Meriania weberbaueri J.F.Macbr., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser.

Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, Phytotaxa 602 (1), pp. 1-101 : 89-92

35. Meriania weberbaueri J.F.Macbr., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 4(7): 176 (1929). Type:— PERU. Junín: Prov. Jauja, Valley of the Rio Masamerich , tributary of the Rio Pangao , abajo del tambo Calabaza , 1700–1800 m, 07 May 1913 (fl.), A. Weberbauer 6659 ( holotype: F! [accession no. 548841]; isotypes: CAS! [barcode 0003308], GH! [barcode 00443873], MICH! [barcode 1111855], MOL! [accession nos. 00441, 00442, 00443, 00444], NY! [barcode 00228985], S! [accession nos. S05-3272 , S09-12904 ], US! [barcodes 00120394, 00946246, 02925664]). ( Figures 70–71).

Comments:— Meriania weberbauerii is related to M. amischophylla and M. sumatika by sharing densely tomentose to villose hypanthia and calyces, calyces with claw-shaped dorsal projections ( Fig. 71C), spreading, fuchsia to reddish-purple corollas, and antesepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded descending dorso-basal appendages ( Fig. 70F). However, M. weberbaueri differs from M. amischophylla by its 1.3–5.1 cm long petiolate leaves ( Fig. 70B) (vs. subsessile) and antesepalous stamen connectives without dorsal appendages (vs. a mere hump), and M. weberbaueri differs from M. sumatika by its terete hypanthia (vs. 10-costate) and petals 20–25 mm long (vs. 46–55 mm long).

Meriania weberbauerii inhabits montane forests on the central Peruvian Andes ( Huánuco, Pasco and Junín). In this region there are two other species ( M. tomentosa and M. vasquezii ) that can be confused with M. weberbarueri . In sterile or fruiting specimens, it is almost impossible to differentiate these three species. Meriania tomentosa and M. vasquezii have calyptrate and subcalyptrate calyces, respectively, and both with irregular dehiscence, while M. weberbaueri has lobed calyces with regular dehiscence. However, in all three species the fruits have deciduous calyces. On the other hand, M. weberbaueri has inflorescences with flowers in (3–)4–6(–7)-flowered umbels in the branchlet ends ( vs. in regular dichasia in M. tomentosa and M. vasquezii ) and spreading corollas (vs. campanulate in M. tomentosa and M. vasquezii ).

Distribution and phenology:— Meriania weberbaueri is endemic to central Peru (Department of Huánuco, Junín and Pasco) and grows in montane forests at (910–) 1700–2780 m ( Fig. 11). It has been collected in flower almost all year round except in January, April, July and November, and in fruit in March, April, July, August and September.

Specimens examined:— PERU. Huánuco: Carpish, entre Acomayo y Chinchao , 2600–2700 m, 11 Feb 1950 (fl.), R . Ferreyra 6847 ( MOL!, US!, USM!) . Junín: Prov. Chanchamayo, Dist. San Ramón, Alto Pichita Fundo “Vista Alegre” - APRODES, 2200 m, 11°05’42”S, 75°25’57”W, 27–30 Mar 2002 (fl.), A . Daza & A . Reyna 2249 ( MOLF!), same locality and date (fl.), 2252 ( MOLF!), same locality and date (fl.), 2257 ( MOLF!), 08–10 Dec 2002 (fl.), A . Daza et al. 2056 ( MOLF!), Puyu Sacha, 2240 m, 11°05’41.77”S, 75°26’44.89”W, 13 Mar 2018 (fl.), A . Daza 6522 ( MOLF!), 2230 m, 11°05’39.33”S, 75°26’43.44”W, 10–14 Mar 2020 (fl.), S . Terreros & R . Villanueva-Espinoza 191 ( MOLF!, UPCB!), 2230 m, 11°05’26”S; 75°26’45”W, 14 Mar 2020 (fl.), R . Villanueva-Espinoza & S . Terreros 470 ( MOLF!), 2100 m, 11°05’25”S; 75°26’00”W, 28 May to 04 Jun 2021 (fl.), R . Villanueva-Espinoza 610 ( MOLF!). Prov. Satipo, Dist. Río Tambo, Parque Nacional Otishi, Comunidad Nativa Pichiquia, 2060 m, 11°22’28”S, 73°59’28”W, 11 Jul 2013 (fr.), L . Valenzuela et al. 24853 ( HOXA!, MO!). Prov. Tarma, Agua Dulce, 1800 m, 08 Mar 1948 (fl.), F . Woytkowski 35430 ( F!, MO!) . Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, 913 m, 10°19’48”S, 73°23’17.16”W, 18 Aug 2010 (fl.), X. Ge et al. 361 ( USM!); Dist. Chontabamba, Uclumano Ecolodge , camino a la parcela OXA3, 2200 m, 07 Dec 2022 (fl.), B . García 29 ( MOLF!); Dist. Huancabamba, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Quebrada Yanachaga, 2380 m, 10°23’36.6”S, 75°28’28.9”W, 20 Feb 2018 (fl. bud), F. A . Michelangeli & S . Riva 2976 ( HOXA!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, sector Quebrada Yanachaga, 2265 m, 10°23’45”S, 75°28’55”W, 19 Aug 2004 (fl., fr.), R . Vásquez et al. 30433 ( HOXA!, NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Sector Tunqui ( Quebrada Muchuymayo), 1923 m, 10°17’53”S, 75°30’54”W, 11 Feb 2009 (fl. bud), R . Vásquez et al. 35159 ( HOXA!, MO!, USM!), Zona de amortiguamiento del PN Yanachaga Chemillén ( Quebrada Yanachaga), 2347 m, 10°23’49”S, 75°28’36”W, 16 Sep 2004 (fl., fr.), J . Perea & J . Mateo 1769 ( HOXA!, NY!); Dist. Oxapampa, Carretera al sector San Alberto del PN Yanachaga Chemillén, cerca de la planta hidroeléctrica, ca. 5 km de Oxapampa, 2150 m, 10°32’57”S, 75°22’27”W, 20 Mar 2016 (fl., fr.), F. A . Michelangeli et al. 2714 ( NY!, USM!), Localidad La Suiza Neva , 2200 m, 10°45’01”S, 75°30’01”W, 17 Apr 2010 (fr.), R . Vásquez et al. 36471 ( HOXA!, NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, quebrada Yanachaga, 2370 m, 10°23’S, 75°28’W, 10 Jun 2003 (fl.), R . Vásquez et al. 28104 ( HOXA!, NY!), Sector Llamaquizú - La Colina, 2109 m, 10°35’56.4”S, 75°21’49.9”W, 02 Dec 2015 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 29236 ( HOXA!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Sector San Alberto, en el Abra Esperanza y alrededores, 2780 m, 10°31’55”S, 75°20’59”W, 02 Oct 2007 (fl.), C . Arias et al. 335 ( HOXA!) .