Miconia lepidota Candolle (1828: 180)

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 : 78-79

5.8. Miconia lepidota Candolle (1828: 180) . [ Figs. 8g –i ]

Trees 9–17 m; indumentum of the branches, leaves, inflorescences, hypanthium and calyx lepidote-stellate. Petioles 1.3–2.6 cm long; blade 7.1–12.3 × 2.8–4.8 cm, discolour, membranaceous or chartaceous, elliptic, base obtuse, apex acute, margin slightly undulate; adaxial surface green, bright, glabrescent, abaxial surface light cinereous and completely covered by the indumentum, epidermic surface not exposed, trichomes persistent; acrodromous basal veins 3. Thyrses of scorpioid cymes, 13–20 cm long, oblong; bracts 3.2–5.8 × 0.6–1 mm, bracteoles 1.8–2 × 0.4–0.6 mm, both narrowly triangular, apex acuminate, caducous. Flowers 5-merous, sessile; hypanthium 1.7–1.8 × 1.8–1.9 mm, campanulate; calyx persistent, lobes ca. 1 × 1 mm, triangular; petals 3–3.2 × 1.4–1.5 mm, white, oblong, apex obtuse; stamens dimorphic, subequal in size and shape, anthers white, straight, antesepalous with filaments 4.5–4.9 mm long, anthers 2.3–3.2 mm long, connective 0.3–0.4 mm prolonged, appendage ventral 2-auriculate, dorsal absent, antepetalous with filaments 3.8–4 mm long, anthers 1.8–2 mm, connective 0.2–0.3 mm long prolonged, appendage ventral 2-auriculate, dorsal calcarate; ovary 1.1–1.2 × 1–1.1 mm, inferior, 3-celled, glabrous; style 3.5–4 mm long. Baccaceous 2–3 × 2.5–3.2 mm, purple-blackness, subglobose, sparsely lepidote-stellate, oligospermous (11–13 seeds); seeds 1.2–1.4 × 0.8–1 mm, obovate to ovate, testa smooth.

Specimens examined:— 3.II.2007, ster., R.S. Nunes 4 (RBR) ; 3.IV.2010, ster., K.C. Silva 84 (RBR) ; 21.IV.2010, ster., K.C. Silva 93 (RBR) ; 15. V. 2010, ster., K.C. Silva 104 (RBR)

Additional material examined:— BRASIL. Rio de Janeiro: Santa Maria Madalena , 19.X.1995, fl., R. Marquete et al. 2401 (RB). Silva Jardim, 7.V.1996, fl., C. Luchiari et al. 722 (RB, RBR); 7.VII.1999, fr., C. Luchiari et al. 785 (RB, RBR) .

Distribution:—This species has a wide distribution, occurring from Colombia, Venezuela and all the Guiana to Bolívia. In Brazil this species is found in the states of Amazonas, Acre, Rondônia, Roraima, Pará, Amapá, Mato Grosso, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo (Goldenberg 2009, 2012).

Comments:—This is the first record to Marambaia, where it occurs in Restinga Forest and Dense Submontane Ombrophilous Forest. Despite not having been found in fertile condition, M. lepidota may be recognized by the discoloured leaves with shiny green adaxial surface, and abaxial surface densely covered with a light cinereous indumentum of persistent lepidote-stellate trichomes. It may also be identified by the scorpioid cymes and oblong inflorescences. Additional illustrations in Baumgratz et al. (2006).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Miconia dodecandra: a. flower; b. petal; c–d. stamens; e. bracteole; f. calyx (a–d., f. Silva 7; e. Silva 14). Miconia lepidota: g. floriferous branch; h. leaf: abaxial surface; i. flower (g–h. Luchiari et al. 722; i. Farias et al. 197). Miconia pusilliflora: j. leaf: abaxial surface; k. hypanthium; l. calyx; m. stamen (Silva & Gonçalves 101). Miconia prasina: n–o. leaf: abaxial and adaxial surfaces, respectively; p. flower; q. fruit (Kurtz 167).