Conostegia bernoulliana Cogn.

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 48

Conostegia bernoulliana Cogn. Fig. 65

Conostegia bernoulliana Cogn., DC. Monog. Phan. 7: 698. 1891. Type: Guatemala. Sarnayara: April 1877, K. Bernoulli & O. Cairo 2884 (lectotype: GOET! (image seen), designated here; isolectotype: K!).

Conostegia sphaerica Triana, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28: 98. 1872. Type: Mexico. Teotalcingo (probably in Oaxaca): June 1842, Liebmann 2842 (holotype: P, isotypes: BM!, BR, C, F!, K!). Also numbered as Liebmann 18 and Liebmann s.n.

Description.

Tree 6-16 m tall with grayish-brown bark peeling in large thick flakes, the somewhat tetragonal and ridged stems in newer branches glabrous or with inconspicuous underdeveloped stellate or dendritic trichomes; the nodal line evident mostly on young nodes. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in length. Petioles 0.8-4 cm long. Leaves 5.5-18 × 2-6 cm, 3-5 plinerved, with the innermost diverging from the mid vein 0.5-1.5 cm above the base in opposite or sub opposite fashion, the outermost primary veins usually inconspicuous and resulting in a mostly 3 veined looking leaf, narrowly elliptic, acute at the base, the apex acuminate, the margin entire, glabrous on both surfaces. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 5-9 cm long branching above the base, accessory branches present, bracts to 4 cm, early deciduous absent on most specimens, bracteoles ca. 0.5 mm long, linear, early deciduous and appearing absent on most specimens. Pedicel 3.5-4.5 mm long. Flowers 6-9 merous, calyptrate; flower buds 7.5-9.3 × 5-7 mm, obovoid, rounded at the base, obtuse to rounded and apiculate at the apex, slightly constricted below the calyptra, the hypanthial and calycine portions not or only slightly differentiated, constricted above the torus, hypanthium 4.5-5 × 4.5-5 mm, smooth. Petals 6.75-8 × 6.5-7 mm, white, narrowly obtriangular, spreading, emarginate, glabrous. Stamens 18-25, 7.75-9.25 mm long, radially arranged, the filament 4.75-5.25 mm, lacking a geniculation, white, anthers 3-3.5 × 1.25-1.75 mm, ovoid, laterally compressed, yellow, the base sagittate, the connective thickened dorsally and with a small bump, the pore 0.15 mm wide, terminal or subterminal. Ovary 8-12 locular, inferior, apically glabrous and forming a stylar collar. Style 6-6.5 mm, strongly bending downwards resulting in a evidently zygomorphic flower, vertical distance from the anther to the stigma ca. -1 mm, horizontal distance ca. 1-1.5 mm; stigma crateriform, consisting of 8-12 laterally compressed lobes, 3-3.3 mm wide. Berry 6-8 × 6-8 mm, when dry; seeds not seen.

Distribution

(Fig. 66 ). Mexico, Guatemala and on the pacific slope of the Costa Rica cordilleras, reaching the lowlands of the Osa Península, 50-1500 m in elevation.

Conostegia bernoulliana was synonymized under Conostegia icosandra by Schnell (1996) and Almeda (2009). I have chosen to recognize Conostegia bernoulliana after studying populations in the field of Conostegia icosandra that correspond with the type and one that corresponds to Conostegia bernoulliana in addition to many herbarium specimens of Conostegia icosandra . The main differences between the two species are the presence of indument in the stems and leaves, the broader 3-5 plinerved leaves, the persistent ovate bracteoles and non crateriform stigma of Conostegia icosandra . In contrast Conostegia bernoulliana has glabrous stems and leaves, the latter narrow and usually three plinerved, bracteoles very early deciduous to apparently lacking, and an evidently crateriform stigma. Schnell (1996) noted that the other syntype, Wendland 545 (GOET), pertains to Conostegia oerstediana Berg ex Triana.

Specimens examined.

MEXICO. Chiapas: Finca Mexiquito, Purpus 6785 (MO, NY).

GUATEMALA. Huehuetenango: vicinity of Maxbal about 17 miles north of Barillas , Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, between Maxbal and lake to the southeast, Steyermark 48726 (NY) . Sololá: south-facing slopes of Volcán Atitlán above Finca Mocá, Steyermark 47935 (NY). Suchitepéquez: Finca Mocá, Hunnewell 14756 (NY); Finca Moca, Skutch 2068 (NY); southern lower slopes of Volcán Zunil, vicinity of Finca Las Nubes, along Quebrada Chita, east of Pueblo Nuevo , Steyermark 35407 (NY) .

COSTA RICA. Guanacaste: Liberia, P.N. Guanacaste, cuenca del Tempisque, Sector Cacao, Acosta et al. 1166 (CR, INB, MO, NY) . Puntarenas: Distrito Sierpe, Reserva Forestal Golfo Dulce, Rincón, cerca de Banegas, Los Charcos, 1 km. al Este del centro del pueblo Banegas Estacion Biologica Los Charcos de Osa , Aguilar 10855 (NY); camino a Rancho Quemado, Kriebel et al. 5540 (INB) . San José: Río San Isidro, Jiménez 3840 (NY); Perez Zeledón, Vicinity of El General , Skutch 2604, 4159 (MO, NY) .

Figures

Figure 65. Conostegia bernoulliana. A Habit and inflorescence B Leaf abaxial surface C Frontal view of flower D Lateral view of the flower E Longitudinal section of flower bud F Lateral view of the flower from pickled material G Dissection of lateral view of the flower from pickled material H Petal I Stamen J Style. Photos of specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5578.

Figure 66. Distribution of Conostegia bernoulliana.