Clidemia rubra (Aublet 1775: 416) Martius (1829: 152)

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 : 113

13. Clidemia rubra (Aublet 1775: 416) Martius (1829: 152) .

Shrubs 0.8–1.3 m tall. Green and smooth rhytidome. Branches erect, cylindrical, not winged, cream; branches, petioles, leaves both side, inflorescences, bracts, bracteoles, hypanthium and fruits with simple persistent trichomes. Leaves opposite isophyllous; petioles circular 7.1–16.4 mm long; leaf blades 9.1–13.6 × 4.1–7.6 cm, chartaceous, concolorous, symmetrical, elliptical or ovate, base cordate, apex acuminate, margins erose and ciliate, leaf veins 8, basal or suprabasal; ant domatia absent. Inflorescences a cyme, axillary; bracts 2.8 mm long, linear, persistent; bracteoles, linear. Flowers 4-merous; hypanthium 2.4 mm long, oblong, smooth, with simple persistent trichomes; calyx simple, persistent; internal lacinia a membranous ring, external lacinia triangular; petals 2.3–2.8 × 1.2–1.5 mm, white, oblong, symmetrical, apex rounded, base truncate, margins not ciliate, glabrous; stamens 8, isomorphic, anthers 3.6–4 mm long, purplish, oblong, straight, apex attenuate, 1 apical pore, connective not prolonged, filament 1.9–2.6 mm long, glabrous; ovary, inferior, placentation parietal intrusive, 4-locular, with simple trichomes; style 8.2–8.7 mm long, straight, glabrous. Berry 9.1–9.9 × 7.5–8.7 mm, unripe fruit green, ripe fruit purple; seeds numerous, ovoid.

Specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Amazonas , Manaus, RDS-Tupé, 08 June 2012, fl.,fr., A. L. Corrêa 19 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 09 June 2012, fl.fr., A. L. Corrêa 25 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 27 July 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 28 ( INPA!) ; 02 November 2012, fl., fr., A. L. Corrêa 92 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 05 November 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 104 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) .

Distribution and habitat: — Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru (Berry et al. 2011; Wurdack et al. 1993). In Brazil it occurs in Amazonian forests and Cerrado ( Michelangeli & Reginato 2015). In the reserve, it occurs in “terra firme”, in secondary vegetation and trail edges, on clay soil and low organic matter.

Comments: —This s pecies is frequent, with large populations. It can be distinguished, among the species of Clidemia , by the purplish anthers.