: HAITI. Massif de la Selle, Port au Prince, Morne Malanga, ridge of mountain, laubwald, eruptives, 1300 m, 28 Jan 1926, E L. Ekman H5462 (lectotype: S! [S-R-10029], designated here; isolectotype: K! [K000329547]).

Leandra limoides (Urb.) Judd & Skean, Bull. Florida State Mus., Biol. Sci. 36: 61. 1991. Type: Based on Ossaea limoides Urb.

Type.

Based on Ossaea limoides Urb.

Description.

Evergreen shrub, 1.5-5 m tall; stems round in cross section, not ridged, the internodes 0.3-6.3 cm long, stem indumentum of descending to spreading, bulla-based hairs to 1.6 mm long, these with apices curved upwards; nodal line present. Leaves opposite, decussate, elliptic, 2.1-5.6 × 1.4-3.9 cm, slightly anisophyllous, apex acute, acuminate, to slightly rounded, base acute, cuneate, to rounded, margins dentate to crenulate, dentations (crenulations) covered in a large bulla-based hair, venation acrodromous, 5-veined, the midvein and 2 pairs of arching secondary veins, the outermost sometimes intramarginal, secondary veins mostly basal to suprabasal, the innermost pair suprabasal, produced 1.2-7 mm from leaf base, positioned 0.9-8 mm in from margin at widest point of blade, tertiary veins percurrent, more or less perpendicular to midvein, 1.3-3.2 mm apart at midleaf, intertertiary veins present, tertiary veins often joined by quaternary veins; adaxial leaf surface covered in well developed bulla-based hairs, widest hair bases to 1.8 mm, apices of bulla-based hairs mostly erect to recurved towards the leaf margin, young leaf adaxial surface producing long-stemmed, clavate-dentritic hairs along the primary, secondary, and tertiary veins from between the bulla-based hairs, sessile, glandular hairs produced along the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary veins between the bulla-based hairs; abaxial leaf surface covered in bulla-based hairs, these erect, those along the primary, secondary, and tertiary veins larger than hairs produced throughout the lamina and spreading to descending with the apices recurved upwards, the lamina completely obscured by bulla-based hairs, lamina appearing as a series of pits from depressions of the bulla-based hairs produced from the upper leaf surface and slightly raised intertertiary veins, sessile, glandular hairs produced from between the bulla-based hairs; petioles 0.4-2.2 cm long, covered in descending to spreading, bulla-based hairs on both surfaces, the apices recurved upwards. Inflorescences terminal 3-33 flowered cymes, flowers mostly produced in glomerulate clusters, 0.9-10 × 1.4-5 cm, the peduncle 0.7-3.7 cm long, proximal inflorescence branches 3-15 mm long; bracts oblong to ovate often with an attenuate apex, 1.5-4 mm long; bracteoles narrowly ovate 1.4-3.5 × 0.4-0.8 mm, with an attenuate apex. Flowers 4-merous, sessile or with pedicels to 0.5 mm long; hypanthium 2.7-3.8 mm long, globose, 4-lobed, but lobing mostly obscured by bulla-based hairs, slightly constricted below the torus; free portion of the hypanthium 0.7-1.1 mm long, abaxial surface covered in bulla-based hairs from 1-3 mm long, and occasional, sessile, glandular hairs near the bases of the bulla-based hairs, adaxial surface (i.e., free portion) covered in small, bulla-based hairs; calyx teeth 2.1-3.3 × 0.4-0.8 mm, ascending or spreading, covered in bulla-based hairs; calyx lobes more or less triangular 1.3-2.5 × 1.4-2.6 mm, apex broadly acute, covered in bulla-based hairs abaxially and sessile, sparse, glandular hairs adaxially; calyx tube not tearing, 0.7-1.2 mm long with bulla-based hairs abaxially and sessile, glandular hairs adaxially; petals 4, white to rose colored, elliptic, 4-4.1 × 2.4-2.6 mm, with an acute apex and membranous margin, with one or two slightly bulla-based hairs produced abaxially, just below the apex, to 3.5 mm long; stamens 8; filaments 1.5-2 mm long, glabrous, anthers 1.2-1.4 mm long, with one dorsally oriented pore, anther thecae 1.1-1.3 mm long, anthers without a dorso-basal appendage or with a short appendage to 0.1 mm long; style 4-4.8 mm long, glabrous, not or only slightly dilated in the middle, collar absent, style subtended by a crown of multicellular, bulla-based hairs, which are slightly longer than the surrounding bulla-based hairs of the ovary apex, stigma punctate; ovary 1.5-2.8 × 2.5-4.3 mm, apex flat to convex, pubescent of bulla-based hairs, placentation axile with deeply intruded placenta, 4-locular; berries globose, 4-lobed, purple at maturity, 3.9-7 mm long (including calyx tube), 4.5-9 mm wide, seeds 0.6-0.8 mm long, obpyramidal, testa smooth, light brown, raphe black, smooth, extending the length of the seed.

Phenology.

Miconia limoides has been collected in flower and fruit from January through August.

Distribution

(Fig. 23 ). Miconia limoides only occurs in the southern peninsula of Hispaniola from western Haiti in the Massif de la Hotte (from one collection; Clase 4132; see Judd et al. 2015b) to southwestern Dominican Republic in the Sierra de Baoruco (Fig. 19 ). Only two collections (Ekman 5462, 9519) exist from the Massif de la Selle, Haiti from the Port-au-Prince area at Morne Malanga. It is likely that this species occurs more widely in the eastern part of the Massif de la Selle and other parts of Massif de la Hotte.

Ecology.

Miconia limoides occurs in moist, tropical, broadleaf or mixed broadleaf-pine cloud forests ( Pinus occidentalis ) over limestone-derived soils at elevations ranging from 1100-1400 m. The species is sympatric with Miconia lima in both Massif de la Selle, Haiti, and Sierra de Baoruco, Dominican Republic. It also occurs with Henriettea barkeri (Urb. & Ekman) Alain, Henriettea uniflora Judd et al., Mecranium ovatum Cogn, Meriania involucrata , Miconia alainii Judd & Skean, Miconia dodecandra , Miconia howardiana Judd et al., Miconia subcompressa , Miconia tetrastoma , Miconia umbellata (Mill.) Judd & Ionta, and Ossaea gracilis Alain.

Conservation status.

Miconia limoides is likely endangered in the Massif de la Selle, Haiti (where it is only known from two Erik Ekman specimens), from habitat loss and the species is not protected in the Sierra de Baoruco of the Dominican Republic, where it is also threatened from anthropogenic disturbance. Miconia limoides is only known from one collection in Massif de la Hotte from Parc National Pic Macaya (Clase 4132), and the area from where it was collected was heavily disturbed from local farming practices, so we categorize the species as endangered.

Discussion.

Miconia limoides forms part of the Miconia lima complex ( Majure and Judd 2013b) and is likely most closely related to Miconia phrynosomaderma considering the morphological similarities of descending stem hairs with upward, recurved apices and broadly elliptical leaves. Phylogenetic analyses not including material of Miconia phrynosomaderma place Miconia limoides as sister to Miconia lima , a species with which it is sympatric in parts of its distribution and potentially forms hybrids (see discussion under Miconia lima ; Fig. 20C-E ).

Specimens examined.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Prov. Barahona. Sierra de Bahoruco, Loma Remigio, en palo doblao del Cachote , 18°05'N, - 71°10.5'O, 31 Aug 1999, F. Jiménez 2992 (FLAS, JBSD); Sierra de Baoruco, Monteada Nueva , near Polo , 1400-1425 m, 28 May 1986, Judd 5181 (FLAS, JBSD); Sierra de Bahoruco, Monteada Nueva, above (east of) Polo, 1325-1400 m, 18 May 1992, Judd 6567 (FLAS, JBSD, NY); Monteada Nueva Region (peak is Loma Trocha de Pey ), S of Cabral-Polo Rd., then ca. 7.1 km SE on "riverbed road" and dirt road to “Cortico” and silica mine, ca. 0.7 km NNW of silica mine on crest of road, 18°6'38.6"N, - 71°13'36.9"W, 1340-1350 m, 31 May 2006, Judd 8100 (FLAS, JBSD, NY); Sierra de Bahoruco, Prov. Barahona, Municipio Polo, Monteada Nueva, lugar denominado Cortico; 18.11107°N, - 71.21983°W; 1370 m, 2 Feb 2016, Majure 5958 (DES, FLAS, JBSD, NYBG); Sierra de Bahoruco, Prov. Barahona, Municipio Polo, Monteada Nueva, lugar denominado Cortico; 18.11149°N, - 71.22688°W; 1428 m, 2 Feb 2016, Majure 5959 (DES, FLAS, JBSD, NYBG); Sierra de Baoruco, Municipio de Paraiso , en el lugar denominado El Cachote, a 1 km de la caseta de la Sociedad Ecologica de Paraiso ; 19267592E 2002124N, 1207 m, 27 Jun 2005, Veloz 3850 (FLAS, MO); Sierra de Baoruco, 4 km arriba el pueblecito rural de "Entrada de Cortico" en el camino a El Gajo, "Monteada Nueva," 18°7.5'N, - 71°13.5'W, 4100-4200 ft, 19 Jan 1982, Zanoni 18900 (FLAS, JBSD, NY); Sierra de Baoruco, 7.2 km desde la carretera de Cabral-Polo, en el camino a la Entrada de Cortico y El Gajo (sitio tradicional de Botanicos "Monteada Nuevo"), 18°7.5'N, - 71°13.5'O, 4200-4400 ft, 4 May 1982, Zanoni 20367 (FLAS, GH, JBSD, MO, NY); Sierra de Bahoruco, mas arriba de la Finca Habib, Loma Pie de Pol (Pie Pol), al final de la carretera de La Guasara (de Barahona), 18°10'N, - 71°13'O, 1400 m, 19 May 1988, Zanoni 41131 (FLAS, JBSD) ; HAITI: Dept. de l’Oueste. Massif de la Selle, Crete-á-Piquants, Port-au-Prince, Morne Malanga , 1300 m, 23 Jan 1928, Ekman H 9519 (A, EHH, GH, IJ, NY, S) . Dept. du Sud. [Massif de la Hotte], Formon, Bois Cavalier , al suroeste de Kay Michel, 18°19'47.3"N, - 74°01'38.5"W, 1100 m, 2 Feb 2006, Clase 4132 (FLAS, JBSD) .

Figures

Figure 19. Photos of Miconia lima (A-C) and Miconia limoides. (D-G). A habit and adaxial leaf surface of Miconia lima, also with immature inflorescences (Majure 5983) B flowering branch of Miconia lima showing dark pink petals (Majure 6020) C fruiting branch of Miconia lima with dark purple fruit (Majure 6036) D vegetative material of Miconia limoides showing habit (Majure 5959) E fruting branch of Miconia limoides also showing reflexed stem hairs (Majure 5958) F flower of Miconia limoides (frontal view) showing pink petals and radially disposed stamens G typical compact inflorescence and side view of flower of Miconia limoides showing pink style and expanded middle portion of style (F-G from Majure 5959). All photos taken by L. C. Majure.

Figure 20. Photos of Miconia lima (A-E) and Miconia pagnolensis (F). A Miconia lima from Massif de la Selle, Haiti showing habit and ascending stem hairs (Majure 4334) B expanded infloresence and flowers showing whitish-pink petals (Sierra de Bahoruco, DR; Skean 4312), C-E) " Monteada Nueva " form of Miconia lima from the Dominican Republic C habit, inflorescence structure and stem showing ascending hairs (Majure 5960) D flower with dark pink petals showing an thers with a dorso-basal appendage and immature fruit with pinkish calyx lobes E leaf adaxial surface and stem with ascending hairs (D-E from Judd 8083) F Miconia pagnolensis sp. nov. from the type specimen showing habit and bulla-based hairs of the adaxial leaf surface (Timyan 27). Photos A and C taken by L. C. Majure, B by J. D. Skean, Jr., D-E by W. S. Judd and F by J. Timyan.

Figure 22. Miconia pedunculata (A-E) and Miconia limoides (F-H). A habit of Miconia pedunculata (Pimentel 806) B bracteole (Zanoni 40212) C flower (Judd 6633) D petal abaxial surface (Zanoni 28291) E stamen (Zanoni 28291) F petal abaxial surface of Miconia limoides (Zanoni 18900) G stamen (Zanoni 18900) H fruit longitudinal section (Ekman 9579).

Figure 23. Distribution of Miconia phyrnosomaderma (open star), Miconia limoides (open circles), and Miconia paralimoides (closed circles).