Miconia brasiliensis ( Sprengel 1825: 297 ) Triana (1871: 118)

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 : 73-75

5.2. Miconia brasiliensis ( Sprengel 1825: 297) Triana (1871: 118) . [ Figs. 6f–i ]

Trees, sometimes treelets, 4–15 m; indumentum of the branches, petioles, inflorescences, hypanthium and calyx brownish to rufous, densely tomentose-stellate, the trichomes latelly caducous, not dendritic. Petioles 0.8–2.2 cm long, slightly striated; blade 7.9–12.5 × 2.3–3.5 cm, discolour, chartaceous, elliptic, base acute, apex acuminate to caudate, margin entire to inconspicuous-crenulate, slightly revolute, adaxial surface green, with sparse stellate trichomes, caducous, abaxial surface light brown, moderate and partly lepidote-stellate, epidermic surface partly exposed, the trichomes persistent; acrodromous basal veins 3. Thyrsoids with no branchlets of scorpioid or glomerule cymes, 5–6.4 cm long; bracts 0.8–1.5 × 0.2–0.3 mm, bracteoles 0.6–2.5 × 0.2–0.4 mm, both oblong-triangular, caducous. Flowers 5-merous, pedicelate; hypanthium 1.6–2.3 × 1.8–2 mm, campanulate; inner torus glabrous; calyx caducous, lobes 0.9–1 × 1–1.1 mm, membranaceous, denticulate; petals 2.1–2.8 × 1–1.2 mm, white, obovate, apex rounded; stamens subisomorphic and subequal in size; filaments 1.6–2.5 mm long; anthers 1.7–2.1 mm long, white, slightly falciform, pore terminal-ventral, connective dorsally thickened, with an inconspicuous calcar, truncate; ovary 0.5–0.8 × 0.9–1.1 mm, inferior, 3-celled, glabrous; style 4.1–5.1 mm long, slightly thickened at the apex, glabrous. Baccaceous 3–4 × 4–4.2 mm, black, subglobose, with sparse stellulate trichomes, oligospermous (up to 8 seeds); seeds 2–2.1 × 1.1–1.2 mm, obovate- or obtriangular-convex, testa smooth.

Specimen examined:— 23.VI.2002, fl., G.M. Siqueira 62 (RBR) ; 3.VIII.2002, fl., Adriano & G.M. Siqueira 71 (RBR) ; 26.IX.2009, fr., K.C. Silva 51 (RBR) .

Additional specimen examined:— BRASIL. Rio de Janeiro: Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca , 11.VIII.2006, fl., M.F.O. Silva 124 (RB) .

Distribution:—Endemic to the Atlantic Forest Biome of Brazil, where it occurs in the states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina (Goldenberg 2012).

Comments:—This is the first record for Marambaia, where M. brasiliensis is found only in Dense Submontane Ombrophilous Forest. It can also be distinguished by the indumentum of the branches, petioles, inflorescences, leaves abaxial surface, hypanthium and calyx brownish to rufous, adaxial leaf surface light brown and moderately pilose, and abaxial leaf surface with the epidermis partly exposed, plus glabrous inner torus and ovary. Additional illustrations in Cogniaux (1883 –1888).

Figures

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).