Meriania radula (Benth.) Triana

Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, Phytotaxa 602 (1), pp. 1-101 : 53-57

20. Meriania radula (Benth.) Triana , Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28(1): 66 (1871) [1872].

Basionym: Axinaea radula Benth., Pl. Hartw. [Bentham] 130 (1839) [1844].

Type:— ECUADOR. Loja: in Cerro San Francisco prope Loxa , no date (fl., fr.), Hartweg s.n. (lectotype, designated by Wurdack 1980: K! [barcode K 000329444 ]) . ( Figures 46–47 ).

Axinaea purpurea Ruiz & Pav., Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. Chil. 1: 122 (1798). Type:— PERU. Huánuco: Muña, no date (fl., fr.), H. Ruiz & J. Pavón s.n. (lectotype, designated here: MA! [barcode MA813832 ]; isolectotypes: B-probably destroyed [negative at F], BM! [barcodes BM000939005 , BM000939006 ], F! [accession nos. 842789, 844825], HAL! [barcode HAL120101 ], MA! [barcodes MA813830 , MA813831 ]).

Miconia incarum J.F.Macbr., Trop. Woods no. 17: 12 (1929). Type:— PERU. Huánuco: at head of canyon 6 miles south of Mito , 3000 m, 01–05 Aug 1922 (fl.), J.F. Macbride & W. Featherstone 1867 (holotype: F! [accession no. 518362]).

Comments:— Meriania radula belongs to the M. radula complex which is characterized by the combination of ovate, bullate leaf blades, campanulate, deep red corollas ( Fig. 47G ) and stamen connectives with dorso-basal appendages perpendicular to the thecae ( Fig. 46G ). This complex includes M. almedae Wurdack , M. hirsuta , M. radula , M. sanguinea Wurdack and M. tetragona . Within this complex, M. radula is easily recognisable by its nodes without interpetiolar flaps and abaxial tuberculate projections on the apex of the petioles. Also, M. radula is the only species within the complex with abaxial densely setulose leaf blades, evenly covering the entire surface ( Fig. 46C ).

The dorsal projections on the calyx in M. radula are whitish when dry and contrast with of the rest of the calyx and hypanthium. Among the Peruvian species, this feature occurs in M. penningtonii and is less conspicuous in M. hirsuta . Some specimens of M. penningtonnii have even been erroneously determined as species of the M. radula complex. However, M. radula is easily distinguishable from M. penningtonii by its terete internodes (vs. quadrangular and 4- winged) and campanulate, deep red corollas (vs. spreading, reddish-purple).

Nomenclatural notes:— Axinaea purpurea and A. radula were published in 1798 and 1844, respectively. Triana (1871) [1872] considered these two species as conspecific when he proposed the combination in Meriania , and aware of the specific epithet of the former unavailable in Meriania due to the existence of M. purpurea Sw. , published in 1798. Therefore, the oldest legitimate name, A. radula was used for the valid combination in Meriania (Art. 11.4 of the ICN; Turland et al. 2018).

According to Art. 9.10 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), we must consider that Wurdack (1980) made an inadvertent lectotypification of A.radula when he wrote“ Hartweg s.n.(K, holotype) ”in his treatment of Melastomataceae for the Flora of Ecuador. Also, we chose as lectotype of A. purpurea the sheet (duplicate) housed in MA that best matches the illustration published in Ruiz & Pavón (1957, see pl. CDX), conforming with Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018).

Distribution and phenology:— Meriania radula occurs in Ecuador and Peru, and it is recorded from Amazonas to Pasco in subparamos and elfin forests at 2590–3600 m ( Fig. 30 ). It has been collected in flower from February to November, and in fruit in February, March, August, September and November.

Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Chachapoyas, road Balsas to Chachapoyas, upper eastern Calla-Calla slopes at pass, 3000–3300 m, 02 Jun 1998 (fl.), M. Weigend et al. 98/339 ( CPUN!, F!, USM!); Trail to Laguna de Los Cóndores, surroundings of Laguna Esperanza / Siete Lagunas , 3275–3500 m, 06°48’44”S, 77°42’59”W, 26 Jun 2010 (fl.), R. Bussmann et al. 16485 ( MO!, NY!); Upper slopes of Puma-urcu east-southeast of Chachapoyas , 2700–3000 m, 01 Jun 1962 (fl.), J. Wurdack 658 ( F!, MO!, NY!, P!, U!, US!, USM!); Dist. Leymebamba , km 397 de la carretera, 27 km de Leymabamba, 2300–3540 m, 06°43’44”S, 77°53’18”W, 13 Mar 2012 (fl., fr.), F. A. Michelangeli et al. 1732 ( NY!, USM!), path from Atalaya to La Muralla Karst, 3300–3400 m, 06°49’18”S, 77°44’00”W, 04 Jul 2010 (fl.), R. Bussmann et al. 16617 ( MO!, NY!). Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Vista Alegre , bosque ribereño, 26 Aug 2012 (fl.), J. L. Marcelo-Peña et al. 7258 ( MOLF!), same localitty and date (fr.), 7267 ( MOLF!). Cajamarca: Prov. Cajamarca, Dist. Jesús, SAIS, José Carlos Mariátegui, km 60, 3300 m, 04 Jun 1984 (fl.), D. Smith & I. Sánchez-Vega 7488 ( MO!). Prov. Contumazá, Dist. Contumazá, Bosque Cachil , 3400–3600 m, 08–11 Mar 2012 (ster.), L. Dávila 2309 ( UNC!). Prov. Cutervo, CP San Cristóbal del Nudillo , sector el Mirador, 2690 m, 06°18’33.68”S, 77°51’40.71”W, 01– 03 Nov 2012 (fr.), L. Dávila 2482 ( UNC!), 2590–2750 m, s.f. (fr.), L. Dávila 2954 ( UNC!). Prov. Hualgayoc, Hacienda Taulis, Río La Quina above La Playa, 2850 m, 04 Sep 1964 (fl., fr.), P. Hutchinson & K. von Bismarck 6500 ( F!, MO!, NY!, US!, USM!); Dist. Chugur, Sector las Quinuas , Ramírez , el Chencho, 3186 m, 06°41’19.44”S, 78°42’44.68”W, 01–02 Sep 2018 (fl., fr.), L. Dávila 3852 ( UNC!). Prov. Santa Cruz, Dist. Pulán, Bosque Los Cedros , San Pedro Sur - La Mariela, 3200 m, 06°49’04.96”S, 78°54’03.86”W, 15–16 May 2010 (ster.), L. Dávila 1146 ( UNC!), Caserío La Zanja, sector Pampa Verde y San Pedro Norte , Bosque El Cedro, 2900–3300 m, 20–22 Sep 2013 (fl.), L. Dávila 2672 ( UNC!), parte baja de la quebrada Cocan , ladera oeste, 3280 m, 02 Nov 2001 (fl.), I. Sánchez & M. Sánchez 11109 ( CPUN!, F!), Parte Oeste del campamento La Zanja, Sector San Pedro Norte , 3320 m, 06 Jun 2004 (fl.), G. Iberico & L. Dávila 636 ( CPUN!, UNC!). La Libertad: Prov. Bolivar, Nevado de Cajamarquilla , 09 Sep 1946 (fl.), R. Ferreyra 1265 ( USM!). Prov. Pataz, valle del río Mixiollo , encima de Ongón, 3200 m, 03 Aug 1914 (fl.), A. Weberbauer 7032 ( F!, MOL!, US!). Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Huancabamba, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, La Colmena Trocha Erica, 3320 m, 10°27’13”S, 75°26’33”W, 19 Aug 2008 (fl.), L. Valenzuela et al. 11528 ( HOXA!, USM!). San Martín: Prov. Huallaga, Dist. Bolivar, surrounding “Pampa Hermosa” around old Chacha and Inca settlement, 3000 m, 07°02’07”S, 77°40’29”W, 24 May 2011 (fl.), R. Bussmann et al. 17087 ( F!, HAO!, L!, MO!). Prov. Mariscal Cáceres, Bosquecillo, PN Río Abiseo , 3400 m, 21 Jun 1988 (fl. bud), B. León & K. Young 2008 ( USM!); Río Abiseo National Park, forest near lake in Chochos valley , 3050 m, 07°30’S, 77°30’W, 13 Feb 1986 (fr.), K. Young 2771 ( F!); Puerta del Monte , 3450 m, 21 Nov 1989 (fl. bud), K. Young 1952 ( USM!); Dist. Huicungo, Sector Los Chochos, lado occidental del PN Río Abiseo , 3400 m, 07°38’30.03”S, 77°28’50.89”W, 19 Jul 2016 (fl.), D. Paredes et al. 604 ( MOLF!). Prov. Rioja , Dist. Nueva Cajamarca , Cuenca Yuracyacu , 3215 m, 06°00’35.2”S, 77°27’45.19”W, 30 Jul 2005 (fl.), W. Palomino et al. 8000 ( CUZ!) .

Figures

FIGURE 30. Distribution map of M. radula, M. sanguinea, M. tetragona and M. hirsuta.

FIGURE 46. Meriania radula. A. Terminal fertile branch with inflorescence. B. Leaf blade, abaxial view. C. Detail of the abaxial surface. D. Flower bud. Petal. E. Flower with petals and stamens removed. E. Petal. G. Stamen, lateral view. A from J. Wurdack 658; B–G from D. Paredes et al. 604.

FIGURE 47. Meriania radula. A. Terminal fertile branch withinflorescence.B. Leaf blade, abaxial view.C–D. Detail of the inflorescences. A from J.L. Marcelo-Peña s.n., B–D from F.A. Michelangeli et al.1732. Photos by José Luis Marcelo-Peña (A) and Fabián A. Michelangeli (B–D).