Miconia calvescens Candolle (1828: 185)

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 : 75

5.3. Miconia calvescens Candolle (1828: 185) . [ Figs. 3h , 6j–n ]

Trees, sometimes treelets, 4–7 m; indumentum of the branches, leaves, inflorescences, abaxial surface of the bracts and bracteoles, hypanthium and calyx furfuraceous-stellulate, the trichomes generally caducous. Petioles 2.6–7.4 cm long; blade 20.5–39.1 × 9.1–18 cm, discolour green, abaxial surface sometimes vinaceous to pink when young, chartaceous, elliptic or ovate, sometimes oblong-ovate, base obtuse to rounded or subcordate, apex acute, margin undulate; abaxial surface very sparsely furfuraceous-stellulate or glabrous; acrodromous basal veins 5, or the inner pair up to 10 mm suprabasal. Thyrsoids of glomerules 14.3–27.1 cm long, vinaceous; bracts 2.8–2.9 × 1.8–1.9 mm, bracteoles 3–4.9 × 1.5–1.9 mm, both concave, obovate, apex rounded, very early-caducous. Flowers 5-merous, sessile; hypanthium 1.5–2.9 × 1.8–2.5 mm, campanulate; inner torus glabrous; calyx persistent, lobes ca. 1 x 1–1.5 mm, broad-triangular; petals 2.5–3.2 × 1.7–2 mm, white, obovate, apex obtuse to rounded; stamens subisomorphic and subequal in size; filaments 1.8–4.2 mm long; anthers 2–2.3 mm long, white, straight, connective slightly prolonged, appendage dorsally truncate and ventrally 2-auriculate, joined together forming a sheat at the thecae base; ovary 0.8–2.5 × 1.3–2.1 mm, almost completely inferior, 3-celled, sparse-glandular; style 1.8–3.5 mm long, glabrous. Bacidium 2.8–3 × 2.9–3 mm, vinaceous to purple-blackness, subglobose, polyspermous (100–150 seeds); seeds ca. 0.3 × 0.2 mm, obtriangular.

Specimens examined:— 10.II.2000, fl., fr., H.R. P. Lima s.n. (RBR 10262) ; 13.I.2004, fl., L.F.T. Menezes 1117 (RBR) ; 7.IV.2007, fr., K.C. Silva 1, 3 (RB, RBR) ; 9.I.2010, fl., K.C. Silva 64 (RBR) ; 23.IV.2010, fl., K.C. Silva 102 (RBR) .

Distribution:—This species has a wide distribution, occurring from southern Mexico and Central America to Paraguai ( Almeda 2009). In Brazil, it is found in the Pará, Amazonas, Acre, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina (Goldenberg 2009).

Comments:—In Marambaia, this species occurs in Restinga Forest and Dense Submontane Ombrophilous Forest. It can be distinguished by the connective appendage that is dorsally truncate and ventrally biauriculate, to form a sheat at the thecae base. The abaxial surface of young leaves can be vinaceous or rosy, becoming green when mature. Additional illustrations in Baumgratz et al. (2006).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Clidemia hirta (L.) D.Don: a. flower and fruit. Clidemia urceolata: b. flower. Huberia ovalifolia: c. flower; d. fruits. Leandra reversa: e. inflorescence. Marcetia taxifolia: f. flowers. Miconia albicans: g. fruits and floral buds. Miconia calvescens: h. flowers. Miconia chartacea: i. leaves. Miconia cinnamomifolia: j. branches with interpetiolar pseudo-stipules; k. fruits. Miconia cubatanensis: l. inflorescence. Miconia dodecandra: m. fruits. Miconia prasina: n. inflorescence. Miconia pusilliflora: o. inflorescence. Ossaea marginata: p. flowers; q. fruit. Tibouchina corymbosa: r. fruits. Tibouchina estrellensis: s. flower. Tibouchina gaudichaudiana: t. flower; u. fruit. Tibouchina granulosa: v. flower. Tibouchina heteromalla: x. flower. Tibouchina trichopoda: z. flower.

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).