Lijndenia memecyloides R.D. Stone, 2017

Stone, R. Douglas, 2017, Revised treatment of the genus Lijndenia (Melastomataceae, Olisbeoideae) in Madagascar, Candollea 72 (1), pp. 67-86 : 80

6. Lijndenia memecyloides R.D. Stone , nom. nov. ( Fig. 7 ).

÷ Memecylon lutescens Naudin in Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., ser. 3, 18: 269. 1852 [nom. illeg.] [non M. lutescens C. Presl ].

÷ Spathandra lutescens (Naudin) Jacq. - Fél. in Adansonia ser. 2, 18: 228. 1978 [nom. illeg.].

÷ Lijndenia lutescens (Naudin) Jacq. -Fél. in Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., B, Adansonia 7: 44. 1985 [nom. illeg.].

Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGASCAR: sine loc., s.d., fl., du Petit-Thouars s.n. ( P [ P00057566 ]!; isolecto-: P [ P00057567 ]!, BR [ BR000000626115 ] fragment!) .

= Memecylon meeusei H. Perrier in Not. Syst. (Paris) 12: 106. 1945. Lectotypus (designated here): MADAGAS- CAR. Prov. Toamasina: Soanierana-Ambahoabé , 75 m, 3.XII.1938, fl., Lam & Meeuse 5624 (L [ L0009293 ]!; isolecto-: BR [ BR000000626121 ]!, P [ P00057569 , P00057570 ]!, WAG [ WAG0002347 ]!).

Shrub or tree to 4-15 m; branchlets terete; internodes (0.6-)1-2.5(-6.8) cm. Leaves apparently 1-nerved (only the midnerve clearly visible, the lateral nerves intramarginal and ± obscure), subcoriaceous, finely granular in dried material, on petioles mostly 3-5 mm; blades narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate or obovate, (2.2-)3-5(-6.4) X (1-)1.4-2.2 (-2.8) cm, cuneate at base and gradually narrowed to the petiole, the apex rounded or retuse to vaguely obtuse-acuminate (the acumen if present mostly 2-5 mm); transverse veins not evident or ± faintly visible in dried material, oriented at an oblique angle relative to the midnerve. Cymes umbelliform and mostly 3-5(-8)-flowered, solitary or in fascicles of 2(-3) mostly at the leafless nodes of older branchlets, sometimes also solitary or geminate in the leaf axils, subsessile or on peduncles mostly 1-3 mm (3.5-14 mm in the type material of Memecylon meeusei ); each flower subtended by a pair of cymbiform/orbicular, persistent bracteoles fused to form a cupule or involucre from which emerges the pedicel 1-3 mm. Hypantho-calyx cupulo-patellate, 1.5-1.75 X 1.75-2 mm, the margin obscurely 4-sinuate or with calyx lobes slightly triangular; petals white, 1.5-2 X 1.5-2 mm, unguiculate, limb suborbicular with base cordate-auriculate above the claw 0.5 mm; stamens white, the anthers dolabriform, 1-1.5 X 0.5 mm, the anther sacs positioned at the anterior end, connective slightly to strongly incurved by the medially positioned, dorsal oil-gland, prolonged at the posterior end into a subacute beak, filaments slender, 3-4 mm; epigynous chamber deep, smooth (lacking interstaminal partitions); style blue, filiform, 5-9 mm; ovary 6-8-ovuled. Fruits globose or somewhat asymmetrical, 5-7 mm in diameter, crowned by the persistent calyx c. 1 mm, distinctly 4-toothed or truncate and remotely 4-denticulate.

Figures

Fig. 7. – Lijndenia memecyloides R.D. Stone. A. Flowering branchlet; B-E. Leaves; F. Detail of lower leaf surface; G. Detail of branchlet showing cymes fascicled at an older, defoliated node; H. Cyme (side view); I. Floral bud (side view); J. Petal; K. Stamen (side view); L. Infructescence (side view).