Miconia granulata (Urb.) Majure & Judd, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas. 7: 268. 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 : 34-37

8. Miconia granulata (Urb.) Majure & Judd, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas. 7: 268. 2013. Figs 7A-E , 9K-P

Ossaea granulata Urb., Symb. Antill. (Urban) 9(1): 125. 1923. Type: CUBA. Provincia Oriente [ Guantánamo], Baracoa at Minas de Yberia (pr. Taco Bay) in “charrascales,” 800 m, 7-8 Dec 1914, E.L. Ekman 3789 (lectotype: S! [S05-3777], designated here; isolectotype: NY! [NY00099690]).

Type.

Based on Ossaea granulata Urb.

Description.

Evergreen shrub, to 2 m tall; young stems round in cross section, purplish, not ridged, the internodes 0.7-5.5 cm long, stem indumentum of granulate hairs (dorsi-ventrally compressed bulla-based hairs) to 0.2 mm long, these spreading; nodal line present but inconspicuous, composed of larger granulate hairs than those of the internodes. Leaves opposite, decussate, narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic, 2.5-9.4 × 1-2.8 cm, slightly to moderately anisophyllous, apex long acute to slightly acuminate, base acute, venation acrodromous, 3-veined, the midvein and 1 pair of arching secondary veins, secondary veins only occasionally intramarginal, suprabasal or basal, produced 0.5-5.1 mm from leaf base, positioned 0.5-2.7 mm in from margin at widest point of blade, tertiary veins percurrent, more or less perpendicular to midvein, 1.1-2.8 mm apart at midleaf, intertertiary veins present, tertiary veins only rarely joined by quaternary veins; adaxial leaf surface covered in bulla-based hairs, these dorsi-ventrally compressed, widest hair bases to 0.8 mm, 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 absent; abaxial leaf surface covered in sparse, bulla-based hairs, these strongly dorsi-ventrally compressed and inconspicuous, those along the primary, secondary, and tertiary veins larger than hairs produced throughout the lamina, the lamina clearly visible, with a series of pits resulting from depressions of the bulla-based hairs produced from the upper leaf surface, sessile, glandular hairs absent; petioles 0.3-1.3 cm long, covered in granulate, bulla-based hairs on both surfaces. Inflorescences terminal, 12->30 flowered, flowers produced in cymose clusters, 1.2-2.7 × 2.5-3 cm, the peduncle 0.1-1.9 cm long, proximal inflorescence branches 4-10.1 mm long; bracts oblong to ovate, 0.4-1.3 mm long; bracteoles ovate, 0.4-0.5 × 0.2-0.4 mm, covered in granulate bulla-based hairs. Flowers 4-merous, with pedicels to 0.1-1 mm long; hypanthium 1.8-2.3 mm long, globose, strongly 4-lobed, constricted below the torus, free portion of the hypanthium 0.5-0.6 mm long, abaxial surface covered in granulate bulla-based hairs to 0.1 mm long, and sessile, glandular hairs near the bases of the bulla-based hairs; adaxial surface (i.e., free portion) covered in granulate, bulla-based hairs; calyx teeth 0.5-1.4 × 0.3-0.6 mm, ascending or spreading, covered in bulla-based hairs; calyx lobes more or less triangular, apices acute, 0.2-0.6 × 1.2-1.5 mm, covered in bulla-based hairs abaxially and sessile, sparse, glandular hairs adaxially; calyx tube not tearing, 0.3-0.4 mm long with bulla-based hairs abaxially and sessile, glandular hairs adaxially; petals white, narrowly ovate, 2.5-3.2 × 1.3-1.5 mm, apex acute, with one slightly bulla-based hair produced abaxially, just below the apex, to 0.2 mm long; stamens 8; filaments 1.1-1.2 mm long, glabrous, anthers 1.25-1.3 mm long, yellow, with one dorsally oriented pore, anther thecae 1.1-1.2 mm long, anthers with a dorso-basal appendage 0.1-0.15 mm long; style 3.1-3.2 mm long, glabrous, notably or only slight dilated just below the apex, collar absent, crown of very short, bulla-based hairs slighty longer than surrounding hairs of the ovary, stigma punctate; ovary 0.9-1.4 × 1.7-2.4 mm, apex with bulla-based hairs, except for the linear or elongate-triangular hairs forming crown, placentation axile with deeply intruded placenta, 4-locular; berries globose, 4-lobed, purple-black at maturity, ca. 4 mm long (including calyx tube), 4 mm wide, seeds 0.5 mm long, obpyramidal, often falcate, testa smooth, light brown, raphe dark brown, smooth, extending the length of the seed.

Phenology.

This species has been collected in bud in August, in flower and mature fruit in November, immature fruit in December, as well as mature fruit in April.

Distribution

(Fig. 8 ). Miconia granulata is restricted to the northern portion of eastern Cuba in the Guantánamo and Holguín provinces in the areas with moderate elevation, from Baracoa to Moa.

Ecology.

Miconia granulata occurs in “charrascales”, more or less thorny, xerophytic scrub and semidry montane rainforest on serpentine soils, from 100 to roughly 800 m in elevation. Associated melastome species are Miconia walterjuddii , Ossaea rufescens (Griseb.) C.Wright, Meriania angustifolia (Cogn.) Carmenate & Michelangeli and Calycogonium bissei Bécquer.

Conservation status.

Bécquer (2007) considered Miconia granulata to be threatened, as it is known from relatively few locations and only occurs in one protected area, Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt. We propose a preliminary conservation status of Critically Endangered owed to ongoing and future mining practices in the zone where it occurs, as well as the fact that Miconia granulata is not an abundant species in any part of its range.

Discussion.

Based on phylogenetic analyses, Miconia granulata is resolved in a clade wtih Miconia argentimuricata and Miconia asperifolia and is sister to Miconia asperifolia (Fig. 2 ), a Jamaican species. It is the only member of this clade with 4-merous flowers and occasionally pendulous inflorescences (Figs 7B , 9K-P ), however, those characters are also shared with Miconia bullotricha , which may be closely related to Miconia granulata (see below under Miconia bullotricha ). Miconia granulata also has very poorly developed bulla-based hairs on the upper leaf surface, as compared to its closest relatives (Fig. 9 K, P ).

Specimens examined.

CUBA: Guantánamo. Alto entre loma del Mirador y loma de Buena Vista, 500 msm, 6 Aug 1975, Álvarez & al. HFC-27126 (B, HAJB, JE); IBID HFC-27130 (HAJB); falda suroeste de la Loma del Mirador , 500 msm, 9 Aug 1975, Álvarez & al. HFC-27212 (B, HAC, HAJB, JE); Baracoa, Rio Baez hacía el campamento los Naranjos, 21 Jan 1977, Álvarez et al. HFC-33783 (HAC); Aserrío Nuevo Mundo, pluvisilva de montaña 2-4 km al sur del aserrío, 400 msm, Apr 1975, Areces & al. HFC-25759 (HAJB); Baracoa, loma Los Guineos, 400-500 msm, 12 apr 1986, Arias & al. HFC-58603 (B, JE); Baracoa, loma Los Guineos, 14 Apr 1986, Arias & al. HFC-58639 (B, HAJB, JE); IBID HFC-58700 (B, HAJB, JE); Baracoa: cerca del aserrío Nuevo Mundo, 28 Aug 1971, Bisse HFC-19585 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa: Pluvisilva al sur de la loma del Yunque, 300-400 msm, 9-10 Feb 1972, Bisse HFC-21469 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa: valle al noroeste del Yunque de Baracoa , Feb 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-5211 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa: subida a la Mina Iberia, 300-700 msm, Mar 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-6162 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa: pluviosilva al sur de la Loma del Yunque , 300-400 msm, Jun 1967, Bisse & Rojas HFC-2725 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa. Camino de Los Naranjos a la Loma de Buenavista , 21 Jan 1977, Bisse & al HFC-33783 (B, HAC, HAJB, JE) ; Holguín. Moa, Monte La Breña, Oriente, 5 Nov 1945, Acuña 13288 (HAC, HAJB, NY); Moa. Pluviosilva Km 8-10 del camino de La Melba, 100 msm, 1 May 1980, Álvarez & al. HFC-42557 (B, HAJB, JE); Moa. Piloto, 6 May 1973, Álvarez & Berazaín HFC-24386 (HAJB); Moa, camino a La Melba, entre el km 10 y el arroyo Las Comadres, 27 Apr 2004, Bécquer HFC-82266 (FLAS, HAJB, NY); Moa. En el camino del aserrío La Melba, 20 Jan 1988, Berazaín & al. HFC-63314 (HAJB); Moa: Cayo Probado, orillas de las cabezas del Río Jiguani, 3 Apr 1972, Bisse & Berazaín HFC-21871 (HAJB, JE); Moa, charrascales en el altiplano de la Sierra de Moa , Mar 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-6739 (HAJB, JE); Moa: La Melba, falda este de la Sierra de Moa , 800-1000 msm, 23 Dec 1968, Bisse & Lippold HFC-11454 (HAJB, JE); Moa: La Melba, pluviosilva de montaña cerca del aserrío, 500 msm, 22 Dec 1968, Bisse & Lippold HFC-11630 (HAJB, JE); Moa: La Melba, charrascal cerca del aserrío, 400-500 msm, 22 Dec 1968, Bisse & Lippold HFC-11640 (HAJB, JE); Moa: charrascales en el altiplano de la Sierra de Moa , 600-900 msm, 7 Jan 1969, Bisse & Lippold HFC-11903 (HAJB, JE); La Melba, charrascal cerca del aserrío, 400-500 msm, Jun 1967, Bisse & Rojas HFC-3242 (HAJB, JE); Alto de la Iberia, 700 m, 23 Mar 1970, Borhidi et al. 121/8 (HAC); Monte Breña, Moa, Aug 1945, Clemente et al. 4705 (HAC); La Breña Woods, Moa region , Oriente, 1 Aug 1945, León LS-22577 (HAC, IJ, NY); La Breña woods, Moa, 1 Aug 1945, León LS-22594 (GH, HAC, NY); Moa, Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt , carretera a La Melba, km 28, 14 Nov 2013, Michelangeli et al. 2265 (NY); Moa, Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt , carretera a La Melba, km 16-18, 15 Nov 2013, Michelangeli et al. 2269 (NY); Moa-Baracoa, Nov 1965, Yeno 1088 (HAC) .

Figures

Figure 2. Maximum Parsimony 50 % majority rule phylogeny of selected members of the Lima, Calycopteris, Calycodomatia, Pseudolima, and Paralima clades (modified from Majure et al. 2015). Miconia umbellata and Miconia blancheana were used as outgroup taxa. Bootstrap values from both maximum parsimony / maximum likelihood analyses are given above branches.

Figure 7. Illustration of Miconia granulata (A-E) and Miconia norlindii (F-H). A Habit of Miconia granulata from the type specimen (Ekman 3789) B flower C stamen D fruit longitudinal section E fruit cross section (all from Acuna 13288) F flower of Miconia norlindii (Pipoly 24478) G petal (Pipoly 24478), and H seed (Clemente NSC- 5814).

Figure 8. Distribution of Miconia norlindii (closed circles) and Miconia granulata (open circles).

Figure 9. Photographs of Miconia jashaferi (A-D), Miconia norlindii (E-J), and Miconia granulata (K-P). A Abaxial leaf surface B habit of Miconia jashaferi showing pendant infloresence C close-up of immature fruit showing long clayx lobes D adaxial leaf surface (all from Michelangeli 2284) E habit of Miconia norlindii F close-up of flower, side view G close-up of flower, frontal view H close-up of infloresence (all from Michelangeli 2213) I mature fruit (Becquer s. n.) J leaf abaxial surface (Michelangeli 2213) K habit of Miconia granulata (Becquer HFC- 82266) L close-up of flower (Michelangeli 2269) M leaf abaxial surface, showing purple primary vein (Michelangeli 2265) N mature fruit (Michelangeli 2269) O close-up of branch of inflorescence (Michelangeli 2269) P leaf adaxial surface showing reduced bulla-based hairs (Michelangeli 2265). Photos I & K taken by E. Becquer and A-H, J, & L-P by F. Michelangeli.