Meriania urceolata Triana

Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, Phytotaxa 602 (1), pp. 1-101 : 83

31. Meriania urceolata Triana , Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28(1): 67 (1871) [1872].

Type:— PERU. San Martín: Prope Tarapoto, Peruvia orientalis, 1855–1856 (fl., fr.), R. Spruce 4439 (lectotype, designated by Chiavegato & Baumgratz 2011: K! [barcode K000006311 ]; isolectotypes: B-probably destroyed [negative at F], BR! [barcode 00000641173 ], E! [barcode E00504628 ], G! [barcodes G00074119 , G00074120 ], GH! [barcode 00072680 ], K! [barcode K000006309 ], NY! [barcode 00228981 ], P! [barcode P00539048 ], W! [accession no. 1889-0012092 ]). Remaining syntypes:— BRAZIL: Prope Panuré ad Rio Vaupés , Oct 1852 - Jan 1853 (fl.), R. Spruce 2757 ( BR! [barcode 00000641172 ], C! [barcode C10014730 ], K! [barcode K000006310 ], NY! [barcodes 00228982 , 00228983 ], P! [barcodes P00539049 , P00539050 ] W! [accession nos. 1889-0012082 , 1889-0111908 ]. GUYANA: without locality, no date (fr.), Parker s.n. ( K! [barcode K 000329423 ]) . ( Figure 65 ).

Meriania paraensis Ducke, Arch. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 3: 224 (1922). Type :— BRAZIL. Pará: Campos do Ariramba, 150 m, 23 Set 1913 (fl.), A. Ducke 14854 (lectotype, designated by Wurdack 1993: RB! [barcode 00541448]; isolectotypes: MB [n.s.], MG [n.s.], US! [barcode 00120382]).

Comments:— This species is easily recognisable by the combination of ferrugineous indumentum ( Fig. 65C–D ), ovate leaf blades with flat surfaces, spreading, fuchsia corollas, strongly dimorphic stamens, and stamen connectives with developed ascending dorsal appendages ( Fig. 65E–F ). The only Peruvian species of Meriania with similar appendages in the stamen connectives is M. microflora . However, it can be differentiated by its liguliform projections on the apex of the petioles (vs. absent in M. urceolata ), white petals 4–4.5 mm long (vs. fuchsia and 14–20 mm long in M. urceolata ) and antepetalous stamen connectives with apically trilobed ascending dorsal appendages (vs. sagittate, Fig. 65F ).

Distribution and phenology:— Meriania urceolata is widely distributed from Venezuela to northern Peru and western Brazil. In Peru it occurs in the department of San Martín in premontane forests at 800–1600 m ( Fig. 16 ). It has been collected in flower in January, November and December.

Nomenclatural notes:— Triana (1871) [1872] cited as types the specimens Spruce 2757 and 4439 in the protologue of M. urceolata , so both specimens were considered as syntypes conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018). For this reason, M. urceolata was lectotypified by Chiavegato & Baumgratz (2011). Ducke (1922) cited Ducke 14854 as type in the protologue of M. paraensis but without indicating any herbarium, so it must also be considered as a syntype conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018). According to Art. 9.10 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), we must consider that Wurdack (1993) made an inadvertent lectotypification of M. paraensis when he wrote “ Ducke 14854 (holotype RB) ” in his treatment of Melastomataceae for the Flora of the Guianas.

Specimens examined:— PERU. San Martín: Prov. Moyobamba, Habana , cerca de Moyobamba , 800–900 m, no date (fl.), A. Weberbauer 4570 ( MOL!), Habana , campo experimental INRENA, 820 m, 16 Nov 1996 (fl.), I. Sánchez 8694 ( F!, US!), Río Negro , 1400 m, 18 Jan 1961 (fl.), F. Woytkowski 6222 ( US!), Zepelacio, near Moyobamba , 1200– 1600 m, Dec 1933 (fl.), G. Klug 3451 ( F!, NY!, US!) .

Figures

FIGURE 16. Distribution map of M. bongarana, M. escalerensis, M. megaphylla, M. ninakurorum, M. prunifolia, M. speciosa and M. urceolata.

FIGURE 65. Meriania urceolata. Terminal fertile branch with inflorescence. B. Leaf blade, abaxial view. C. Detail of the abaxial leaf surface. D. Detail of the hypanthium outer surface. E. Antesepalous stamens, lateral view. F. Antepetalous stamens, lateral view. G. Petal. H. Flower at anthesis, lateral view.A and B from G. Klug 3451; C–H from A. Weberbauer 4570.