Conostegia foreroi (Wurdack) Kriebel, 2016

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 168-172

Conostegia foreroi (Wurdack) Kriebel comb. nov. Fig. 154

Conostegia foreroi (Wurdack) Kriebel. Basionym: Clidemia foreroi Wurdack, Phytologia 64(4): 300-301. 1988. Type: Colombia. Chocó: Alrededores de San José del Pal mar, cerro SO de la población, 1370 m, 1 September 1976, E. Forero & R. Jaramillo 2455 (holotype: COL!; isotypes: MO!, US!).

Description.

Shrub 1-1.5 m tall with terete branches that have a sparse to dense covering of smooth spreading hairs (2-3.5 mm) intermixed with inconspicuous, early deciduous, asperous headed underlain by a moderate to dense understory of stellulate-furfuraceous or short asperous headed hairs but that become glabrate at maturity; the nodal line absent. Leaves at a node equal to somewhat unequal in size. Petiole 0.5-1.5 cm. Leaf blade 6-10 × 2.5-4 cm, 5-nerved to slightly plinerved, elliptic, the apex acute to acuminate, the margin entire to crenulate, adaxially moderately strigose to subhirsute with hairs mostly 1-2 mm long, abaxially moderately hirsute with a mixture of smooth hairs (1-2.5 mm long) and minute glandular hairs essentially restricted to the primary and higher order veins. Inflorescence a pseudolateral modified dichasium 3-5 cm long divaricately branched at the base and appearing axillary on older nodes, accessory branches absent, rachis sparingly setulose, bracteoles lanceolate to ovate, 1.5-3 × 1-1.5 mm, paired at each node and persistent, setose in between the bracteoles. Pedicels 2-3 mm long. Flower buds 2 × 1.5 mm, the hypanthium campanulate, ca. 1.5-2 mm long, densely covered with spreading smooth hairs 1-2 mm long and a sparse understory of sessile stellulate furfuraceous hairs. Flowers 5-merous, calyx not calyptrate but closed in bud and crowned by an apiculum 0.5 mm long and rupturing irregularly at anthesis into 3-5 hyaline, persistent lobes 0.5-1 mm long, external calyx teeth setiform, 0.5-1 mm long, the torus glandular puberulent. Petals 2.8-3.4 × 1.3-1.5 mm, translucent white, oblong to oblong ovate, spreading at anthesis, rounded apically. Stamens 10, 2.7-3.8 mm long, radially arranged around the style, the filament 1.5-2 mm with a geniculation near the apex, translucent white, anthers 1.2-1.6 × 0.35-0.55 mm, yellow, oblong and not compressed, the connective thickened, the pore 0.1 mm wide, slightly dorsally inclined. Ovary 5 locular, 2/3 inferior, apex glandular-puberulent lobulate collar. Style 4-4.5 mm long, straight to slightly bending, vertical distance from the anther to the stigma ca. 1.25-1.5 mm, horizontal distance absent; stigma capitellate, 0.3-0.5 mm wide. Berry and seeds not seen.

Distribution

(Fig. 155 ). Endemic to the the departments of Antioquia and Chocó in Colombia, 1300-1400 m in elevation.

Conostegia foreroi is a very uncommon species characterized by its dense pubescence on stems, leaves, inflorescences and hypanthia. As Wurdack (1988) mentioned in the protologue, it resembles Clidemia costaricensis and Clidemia petiolaris . The latter two species thus also resemble each other but none of the three are closely related based on the molecular phylogeny, evidencing the possible multiple evolutions of shrubby and densely pubescent species. Among the differences between Conostegia foreroi that help distinguish it from Clidemia costaricensis and Clidemia petiolaris are the flattened setae on the nodes, smaller flowers, a sparsely glandular pubescent ovary apex and stamens that have a stronger geniculation. Within section Geniculatae , Conostegia foreroi appears to resemble more Clidemia hammelii . The latter species is overall less pubescent and has pocket domatia at the base of the leaf on the abaxial surface. This species appears to also converges with Conostegia trichosantha in the accumulation of water on the external pubescence of the floral buds. The paratype Lozano and Díaz 3201 (US) notes extreme herbivory on the plant like in other species of section Geniculatae such as Conostegia calocoma .

Specimens examined.

COLOMBIA. Antioquia: Urrao, Corregimiento La Encarnación, vereda Calles, P.N. Natural Las Orquídeas, Pedraza-Peñaloza et al. 1923 (NY).

Figures

Figure 154. Conostegia foreroi. A Habit B Habit with detail of multiple pseudolateral inflorescences C Close of an inflorescence showing multiple foliaceous bracteoles D Close of a flower. Photographs A, D by Frank Almeda from voucher F. Almeda 10336, photographs B, C by Paola Pedraza-Penaloza from voucher Pedraza-Penaloza et al. 1923.

Figure 155. Distribution of Conostegia foreroi.