Meriania bicentenaria Rob.Fern., R.Rojas & Michelang.

Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, Phytotaxa 602 (1), pp. 1-101 : 17-20

3. Meriania bicentenaria Rob.Fern., R.Rojas & Michelang. , Willdenowia 52(1): 40 (2022).

Type:— PERU. Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Oxapampa, Abra Oxapampa-Villa Rica , 2300–2500 m, 10°40’36”S, 75°18’55”W, 06 Aug 2004 (fl., fr.), R. Vásquez, A. Monteagudo, L. Valenzuela, J. Perea & A. Peña 30366 (holotype: HOXA! [accession no. 10648 ]; isotypes: NY! [barcode 03785787 ], USM! [accession no. 215491 ]) . ( Figures 12–13 ).

Comments:— Meriania bicentenaria is part of the M. macrophylla complex (see comments under M. franciscana for diagnostic characteristics) and differs from other species of Meriania by the combination of densely pubescent abaxial leaf blades, with roughened to dendritic trichomes evenly covering entire surface ( Fig. 12B–C ), calyces with rounded lobes and without dorsal projections, campanulate, fuchsia to light fuchsia corollas, strongly dimorphic stamens, antepetalous stamens with inflated (bulbous) connectives ( Fig. 12E ), and antepetalous stamen connectives without dorsal appendages ( Fig. 12F ). Among Peruvian species, M. bicentenaria most closely resembles M. franciscana but differs by the indument on abaxial leaf blades (densely pubescent vs. sparsely to densely puberulent), petal color (fuchsia to light fuchsia vs. reddish-purple), and the dorsal appendages of the antepetalous stamen connectives (absent vs. blunt ascending). A detailed comparison of M. bicentenaria with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2022).

Distribution and phenology:— Meriania bicentenaria is a tree endemic to central Peru (Department of Pasco) and grows in montane forests at 2200–2550 m ( Fig. 11 ). It has been collected in flower from June to September, and in fruit from March to November.

Specimens examined:— PERU. Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Palcazú, without locality, 2200 m, 10°32’S, 75°23’W, 04 Oct 1984 (fr.), D. Smith et al. 8685 ( F!); Dist. Oxapampa, camino a la Cordillera Yanachaga , 2400 m, 10°23’S, 75°27’W, 19 Jul 1984 (fr.), D. Smith et al. 7913 ( F!, US!, USM!), camino Oxapampa-Abra Villa Rica , 2270 m, 10°39’23”S, 75°20’27”W, 10 Aug 2004 (fl.), A. Monteagudo et al. 6960 ( HOXA!, NY!), camino Oxapampa-Villa Rica , km 37 en zona de amortiguamiento, 2462 m, 10°38’12”S, 75°24’45”W, 15 Mar 2006 (ster.), S. Vilca et al. 643 ( HOXA!, USM!), Centro de Investigación del CDS, 2210 m, 10°32’44”S, 75°22’16”W, 11 Jun 2022 (ster.), R. Fernandez-Hilario 2298 ( HOXA!, MOLF!), Cuenca del río San Alberto , 2286 m, 10°32’39.90”S; 75°22’13.63”W, 01 Oct 2019 (ster.), C. Llerena 23 ( MOLF!), same locality and data (fr.), C. Llerena 32 ( MOLF!), CDS, Sector San Alberto - Entrada al PN Yanachaga Chemillén , 2290 m, 10°32’25”S; 75°22’14”W, 10 Jun 2021 (fl.), R. Villanueva-Espinoza 675 ( MOLF!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén , 2420 m, 10°32’S, 75°21’W, 26 Aug 2002 (fl., fr.), A. Monteagudo et al. 3807 ( AMAZ!, MOLF!, NY!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén , cercanías del Refugio el Cedro , 2420 m, 10°32’51”S, 75°21’32”W, 26 Aug 2002 (fl., fr.), A. Monteagudo et al. 3808- A ( HOXA!), San Alberto , 2457 m, 10°32’43.54”S, 75°21’37.14”W, 24 Mar 2014 (ster.), R. Tupayachi et al. 13589 ( HSP!), San Alberto , 2457 m, 10°32’41.47”S, 75°20’29.34”W, 25 Mar 2014 (ster.), R. Tupayachi et al. 13601 ( HSP!), Sector San Alberto , 2468 m, 10°32’45”S, 75°21’24”W, 17 Aug 2006 (fr.), L. Cárdenas et al. 715 ( CUZ!, F!, HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén , Sector San Alberto, zona de amortiguamiento, 2450 m, 10°19’S, 75°13’W, 16 Mar 2005 (fr.), R. Rojas et al. 3539 ( HOXA!, NY!); Dist. Huancabamba, PN Yanachaga Chemillén , Fundo Osobamba . 2243 m, 10°23’34.7”S, 75°28’28.1”W, 25 Jun 2016 (fl.), L. Valenzuela et al. 30395 ( USM!), Grapanazu, sector San Daniel, zona de amortiguamiento del PN Yanachaga Chemillén , 2236 m, 10°26’36”S, 75°26’21”W, 08 Jul 2004 (fl.), J. Perea et al. 1445 ( HOXA!, NY!), same locality and data (fl.), J. Perea et al. 1449 ( HOXA!, NY!), same locality, 10 Jul 2004 (fl., fr.), J. Perea et al. 1467 ( HOXA!, NY!), Acazazu, 2200–2300 m, 10°30’24”S, 75°23’13”W, 06 Jul 2004 (fl., fr.), R. Rojas et al. 3132 ( HOXA!, NY!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén , Sector Quebrada Yanachaga, 2300 m, 10°23’45”S, 75°28’55”W, 19 Aug 2004 (fl.), R. Vásquez et al. 30410 ( HOXA!, NY!, USM!), same locality and data (fl.), R. Vásquez et al. 30419 ( HOXA!, MO!), same locality, 2407 m, 10°23’38”S, 75°28’36”W, 20 Set 2004 (fl., fr.), J. Perea & J. Mateo 1781 ( HOXA!, NY!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén , parcela permanente 1.0 ha Oso Playa , 2200 m, 10°17’58”S, 75°36’35”W, 11 Nov 2006 (fr.), A. Monteagudo et al. 13406 ( NY!, USM!), Torre Bamba , 2550 m, 10°18’24”S, 75°35’06”W, 20 May 2004 (fr.), R. Rojas et al. 2403 ( HOXA!) .

Figures

FIGURE 11. Distribution map of M. amischophylla, M. bicentenaria, M. rubriflora, M. vasquezii and M. weberbaueri.

FIGURE 12. Meriania bicentenaria. A. Terminal fertile branch with inflorescence. B. Leaf blade, abaxial view. C. Detail of the abaxial leaf surface. D. Detail of the leaf base, adaxial surface. E. Antepetalous stamen, lateral view. F. Antesepalous stamen, lateral view. G. Petal. H. Flower with petals removed.A, C–D from A. Monteagudo et al. 6960; B, E–H from R. Villanueva-Espinoza 675.

FIGURE 13. Meriania bicentenaria. A. Terminal fertile branch. B. Leaf blade, abaxial view. C. Flower at anthesis, lateral view. D. Flower at anthesis, apical view. From R. Villanueva-Espinoza 675. Photos by Rosa Villanueva-Espinoza. Reproduced with permission from Willdenowia.