Meriania dazae Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., Nordic J. Bot.

Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, Phytotaxa 602 (1), pp. 1-101 : 29-31

7. Meriania dazae Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., Nordic J. Bot. 39(3)-e02669: 6 (2021). Type :— PERU. Amazonas : Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Vista Alegre, subiendo la quebrada Salas, 2750 m, 06°06’50.58”S, 77°26’48.21”W, 06 Aug 2012 (fl.,fr.), J.L. Marcelo-Peña, R. Fernandez-Hilario & J. Santos 6568 (holotype: MOLF! [barcode 000001]; isotype: MOLF! [barcode 000002]). ( Figures 22–23 ).

Comments:— Meriania dazae belongs to a group of species characterized by campanulate, pink-orange to reddish-orange corollas and lobed calyx, usually with claw-shaped dorsal projections. Within this group, M. dazae can be differentiated by the combination of elongated trichomes with substellate bases, evenly covering the adaxial surface of leaves ( Fig. 22B–C ), calyces with claw-shaped dorsal projections 1–4.5 mm long ( Fig. 22G ), petals 19.5–24 mm long, isomorphic stamens and stamen connectives with two appendages ( Fig. 22E ), one crown-shaped descending dorso-basal appendage and the other dorsal appendage as a mere hump. Among Peruvian species, M. dazae most closely resembles M. bongarana but differs by indument on the abaxial leaf blades (whitish to cream tomentose vs. ferrugineous pubescent), petal length (19.5–24 mm long vs. 14–15.5 mm long), and the dorsal appendages of the stamen connectives (a mere hump vs. absent). A detailed comparison of M. dazae with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2021).

Distribution and phenology:— Meriania dazae is endemic to northern Peru and known from a single locality in the Vista Alegre Omia Regional Conservation Area in the Department of Amazonas, and grows in montane forests at 2660–2750 m ( Fig. 9 ). It has been collected in flower and fruit in August.

Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Vista Alegre, Área de Conservación Vista Alegre , inmediaciones de campamento no. 1 y quebrada Salas , 2660 m, 06°06’42.52”S, 77°26’23.28”W, 04 Aug 2012 (fl.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 169 ( MOLF!, UPCB!), subiendo la quebrada Salas , 2660 m, 06°06’44.20”S, 77°26’27.51”W, 04 Aug 2012 (fl.), J. L. Marcelo-Peña et al. 6528 ( MOLF!), same locality, 2750 m, 06°06’50.58”S, 77°26’48.21”W, 06 Aug 2012 (fl.), J. L. Marcelo-Peña et al. 6559 ( MOLF!) .

Figures

FIGURE 9. Distribution map of M. acida, M. callosa, M. dazae, M. drakei, M. franciscana, M. juanjil and M. peltata.

FIGURE 22. Meriania dazae. A. Terminal fertile branch with inflorescences. B. Leaf blade, abaxial view. C. Detail of the abaxial leaf surface. D. Detail of the domatia on abaxial leaf surface. E. Stamen in lateral view. F. Petal. G. Inflorescence branch. A, C–G from J.L. Marcelo et al. 6568; B from J.L. Marcelo et al. 6528.

FIGURE 23. Meriania dazae. A–B. Terminal fertile branches with inflorescences. C. Flower at anthesis, lateral view. D. Flower at anthesis, apical view. A from J.L. Marcelo et al. 6568; B–D from R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 169. Photos by José L. Marcelo (A) and Robin Fernandez (B–D). Reproduced with permission from Nordic Journal of Botany.