Conostegia colliculosa (Almeda) Kriebel, 2016

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 157-160

Conostegia colliculosa (Almeda) Kriebel comb. nov. Fig. 145

Conostegia colliculosa (Almeda) Kriebel. Basionym: Miconia colliculosa Almeda, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci, ser. 4, Series 4, 52(4): 33, f. 1. 2000. Type: Costa Rica. Limón: Cantón de Talamanca Amubri. Camino entre Amubri y Soki, Siguiendo el Río Nabri hacia Alto Soki, 929'50"N, 8259'10"W, elev. 150 m, 3 July 1989, G. Herrera 3129 (holotype: CAS!, isotypes: CR!, INB!, MEXU, MO!).

Description.

Shrub to small trees 1.5-6 m tall with terete branches that are apically densely covered with brown penicillate-stellate hairs, older branches glabrous; the nodal line present yet slight and covered by indument. Leaves at a node equal to subequal in length. Petiole 0.4-1.5 cm. Leaf blades 9.5-20.5 × 4.2-10.6 cm, 5(-7) plinerved, with the inner pairs of primary nerves diverging from the mid vein up to 2 cm above the base in sub opposite or alternate fashion, elliptic-ovate, the base obtuse to rounded and frequently oblique, slightly decurrent on the petiole, the apex acuminate, the margin undulate-denticulate to almost entire, the adaxial surface glabrous at maturity, the abaxial surface with penicillate stellate hairs on the elevated primary veins and stellate hairs on the secondary and higher order veins. Inflorescence a terminal panicle with ultimate branches termi-nating in simple dichasia appearing pseudolateral from elongation of lateral branches, sometimes deflexed, 3.5-8 cm long, branching above the base, accessory branches absent, densely covered with brown penicillate-stellate and /or coarse dendritic hairs, bracteoles 1-4 mm × 0.25-1 mm, linear-oblong, persistent. Pedicel lacking or to 0.25 mm long. Flowers 5-merous, calyx not calyptrate. Flower buds not seen; the hypanthium 2-2.5 × 1.75-2.25 mm, densely covered with brown penicillate-stellate and/or coarse dendritic hairs; the calyx tube 0.5 mm long, the calyx lobes ovate to suborbicular, often mucronate at the apex, stellate pubescent on both surfaces, the calyx teeth subulate, 1.5-2 mm long. Petals 3-4 × 1.5-2 mm, white, oblong-obovate, petal posture uncertain, the apex mostly rounded, glabrous. Stamens 10, ca. 2.5-3.5 mm long, radially arranged at anthesis, the filament 1-2 mm, with a geniculation near the apex, white, anthers 1-1.5 × 0.5-0.75 mm, elliptic, yellow, the pore 0.1 mm wide, dorsally inclined. Ovary 5-locular, inferior, costate apically and with a lobed glandular puberulent crown around the style base. Style 3.15-3.45 mm, exserted and straight to slightly curving, vertical distance from the anther to the stigma 1.45-1.65 mm, horizontal distance absent, stigma punctiform, 0.25-04 mm wide. Berry 4-5 × 4-5 mm, not seen at maturity. Seeds 0.5 mm long, triangular in outline, testa colliculose.

Distribution

(Fig. 146 ). Restricted to the Caribbean slope of Cost Rica and Panama, 150-650 m in elevation.

This rare species was assigned to Miconia section Ambyarrhena by Almeda (2000). The drawing in the protologue and study of the type specimen confirmed that the style is exserted and that the anthers are yellow, like most of its relatives, including Conostegia calocoma and Conostegia subpeltata . With the latter two species it also shares an irregularly rupturing calyx but in the case of Conostegia colliculosa the lobes are thicker and the calyx teeth longer. In addition, Conostegia colliculosa has five merous sessile flowers disposed in bracteate clusters whereas Conostegia calocoma and Conostegia subpeltata have four merous flowers that are not clustered in the inflorescences. Conostegia supeltata is further distinguished from Conostegia colliculosa in having subpeltate leaves and axillary inflorescences. Almeda (2000) suggested the relationship with Conostegia calocoma .

Specimens examined.

PANAMA. Coclé: El Santisimo, Wong 15-270 (CAS) . Colón: Cedro Hueco, Mendieta 11-30 (CAS). SAN BLAS: headwaters of Rio Nergala , along continental divide, de Nevers and Herrera 4514 (NY) . Veraguas: P. N. Santa Fé, aprox. 3 a 6 km pasando la Escuela Agrícola Alto d e Piedra, Kriebel and Burke 5751 (NY, PMA) .

Figures

Figure 145. Conostegia colliculosa. A Leaf abaxial surface B Infructescence C Detail of the apex of an inflorescence branch showing bracts and bracteoles subtending sessile flowers D External view of the hypanthium E Apex of the ovary F Dried stamen. Photos of specimen vouchered R Kriebel and J. Burke 5751.

Figure 146. Distribution of Conostegia colliculosa.