Memecylon emancipatum R.D. Stone, 2014

Stone, Robert Douglas, 2014, Further studies in Memecylon sect. Afzeliana (Melastomataceae-Olisbeoideae): the type of M. liberiae and its taxonomic implications, Phytotaxa 183 (4), pp. 263-271 : 266

Memecylon emancipatum R.D. Stone , sp. nov. ( Figs. 2 , 3 )

Type:— LIBERIA. Sinoe County, Greenville, Vanply , 19 Feb 1975, Adam 30289 (holotype P[00695733]!, isotypes LIB, MO [2355133]!, P[00512064]!) .

≡ Memecylon liberiae sensu Jacques-Félix (1979: 424 , tab. 9: 1–2), non Gilg ex Engler (1921: 768).

Habit not specified, presumably a small understory tree. Young branchlets finely quadrangular, becoming terete with age; internodes 5–9 cm long. Leaves dark green on the upper surface, paler below; petioles stout, 2–3 mm long; blades elliptic-oblong, 17.5–24 × 5–8 cm (ca. three times longer than wide), cuneate at base, abruptly acuminate at apex, the acumen narrow, 1.5–2.5 cm long, acute; mid-nerve impressed on the upper surface, prominent on the lower; lateral nerves and transverse veins much thinner than the mid-nerve, somewhat prominent on both the upper and lower surfaces in dried material; transverse veins 16–18 pairs oriented at an oblique angle relative to the mid-nerve, straight or occasionally forked and spaced 8–15 mm apart; lateral nerves situated 2–3 mm from the ± undulate margins, forming a series of arcs between their junctions with the transverse veins. Cymes contracted, axillary and also borne at the bracteolate nodes alternating with those bearing fully developed leaves; peduncles 3–5 mm long. Flowers not seen. Fruits 1–3 per cyme, borne on pedicels 2–3 mm long, narrowly ellipsoid-urceolate in outline, 15–16 mm long × 6–7 mm wide, crowned by the persistent calyx 1–1.5 mm high, the calyx margin shallowly sinuate and 4-microdentate.

Distribution and habitat: — Memecylon emancipatum is known only from the type collection made in southeastern Liberia ( Fig. 1 ). The name “Vanply” indicated on the specimen-labels refers to an American-owned logging company that built a large integrated sawmill and plywood mill at the port of Greenville. The habitat of the type collection is not indicated, but was presumably in lowland evergreen forest near a place called Nema Camp (also known as Vanply Logging Company) located about 25 km due north of Greenville at elevation ca. 86 m above MSL.

Phenology: —Flowering period unknown. Fruiting in February.

Discussion: —The name Memecylon emancipatum is here taken up for the species to which the name M. liberiae was previously misapplied ( Jacques-Félix 1979). The new species is similar to M. englerianum in having “subtrinervate” leaves (sensu Jacques-Félix 1979: 424), but differs by its subquadrangular young branchlets (vs. terete), larger leaves, shorter petioles, transverse veins 16–18 pairs (vs. 8–12), cymes borne on shorter peduncles with fewer fruits per cyme, and fruits elliptic-urceolate (vs. elliptic-ovate). Illustrations of M. emancipatum have been previously published under the name M. liberiae ( Jacques-Félix 1979: tab. 9: 1–2, Jacques-Félix & Mouton 1980: tab. 2: 15).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of Memecylon liberiae (•) and M. emancipatum () in West Africa.

FIGURE 2. Image of the holotype of Memecylon emancipatum (Adam 30289, P [00695733]). Source: Herbier, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. <http://sonneratphoto.mnhn.fr/2012/10/08/7/P00695733.jpg>

FIGURE 3. Image of the fruits of Memecylon emancipatum (Adam 30289, MO [2355133]). Source: Missouri Botanical Garden. <http://www.tropicos.org/Image/26035>