Conostegia consimilis (Gleason) Kriebel, 2016

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 161-162

Conostegia consimilis (Gleason) Kriebel comb. nov. Fig. 147

Conostegia consimilis (Gleason) Kriebel, comb. nov. Basionym: Leandra consimilis Gleason, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45(3): 268. 1958. Type: Panama. Panamá: Las Minas, 9 January 1941, P. Allen 2702 (holotype: NY!).

Miconia ligulata Almeda, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 46(9): 216. 1989.

Description.

Small tree 1.5-6m tall with somewhat tetragonal and ridged stems in newer branches that are moderately to densely brown scurfy with dendritic or pinoid hairs; the nodal line present. Leaves at a node equal to unequal in length. Petiole 0.3-2 cm long. Leaf blade 4.2-28.4 × 1.4-9.2 cm, 5-plinerved, with the innermost pair of veins usually diverging from the midvein upt to 5 cm cm above the base in opposite to alternate fashion, elliptic, the base gradually tapering to decurrent on the petiole, the apex acuminate to long acuminate, margin entire to undulate, adaxial surface sparsely pulverulent to glabrous, the abaxial surface moderately and deciduously scurfy-pulverulent with short dendritic hairs evident mostly on the veins. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 4.4-11.2 cm long, branching above the base, accessory branches absent, brown scurfy on the branches; bracteoles 0.3-0.75 × 0.2-0.5 mm, subulate, persistent, fused and forming a nodal collar or ridge. Pedicel 0.5-2 mm. Flowers 5 merous, not calyptrate. Flower buds 3-3.75 × 1.3-1.6 mm; hypanthium 1.25-1.75 × 1.25-1.75 mm, campanulate, deciduously scurfy-pulverulent, calyx tube 0.2-0.3 mm long, calyx lobes depressed-triangular to undulate, 0.5 mm long but concealed and barely exceeded by the exterior subulate teeth, androecial fringe present and beset with glandular hairs. Petals 2.75-3.25 × 0.75-1 mm, translucent white to white with or usually without pinkish tinges towards the base, linear-oblong, spreading to reflexed at anthesis, glabrous the apex narrowly rounded to acute. Stamens 10, 2.25-2.75 mm, radially arranged around the style, the filaments 1.25-1.5 mm long, with a geniculation near the apex, white, anthers 1-1.25 0.25-0.4 mm, oblong, yellow, laterally compressed, the pore ca. 0.1 mm wide, somewhat dorsally inclined. Ovary 5 locular, 3/4 to 4/5 inferior, glabrous apically. Style 3.5-4.25 mm long, curving towards the apex, vertical distance from the anther pore to the stigma 1.5-2 mm, horizontal distance absent or up to 1 mm, stigma truncate, ca. 0.35 mm wide. Berry 3-4 × 3-4 mm, purple-black. Seeds 0.35-0.5 mm, pyramidate, smooth with verruculose angles.

Distribution

(Fig. 148 ). Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and reaching the north Pacific part of Colombia, also an outlying population in Sierra Perijá in Venezuela, from sea level to 2000 m elevation.

Conostegia consimilis is a common species especially in lowlands and middle elevation in Costa Rica and Panama. It can be recognized by its large leaves with decurrent bases and strongly plinerved venation. Its flowers are quite small and its petals are quite narrow and somewhat acute at the apex which prompted in its original description in the genus Leandra . Other useful characters are its yellow anthers, exserted styles, and angulate seeds with verruculose angles. In general, Conostegia consimilis shares its rusty indument and petal shape with its close relatives which include Conostegia iteophylla , Conostegia jefensis , Conostegia peltata , and Conostegia trichosantha . Of the latter taxa, it is most similar to Conostegia iteophylla and the common morphotype of Conostegia jefensis . From Conostegia iteophylla it can be distinguished by its much larger leaves, and from Conostegia jefensis by its white petals (vs. magenta). The drawing in the protologue ( Almeda 2000) evidences the exserted style which is common in section Geniculatae .

Specimens examined.

COLOMBIA (fide Wurdack). Chocó: S of ridge of Cerro Mecana, Juncosa 1837 (MO).

NICARAGUA. Zelaya: SW flank of Cerro Hormiguero, Grijalva 440 (CAS).

COSTA RICA. Alajuela: Caribbean slope between San Lorenzo and Los Angeles de San Ramón, above the río San Lorenzo, Burger and Antonio 11175 (F, CR, NY); Guatuso, P. N. Volcán Tenorio, El Pilón, orillas de sendero Los Misterios del Teno rio, Chaves 868 (INB, NY); San Carlos, La Marina, bosque vecino a fuente de Aguas termales en Rio Rafael , Jiménez 2326 (CR, NY); San Carlos, Fortuna, R. B. Arenal Mundo Aventura, Rodríguez 8999 (INB, NY) . Heredia: Sarapiquí, El Ceibo, Kriebel et al. 4814 (INB, NY) . Limón: P.N. Braulio Carrillo, Sector Quebrada Gonzalez, sendero Las Palmas, Kriebel 1416, 5323 (INB, NY); Pococí, Finca del bosque lluvioso propiedad del INBio, Rodriguez and Vargas 5150 (INB, MO, NY) .

PANAMA. Coclé: forest slopes above El Copé of the abandoned road leading to the Continental Divide, Almeda et al. 6402 (CAS, NY) . Colón: Santa Rita Ridge road 8.3 road miles east of Transisthmian highway, along trail north of road, McPherson 7474 (MO, NY) . Darién: Primary forest along headwater of Rio Turquesa ca 2 km air distance from Continental Divide in vicinity of upper gold mining camp of Tyler Kittredge, Croat 27174 (MO, NY) . Panamá: a lo largo de camino a Cerro Campana, Correa et al. 1027 (MO, NY); Cerro Jefe, Dwyer 9415 (MO, NY) . Veraguas: Southern shore of Ensenada Santa Cruz, northern tip of Coiba Island , Foster 1632 (MO, NY); P. N. Santa Fé, aproximadamente de 3 a 6 km pasando la Escuela Agricola Alto de Piedra , Kriebel and Burke 5726 (NY, PMA) .

VENEZUELA (fide Schnell). Zulia: Caño Helena, Sierra Perijá, Delascio and Benkowski 3197 (US).

Figures

Figure 147. Conostegia consimilis. A Habit B Leaf abaxial surface C Inflorescence D Close up of flowers E Flower bud F Longitudinal section of a floral bud G Apex of inflorescence branch with flower at anthesis H Longitudinal section of the hypanthium. Note androecial fringe I Petal J Stamen K Style L View of a maturing fruit from above. Note androecial fringe. Photos A-C of specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5323 D from R. Kriebel 5644, and E-L from R. Kriebel 5726.

Figure 148. Distribution of Conostegia consimilis.