Miconia albicans ( Swartz 1788: 70 ) Triana (1871: 116)

Silva-Gonçalves, Kelly Cristina Da, Baumgratz, José Fernando A. & Nunes-Freitas, André Felippe, 2014, Melastomataceae in a continental Atlantic Forest island from southeastern Brazil, Phytotaxa 183 (2), pp. 61-92 : 73

5.1. Miconia albicans ( Swartz 1788: 70) Triana (1871: 116) . [ Figs. 3g , 6a–e ]

Shrubs, sometimes treelets, 2–4.5 m; indumentum of the branches, petioles, inflorescences and abaxial surface of the foliar blades, bracts and bracteoles, hypanthium and calyx densely lanate, vermiform trichomes. Petioles 6–13 mm long; blade 7.8–10.3 × 4.2–5.2 cm, discolour, chartaceous, elliptic-oblong, base obtuse, apex obtuse-acute, margin revolute, ciliolate; adaxial surface green, glabrescent, abaxial surface brownish to rufous, completely covered by the indumentum, epidermic surface not exposed, the trichomes persistent; acrodromous basal veins 5. Thyrses of scorpioid cymes, 7.1–11.3 cm long, piramidal; bracts 1.8–4 × 0.8–1 mm, bracteoles 0.8–1.2 × 0.1–0.3 mm, both persistent, narrowly triangular, apex acuminate, adaxial surface glabrous. Flowers 5-merous, sessile; hypanthium 2–2.5 × ca. 2 mm, campanulate; inner torus glabrous; calyx persistent, lobes 0.9–1.2 × 1–1.2 mm, triangular; petals 2–3.2 × 2–3 mm, white, obovate, apex obtuse; stamens of two sizes, white, pore terminal, connective inconspicuously prolonged, appendage trilobate, one dorsal and two latero-ventral, antesepalous with filaments 1.1–3 mm long, anthers 2.3–3.2 mm long, antepetalous with filaments 1–3.8 mm long, anthers 2.1–3.8 mm long; ovary 1–1.1 × 1–1.1 mm, inferior, 3- celled; style 4–5 mm long, expanded at the apex. Bacidium 3.2–4.5 × 3.7–5 mm, polyspermous (ca. 30 seeds), oblate; seeds 0.8–1 × 0.5–0.9 mm, obtriangular, testa smooth.

Specimens examined:— 7.IV.2007, fl., K.C. Silva 12 (RB, RBR) ; 25.IX.2009, fl., fr., K.C. Silva 49 (RBR) ; 22.I.2010, fl., fr., K.C. Silva 68 (RBR) .

Distribution:—This species has a wide distribution, occurring from western and southern Mexico and Antilles to Paraguai ( Almeda 2009; Goldenberg 2009). In Brazil, it is found in almost all states, from Amazonas to Paraná (Goldenberg 2012).

Comments:—This is the first record for Marambaia, where the species occurs in Dense Submontane Ombrophilous Forest. It can be distinguished by the leaves with the green adaxial and brownish to rufous abaxial surfaces, white petals and anthers, trilobate connective appendages, one dorsal and two latero-ventral lobes, green young fruits and jade green to vinous when mature. Additional illustrations in Baumgratz et al. (2006), and Goldenberg (2009).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Clidemia hirta (L.) D.Don: a. flower and fruit. Clidemia urceolata: b. flower. Huberia ovalifolia: c. flower; d. fruits. Leandra reversa: e. inflorescence. Marcetia taxifolia: f. flowers. Miconia albicans: g. fruits and floral buds. Miconia calvescens: h. flowers. Miconia chartacea: i. leaves. Miconia cinnamomifolia: j. branches with interpetiolar pseudo-stipules; k. fruits. Miconia cubatanensis: l. inflorescence. Miconia dodecandra: m. fruits. Miconia prasina: n. inflorescence. Miconia pusilliflora: o. inflorescence. Ossaea marginata: p. flowers; q. fruit. Tibouchina corymbosa: r. fruits. Tibouchina estrellensis: s. flower. Tibouchina gaudichaudiana: t. flower; u. fruit. Tibouchina granulosa: v. flower. Tibouchina heteromalla: x. flower. Tibouchina trichopoda: z. flower.

FIGURE 6. Miconia albicans: a. floriferous branch; b. calyx lobes; c. petal; d–e. antisepalous and antipetalous stamens, respectively (a. Neto 1429; b–e. Silva 68). Miconia brasiliensis: f. floriferous branch; g. hypanthium and calyx; h. stamen; i. petal (Silva 124). Miconia calvescens: j. floriferous branch; k. hypanthium; l. petal; m–n. stamens (j. Brade 16162; k–n. Vieira 922).