Leandra umbellata de Candolle (1828: 153)

Reginato, Marcelo, 2016, Taxonomic revision of Leandra sect. Leandra (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), Phytotaxa 262 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

17. Leandra umbellata de Candolle (1828: 153) . Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: São João Del Rei , C.F.P. von Martius s.n. (holotype M!, isotypes B, destroyed, G image!). ( Figs. 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 )

Leandra involucrata de Candolle (1828: 154) . Type:— BRAZIL: “inter Santa Cruz et Lorenam”, C.F.P von Martius s.n. (holotype M!, isotype G image!).

Shrubs, 1–3 m tall. Branches, petioles, leaves, inflorescences, bracts, bracteoles and hypanthia covered by unbranched trichomes (1–2 mm) mixed with glandular trichomes (1–2.5 mm), these sparser on the adaxial leaf surface where the glandular trichomes are absent. Leaves isophyllous or slightly anisophyllous in each pair (up to 6:10 ratio); petioles 1–5 cm long; blades (6)8–15 × (2.5) 3–9 cm, ovate, seldom ovate-lanceolate, apex shortly acuminate or acuminate, base rounded or slightly cordate, seldom obtuse and/or asymmetrical, margin crenulate, ciliate (0.5–1 mm), subchartaceous; 5–7 acrodromous nerves, plus 1 additional pair of faint veins, plinerved, seldom basally nerved, distant 4–12 mm above the base, acrodromous and transversal nerves prominent on adaxial surface and acrodromous and transversal nerves flat on abaxial, reticulation slightly conspicuous. Inflorescences terminal, 1–3 per node, 5–12 cm long, 1–3 pairs of opposite paraclades, accessory branches absent,> 30 flowers per inflorescence, these in glomerules; bracteoles 6–14 × 1.5–5 mm, lanceolate or slightly obovate, uniformly covered by glandular trichomes, involucral, persistent. Flowers 5–6(7)-merous, sessile. Hypanthium 4–7 × 2.5–3 mm, tubular, torus indumentum present, formed by sparse small unbranched glandular trichomes (0.3 mm). Calyx tube ca. 0.5 mm long; inner lobes 2–3 × 0.9–1.2 mm, lanceolate to triangular; external teeth 1.5–2.5 mm long. Petals white, 4.7–6.3 × 1.3–2.5 mm, linear or lanceolate, apex shortly acuminate, glabrous, spreading at anthesis. Stamens 10–12, opposite to the style; filaments geniculation present, the larger 7–8 mm long, the smaller 6–7.5 mm

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REGINATO long; anthers pink, the larger 5–9 mm long, the smaller 4–6 mm long, linear-subulate, dorsally curved to straight, pore 0.12–0.15 mm wide, connectives dorsally produced below the anthers 0.8–1.5 mm, appendage a basal-dorsal projection. Ovary 3–4-celled, 2.5–3 × 1.5–2 mm, 10–20 % inferior, apex densely covered by unbranched trichomes (0.7–1 mm). Style ca. 14 mm long, sigmoid, opposite of the stamens, stigma 0.15 mm diam. Berries purple, 10–13 × 5 mm. Seeds ca. 0.9 × 0.5 mm, long–obpyramidal, hilum covering 8–9/10 of the seed length, anticlinal cell walls flat.

Notes:— Leandra umbellata is readily distinguished by the glandular indumentum and large flowers (see notes on L. lapae ), and it is quite sticky in life. Both de Candolle (1828) and Cogniaux (1888) used the number of petals to differentiate L. umbellata (6-merous) from L. involucrata (5-merous). However, variation in the number of petals (5–7) was observed in some specimens, and predominantly 5-merous and 6-merous individuals were observed growing side by side in the lower slopes of Itatiaia mountains (Rio de Janeiro).

Selected specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Amargosa, Cardoso 1503 ( CEPEC); Arataca, Jardim 228 ( CEPEC); Barra do Choça, Pinheiro 2215 ( CEPEC). Minas Gerais: Catas Altas, Stehmann 3507 ( UPCB); Juiz de Fora, Castro 23 ( UPCB); Mariana, Tameirão Neto 2634 ( UPCB); Santa Bárbara, Barreto 6697 ( SP); São Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, Stehmann 3473 ( UPCB); Serro, Williams 7014 ( SP); Viçosa, Mexia 5465 ( F, NY). Rio de Janeiro: Itatiaia, Sampaio 1051 ( RB). São Paulo: São José dos Campos, Jouy 674 ( SP).

TAXONOMIC REVISION OF LEANDRA SECT. LEANDRA

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REGINATO TAXONOMIC REVISION OF LEANDRA SECT. LEANDRA

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Excluded names

Melastoma hirsuta Vellozo (1829: 171) , nom. illeg. Non Melastoma hirsuta Sw.

Notes:— Cogniaux (1888) treated Melastoma hirsuta as synonym of L. melastomoides . However, the illustration of M. hirsuta shows a clearly 5+2 venation pattern. If taken into account the number of nerves, absence of glandular trichomes, shape of the bracteoles and geographical distribution of M. hirsuta , this species, if otherwise with a valid name, would be better placed as a synonym of L. sericea .

Melastoma holosericea Vellozo (1829: 171) , nom. illeg. Non Melastoma holosericeum L.

Notes:—If otherwise with a valid name, this species should be considered as synonym of L. melastomoides (as treated by Cogniaux 1888).

Figures

FIGURE 77. Distribution of Leandra umbellata.

FIGURE 78. Leandra umbellata. A. Branch with inflorescence. B. Leaf on adaxial view. C. Inflorescence. D. Flowers.

FIGURE 79. Leandra umbellata. A. Inflorescence. B. Detail of the leaf base. C. Branch with inflorescence. D. Leaf on abaxial view. E. Detail of the shoot. F. Detail of the leaf on adaxial view. Voucher: Brade 17489.

FIGURE 80. Leandra umbellata. A. Flower bud. B. Flower bud (upper view). C. Bracteole. D. Flower. E. Petal. F. Detail of ovary apex. G. Detail of anther apex. H. Style. I. Stamens. J. Hypanthium and calyx longitudinal section. K. Hypanthium. L. Anthers. Scales: A–E, H–L = 1 mm; F, G = 0.25 mm. Voucher: Reginato 1444.