Maieta guianensis Aublet (1775: 443-445)

Corrêa, André Luis, Scudeller, Veridiana Vizoni & Goldenberg, Renato, 2017, Melastomataceae in the Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Tupé, Amazonas, Brazil, Phytotaxa 323 (2), pp. 101-127 : 114

16. Maieta guianensis Aublet (1775: 443-445) .

Shrubs 0.5–1.2 m tall. Brown and smooth rhytidome. Branches erect, cylindrical, not winged, greenish; with simple and stellate persistent trichomes. Leaves opposite anisophyllous; petioles circular 4.2–7.9 mm long, with stellate glandular persistent trichomes; leaf blades 5.1–18.8 × 2.1–8.3 cm, membranous, concolorous, symmetrical, elliptical or oblongelliptical, base rounded, apex acuminate, margins serrate ciliate, adaxial side with simple caducous trichomes, abaxial surface with simple and stellate caducous trichomes, leaf vein 5, suprabasal; ant domatia at the leaf blade base, with 2 vertical chambers. Flowers axillary; bracts, with simple stellate persistent trichomes; bracteoles absent. Flowers 5-merous; pedicel ca. 0.3 mm long; hypanthium ca. 4.9 mm long, oblong, smooth; calyx simple, persistent; petals 5.9–6.5 × 3.8–4.4 mm, white, obovate, symmetrical, apex emarginated, base attenuate, margins not ciliate, glabrous; stamens 10, isomorphic, anthers 5.1–5.8 mm long, oblong, curved, apex attenuate, 2 apical pores, white, connective not prolonged, filament 3–3.7 mm long, glabrous; ovary 4.5 × 4.1 mm, half-inferior, placentation axillary intrusive, 6- locular, glabrous; style 6.7–7.4 mm long, straight, glabrous. Berry 9.6–12.1 × 9.2–11.1 mm, unripe fruit red, ripe fruit purple; seeds numerous, triangular.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Amazonas , Manaus, RDS-Tupé, 21 February 2013, fr., A. L. Corrêa 176 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 21 February 2013, fr., A. L. Corrêa 177 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 21 February 2013, fr., fl., A. L. Corrêa 178 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 21 February 2013, fr., A. L. Corrêa 180 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 27 April 2013, fr., A. L. Corrêa 210 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 27 April 2013, fr., A. L. Corrêa 212 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 27 April 2013, fr., A. L. Corrêa 216 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) .

Distribution and habitat:— Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador ( Berry et al. 2001). In Brazil it occurs in Amazonian forests (Michelangeli, 2015). In the reserve, it occurs in “terra firme” slopes, in shaded areas on clay soils with a lot of organic matter.

Comments:— This species is frequent in the reserve. It can be distinguished by the ant domatia at the base of the leaf blades and by the anisophyllous leaves.