Miconia chrysophylla (Richard 1792: 109) Urban (1910: 459)

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 : 115-116

19. Miconia chrysophylla (Richard 1792: 109) Urban (1910: 459) . ( Figure 2 J .)

Tree ca. 9 m tall. Dark brown rhytidome. Branches erect, quadrangular, not winged, brown, full; branches, leaves abaxial surface, petioles, inflorescence, bracts, bracteoles and fruits with lepidote persistent trichomes. Leaves whorled, isophyllous, petiolate; petioles striate 1.3–1.7 mm long, with lepidote persistent trichomes, leaf blades ca. 16.4 × 4.6 cm, chartaceous, discolored, symmetrical, elliptical, base cuneate, apex acuminate, margins serrate, not ciliate, adaxial side glabrous, leaf veins 5, basal; ant domatia absent. Paniculate ca. 8.3 × 6.8 cm, terminal; bracts ca. 1.4 mm long, linear, persistent; bracteoles ca. 0.8 mm long. Flowers 5-merous, sessile; hypanthium ca. 1.4 mm long, campanulate, wrinkled; calyx simple, persistent; lacinia linear; petals ca. 1.8 × 1.2 mm, white, obovate, symmetrical, apex rounded, base attenuate, margins not ciliate, glabrous; stamens 10, isomorphic, smaller anthers ca. 1.2 mm, larger anthers ca. 1.4 mm long, yellow, ovoid, straight, apex truncate,1 subapical pore, connective prolonged, ca. 0.4 mm long, smaller filaments ca. 1.8 mm, larger filaments ca. 2.1 mm long, glabrous; ovary 0.7 mm long, inferior, placentation axillary, 3-locular, glabrous; style ca. 3.2 mm long, straight, glabrous. Berry ca. 2.9 × 3.1 mm, ripe fruit blackish; 4 seeds per fruit, triangular.

Specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Amazonas , Manaus, RDS-Tupé, 16 August 2012, bot. A. L. Corrêa 46 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 10 August 2013, bot., A. L. Corrêa 244 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) .

Distribution and habitat:— Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia ( Goldenberg et al. 2013). In Brazil it occurs in Amazonian forests ( Goldenberg & Caddah 2015). In the reserve, it occurs in “terra firme” plateaus on well drained clay soil, with a lot of organic matter and shaded environments.

Comments:— This species is frequent in the reserve. It can be distinguished by the dark brown rhytidome and whorled leaves. It can be easily recognized by being the only species with whorled leaves.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Flower, fruit and bark in species of Melastomataceae in the RDS-Tupé: Flower (A–B).A: Henriettea martiusii; B: Tibouchina fothergillae. Fruit (C–F); C. H. maroniensis; D. Clidemia epibaterium; E. Miconia comptifolia; F. C. capitellata; G. Bellucia spruceana; H. M. longispicata, detail of inflorescence; I. M. rhytidophylla. Patterns and colors of the rhytidome and inner bark; J. M. chrysophylla; K. M. comptifolia; L. M. crassinervia; M. M. dispar; N. M. egensis; O. M. gratissima; P. M. longispicata; Q. M. lourteigiana; R. M. phanerostila; S. M. radulifolia; T. M. regelii; U. M. tomentosa; V. M. umbrosa; W. Tococa coronata; X. Tococa subciliata.