Conostegia bracteata Triana, 1867

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 52-54

Conostegia bracteata Triana Fig. 69

Conostegia bracteata Triana, Jour. Bot. 4: 209. 1867. Type: Nicaragua. Chontales: 12 September 1867, B. Seemann 36 (holotype: K!; isotypes: BM!, EM, LE; BR).

Description.

Shrub to small tree 1.75-4.6 m tall with terete or nearly terete stems that are moderately to densely covered with an indument of simple or little branched hairs; the nodal line present but usually covered by indument. Leaves at a node equal to unequal in length. Petiole 0.4-2.1 cm. Leaf blades 5.5-18.5 × 2-7.2 cm, 3-5 nerved or slightly plinerved, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate or narrowly obovate, the base attenuate to obtuse, the apex acuminate, margin entire to dentate, adaxially setose with spreading smooth hairs 1-2 mm long, abaxially moderately setose on the actual surface below with a mixture of smooth, barbed and stellulate hairs on the elevated primaries. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 3.5-9 cm long branched above the base, accessory branches present, the inflorescence rachis moderately to densely covered with an indument of simple or little branched hairs, elliptic to oblong, bracteoles 6-8 × 2-2.5 mm, persistent. Flowers sessile, (5-) 6 (-7) merous, calyptrate, buds 6-8 mm long, pyriform to ovoid or broadly ellipsoid, rounded at the base, short apiculate at the apex, the calyptra and hypanthium little differentiated, the hypanthium 3.5-3.75 × 3.5-4 mm moderately to densely covered with an indument of simple or little branched hairs. Petals 6-7 × 4-5 mm, white or pink, obtriangular, spreading, emarginate apically, glabrous on both surfaces, spreading. Stamens (12-)14-18, 5-6.5 mm, slightly zygomorphic, the filament 2.5-2.75 mm, white, anthers 2.5-2.75 × 0.5-0.75 mm, linear and somewhat laterally compressed, yellow, the base sagittate, the pore 0.1-0.16 mm, subterminal to ventral. Ovary 6-7 locular, inferior, fluted into a glabrous collar around the style. Style 3.5-4.25 mm, slightly curving upward, vertical distance between the anther and stigma ca. -1 mm, horizontal distance absent; stigma capitate, 1-1.5 mm wide. Berry 6-8 × 6-8 mm, dark purple-black. Seeds 0.4-0.6 mm, pyramidal, smooth.

Distribution

(Fig. 70 ). Nicaragua to Colombia, 0-1150 m in elevation.

Conostegia bracteata is one of the most distinctive species in the genus based on the presence of a hirsute indument on most parts of the plant including adaxial leaf surface, and large, persistent bracts subtending the sessile flowers. Flowers have been observed to be buzzed by several types of bees including Euglossines (Fig. 4 ). Specimens of this species dry red when treated with ethanol. Schnell (1996) argued that Conostegia bracteata provided an excellent example of convergent evolution between this species and Miconia barbinervis and Miconia cuneata in their "pubescence, foliage, and the general aspect of flowers, bracts and inflorescences". These species look a lot alike in their leaf shape and pubescence but not in their flowers. Conostegia bracteata occurs sympatrically with Miconia barbinervis in some localities like at La Selva Biological Statation. They can easily be distinguished on the basis of the stipitate stellate trichomes present in Miconia barbinervis and simple trichomes in Conostegia bracteata .

Specimens examined.

NICARAGUA. Chontales: Jinotega (fide Schnell): Cerro San Pedro, Comarca Kilambe, Sandino 183 (MO) .

COSTA RICA. Limón: R.B. Hitoy Cerere, siguiendo el sendero el Espavel hasta la cima de un cerro innominado, González et al. 3309 (INB, NY) . Heredia: La Selva, OTS field station, La Sura trail at 1070 m, Hopkins 22 (NY); Sarapiquí, sendero Tres ríos y lindero el Peje, Kriebel et al. 3606 (INB, NY) . Puntarenas: Osa, Sierpe, Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce, Rancho Quemado, camino a Chiqueron en la parte mas alta de la fila al Sur de Rancho Quemado , Aguilar 6704 (NY); Golfito, P. N. Corcovado, Estación Agujas, Cerro Rincón, Mora et al. 721 (INB, MO, NY) .

PANAMA. Bocas del Toro: Duwebdulup Peak No. of Río Teribe across from Quebrada Huron, Kirkbride and Duke 585 (MO, NY); Above Chiriqui Grande 10 road-miles from continental divide and c. 2 miles along road to east, McPherson 12837 (MO, NY). Canal Zone: Zetek trail 550, Croat 6628 (MO, NY); Madden Forest , Las Cruces Trail, Gentry 1380 (NY) . Darién: 0-2 mi. E. of Tres Bocas along shortest headwater of Río Coasi, Kirkbride and Duke 1194 (MO, NY); Coasi-Cana Trail on Cerro Campamiento E. of Tres Bocas headwater of Rio Coasi , Kirkbride and Duke 1252 (MO, NY); Vicinity of Cana , Stern et al. 514 (NY) . Panamá: 2.5 m N of Goofy Lake on road to Cerro Azul, Croat 11533 (MO, NY); Along highway near top of Cerro Campana , Croat 12089 (MO, NY); 10 miles from highway on road to Cerro Jefe , Croat 15186 (MO, NY); Cerro Azul , Dwyer 2083 (MO, NY); Trail into forest 4.8 miles north of highway just west of El Llano , Gentry 5077 (MO, NY); Between Frijoles and Monte Lirio , Killip 12158 (NY); Parque Nacional Chagres , Sendero hacia Cerro Jefe que sale de la urbanización Altos de Cerro Azul , Kriebel and Burke 5683 (PMA, NY) .

COLOMBIA. Antioquia: vicinity of Planta Providencia, 26 km S & 23 km W of Zaragoza, in valley of Río Anorí between Anorí and Dos Bocas, Denslow 2312 (US-not seen).

Figures

Figure 4. Bee pollinators and pollen robbers in Conostegia. A Female of the genus Euglossa approching an inflorescence of Conostegia bracteata B Euglossa sp. buzzing the flower of Conostegia bracteata C Unidentified female of a species of Halictidae buzzing the flower of Conostegia bracteata D Female of Melipona costaricensis buzzing flower of Conostegia subcrustulata E Female of Bombus volluceloides buzzing the flower of Conostegia oerstediana F, G Unidentified large bees buzzing the flowers of Conostegia oerstediana H A species of Trigona robbing pollen from a flower of Conostegia oerstediana I A species of Trigona robbing pollen from a flower of Conostegia bigibbosa J Unidentified female of a species of Halictidae buzzing the flower of Conostegia ortizae. Photograph by Darin Penneys K, L Female of Melipona costaricensis buzzing flower of Conostegia schlimii. Photographs by Reinaldo Aguilar M Unidentified female of a species of Halictidae buzzing the flower of Conostegia grayumii N, O Unidentified female of a species of Halictidae buzzing the flower of Conostegia cinnamomea. Photos by the author if not specified.

Figure 69. Conostegia bracteata. A Habit B Leaf abaxial surface C Flowers at anthesis D Infuctescence E Pickled flowers at anthesis F Lomgitudinal section of hypanthia of flowers at anthesis G Bract H Petal I Stamen J Style. Photos of specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5806.

Figure 70. Distribution of Conostegia bracteata.