Miconia paralimoides Majure & Judd, Phytotaxa 131: 10. 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 : 66-67

17. Miconia paralimoides Majure & Judd, Phytotaxa 131: 10. 2013. Figs 26 , 27A-D

Type.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Cordillera Central, Provincia La Vega, Constanza, 1.5 hora caminando a pie al sur de Los Mañanguises, en el lugar llamado Sonador, fr. 18°53'N, 70°36'O, 1300 m, 12 Abril 1986, R. García 1186 (holotype: FLAS! [FLAS179589]; isotypes: JBSD!, MO! [MO-2046086], NY! [NY 01130915], S! [S12-26618], US! [ US 00775482]) .

Description.

Evergreen shrub, 1-3 m tall; stems round in cross section, not ridged, the internodes 0.4-8.9 cm long, stem indumentum of bulla-based hairs 0.1-1.3 mm long, these ascending (antrorse) appressed, mostly arcuate, making the stem appear smooth; nodal line present, with larger bulla-based hairs than those on the rest of the stem. Leaves opposite, decussate, broadly elliptic to obovate, 2.7-5.5 × 1.7-3.8 cm, slightly anisophyllous, apex widely acute to rounded, base acute to rounded, venation acrodromous, 5-7-veined, the midvein and 2-3 pairs of arching secondary veins, the outermost intramarginal, secondary veins mostly basal to slightly suprabasal, the innermost pair, more or less asymmetrical at union with midvein, produced 0.3-4 mm from leaf base, positioned 3-7 mm in from margin at widest point of blade, tertiary veins percurrent, more or less perpendicular to midvein, 1.5-2.9 mm apart at midleaf, intertertiary veins present, tertiary veins often joined by quaternary veins; adaxial leaf surface covered in well developed bulla-based hairs completely filling the areoles, bases of bulla-based hairs strongly angular (mostly 4-5 angular) produced from the separation of one hair from another, widest hair bases to 2.2 mm, apices of bulla-based hairs mostly erect, 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, especially toward the base of the leaf; abaxial leaf surface covered in bulla-based hairs, these strongly appressed, those along the primary, secondary, and tertiary veins larger than hairs produced throughout the lamina, the lamina completely covered in bulla-based hairs and thus obscured, 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 0.4-1.7 cm long, covered in appressed-ascending, bulla-based hairs on both surfaces. Inflorescences terminal, of 5-15 flowered, condensed-short cymes, flowers mostly produced in glomerulate clusters, 0.9-2.8 × 1.2-2.8 cm, the peduncle 0.05-1.5 cm long, proximal inflorescence branches 2-8 mm long, pedicels absent to 1.2 mm long; bracts oblong to ovate, 2.6-4.9 mm long; bracteoles narrowly ovate, 1.7-3.8 × 0.3-0.6 mm. Flowers 4-5(6)-merous, sessile or with pedicels to 1.2 mm long, when 4 or 5-merous, sometimes with one or two calyx teeth apparently aborted; hypanthium 2.9-3.5 mm long, short-oblong to globose, 4-lobed, but lobing mostly obscured by bulla-based hairs, slightly constricted below the torus, free portion of the hypanthium 0.8-1.1 mm long, abaxial surface covered in bulla-based hairs from 0.8-2.6 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 2.9-4.2 × 0.8-0.9 mm, ascending or spreading, covered in bulla-based hairs; calyx lobes more or less triangular, 1.3-1.6 × 1.5-2 mm, apex acute, covered in bulla-based hairs abaxially and sessile, sparse, glandular hairs adaxially; calyx tube not tearing, 0.1-0.4 mm long with bulla-based hairs abaxially and sessile, glandular hairs adaxially; petals 4-5(6), red to violet-red, elliptic, 4.5-7 × 2.6-3.6 mm, with an acute apex and membranous margin, with one or two slightly bulla-based hairs produced abaxially, just below the apex, to 2.8 mm long; stamens 8-10(12); filaments 1.8-2.8 mm long, glabrous, anthers 1.5-1.6 mm long, with one dorsally oriented pore, anther thecae 1.2-1.4 mm long, anthers with a dorso-basal appendage 0.18-0.3 mm long; style 5.0-5.3 mm long, glabrous, not or only slightly dilated in the middle, collar absent, style subtended by a crown of multicellular, linear to elongate-triangular (needle-like) hairs, which are slightly longer than the surrounding bulla-based hairs of the ovary apex, stigma punctate; ovary 1.6-2.2 × 2.4-3.4 mm, apex concave, pubescent with bulla-based hairs, except for the linear or elongate-triangular hairs forming crown, placentation axile with deeply intruded placenta, 4-locular; berries globose, slightly 4-lobed, purple (to purple-black) at maturity, 4-10 mm long (including calyx tube), 5.5-9 mm wide, seeds 0.8-1 mm long, obpyramidal, often falcate, testa smooth, light brown, raphe dark brown, smooth, extending the length of the seed.

Phenology.

Miconia paralimoides has been collected in bud, flowering, and in immature fruit from September through April, and has been collected in mature fruit from February through April.

Distribution

(Fig. 23 ). Miconia paralimoides is restricted to the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic.

Ecology.

Miconia paralimoides occurs in humid, broadleaved mixed forests or pine-dominated cloud forests from 1000-1950 m in elevation. Miconia paralimoides occurs with Miconia pedunculata and Miconia lima in part of its range, although it is unknown if all three species are sympatric in a single area. Other associated melastomes include Mecranium puberulum Cogn., Meriania involucrata , Miconia umbellata , and Sagraea fuertesii (Cogn.) Alain.

Conservation status.

Certain populations of Miconia paralimoides are located inside either national parks or scientific reserves (i.e., Parque Nacional Jose del Carmen Ramirez, Reserva Científica Ébano Verde), however, the species also is under threat from habitat fragmentation and loss outside of those areas. We therefore suggest this species be given a preliminary conservation assessement of vulnerable.

Discussion.

Certain populations show potential introgression with Miconia lima (i.e., Clase 1111, Liogier 12137, 21719, Judd 5165, Skean 4134, Zanoni 37445, 46740), due to their shorter hairs, but they have larger fruit than is typical of Miconia lima (4.2-4.4 × 5.2-6.2 vs. 2-3.5 × 3-4.1 mm in Miconia lima ) and appressed bulla-based hairs on the lower leaf surface, as in Miconia paralimoides . It is possible that these collections merely represent a short-haired morphotype of Miconia paralimoides . Interestingly, Majure and Judd (2013b) considered Miconia paralimoides likely closely related to the more phenetically similar Miconia limoides , hence the specific epithet. However, our molecular phylogenetic results suggest that Miconia paralimoides is sister to the more phenetically divergent Miconia pedunculata . There are no clear morphological characters linking these two species, other than those characters typical of the Lima clade and the condensed inflorescences of the two species (Figs 20 , 24A-E ), once again emphasizing the lability of morphological characters in this group.

Specimens examined.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Prov. La Vega. Cordillera Central, Municipio Constanza, Valle Nuevo , en la calle subiendo hacía Pinar Parejo ; 18.84333°N, - 70.73644°W; 1944 m, 7 Feb 2016, Majure 6021 (ASU, DES, FLAS, JBSD, MO, NYBG, USMS); Cordillera Central , Municipio de Constanza , Loma el Paragua, en el lugar denominado el Chiflito, 19°00'06.8'N, - 70°43'39.6"O, 1674 m, 10 Nov 2006, Veloz 4059 (JBSD); Cordillera Central , Municipio Jarabacoa , Distrito Municipal Manabao , Los Tablones , al pie de la Subida de La Cotorra , Parque A. Bermudez; UTM 19Q 301221E, 2107542N, 21 Feb 2011, Clase 6739 (FLAS, JBSD); Cordillera Central , Reserva Cientifica Ebano Verde , en al camino viejo entre la caseta principal (a la orilla del Arroyo La Sal ), y la cima de Loma La Golondrina , 19°04'N, - 70°34'O, 1020 m, 12 Mar 1992, F. Jiménez 176-A (JBSD); Cordillera Central , Loma La Golondrina , at end of rd to peak of Loma La Golondrina E from Paso Bajito (SE of Jarabacoa), SE of Loma La Sal, 1450-1500 m, 23 May 1986, Judd 5165 (FLAS, JBSD, NY); Cienaga de la Culata , Constanza , 1600-1700 m, 15-16 Oct 1968, Liogier 13013 (NY); Loma Redonda , Cienaga de la Culata , Constanza , 1600-1950 m, 23 Sep 1969, Liogier 15998 (GH, NY, P); Cordillera Central , Parque Nacional Jose del Carmen Ramirez , trail from Los Tablones to La Comparticion ; 19°34'51"N, - 70°44'42"W, 1980 m, 9 Jul 2000, Skean 4134 (FLAS, JBSD); Cordillera Central , Reserva Cientifica Ebano Verde , en el camino sendero de Loma El Col a ladera oriental del Rio Camu , 19°05'N, - 70°33.5'O, 1450 m, 25 Jun 1992, Zanoni 46740 (FLAS, JBSD, NY); Cordillera Central , Parque Nacional J.A. Bermudez, La Laguna aprox. 3 horas a pie desde La Cienaga (de Manabao) en el sendero al Pico Duarte; 19°02'N, - 70°32'O, 2000 m, 13 Jan 1987, Zanoni 37445 (FLAS, JBSD, MO, NY, US). Prov. Monte Christi. Santo Domingo, Cordillera Central , Moncion , Lagunas de Cenobi , Cerro Prieto , ca. 1700 m, 9 Jun 1929, Ekman H12777 (S). Prov. San Juan. slopes of La Rucilla, 1800-2000 m, 15 Aug 1968, Liogier 12137 (NY, US); La Cotorra, subida a La Rucilla, 1900 m, 15-19 Jun 1974, Liogier 21719 (NY). Prov. Santiago Rodríguez. Cordillera Central, colectada en la subida de La Cotorra, Parque Nacional A. Bermudez, 2110 m, 28 Apr 1999, Clase 1111 (FLAS); Cordillera Central, Parque Nacional J. C. Ramirez, entre Monte Llano & Los Descansaderos, 19°14'N, - 71°17'O, 1300-1400 m, 10 Jul 1988, Zanoni 41982 (FLAS, JBSD, NY) .

Figures

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

Figure 24. Illustration of Miconia phrynosomaderma. A habit of Miconia phrynosomaderma with the bulla-based hairs removed from the adaxial leaf surface to show venation B leaf adaxial surface C close-up of adaxial leaf surface showing expanded bulla-based hairs not fully covering the entire lamina D leaf abaxial surface E close-up of abaxial leaf surface showing sparse bulla-based hairs and clearly visible lamina F longitudinal section (slightly oblique) of young fruit G petal abaxial surface H petal adaxial surface I stamen showing anther with short dorso-basal appendage J immature seed (all drawn from Ekman H 8204). Reproduced with permission from Majure and Judd (2013 a).

Figure 26. Illustration of Miconia paralimoides. A habit (Veloz 4059) B close-up of upper leaf surface (Garcia 1186) C close-up of lower leaf surface (Garcia 1186) D flower Veloz 4059) E petal abaxial surface (Veloz 4059) F petal adaxial surface (Veloz 4059) G stamen (Veloz 4059) H fruit longitudinal section (F. Jimenez 176 - A). Reproduced with permission from Majure and Judd (2013 b).

Figure 27. Photos of Miconia paralimoides (A-D) and Miconia pedunculata (E-H). A habit of Miconia paralimoides showing well-developed bulla-based hairs on leaf adaxial surface B infructescence of Miconia paralimoides C leaf abaxial surface showing obscured epidermis and ascending, appressed hairs on petioles D mature fruit of Miconia paralimoides (all from Majure 6021) E habit and adaxial leaf surface of Miconia pedunculata F abaxial leaf surface showing dark purple primary and secondary veins G terminal, glomerulate inflorescence of Miconia pedunculata showing large bracts subtending floral buds and long, ascending hairs on inflorescence axis and stems H reddish-pink floral bud of Miconia pedunculata (all from Majure 6053). All photos taken by L. C. Majure.