Meriania tetragona (Cogn.) Wurdack

Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, Phytotaxa 602 (1), pp. 1-101 : 73

28. Meriania tetragona (Cogn.) Wurdack , Phytologia 9(7): 411 (1964).

Basionym: Axinaea tetragona Cogn., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 42(1): 137 (1908).

Type:— PERU. Amazonas: Ad orientem a Chachapoyas versus, inter Tambo Almirante et Tambo Bagazán, 2700–2800 m, 30 Jul 1904 (fl.), A. Weberbauer 4430 (lectotype, designated by Burke & Michelangeli 2013: BR! [barcode 000008438300 ]; isolectotypes: B-probably destroyed [negative at F]) . ( Figures 59–60 ).

Meriania raimondii Markgr., Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 13(119): 461 (1937). Type:— PERU. Cajamarca: Cutervo , Apr 1879 (fl.), A. Raimondi 5727 (lectotype, designated here: USM! [accession no. 27390]). Remaining syntype:— PERU. Cajamarca: Cutervo, Apr 1879, A. Raimondi 3156 (not located).

Comments:— Meriania tetragona belongs to the M. radula complex (see comments under M. radula for diagnostic characteristics) and is recognisable within the complex by the combination of quadrangular-winged internodes, nodes with interpetiolar flaps ( Fig. 60B ), glabrous to sparsely puberulent leaves, and abaxial tuberculate projections on the transition zone from the petiole to the midvein ( Fig. 60C ). All examined specimens show stable characteristics, except Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2092 which has abaxial horn-shaped projections instead of tuberculate.

Due to internode morphology, Meriania tetragona could be confused with M. penningtonii , but the former differs in its campanulate, deep red corollas (vs. spreading, reddish-purple) and the presence of the interpetiolar flap (vs. absent). Also, M. tetragona could be confused with some red-flowered species of Axinaea , but these species have pendulous inflorescences (vs. erect in M. tetragona , Fig. 60A ) and 4-merous flowers (vs. 5-merous).

Nomenclatural notes:— Markgraf (1937) cited Raimondi 3156 and 5727 as types in the protologue of M. raimondii , so both specimens must be considered as syntypes conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018). The A. Raimondi collection housed in USM corresponds to the specimens that were sent on loan to Berlin in 1926 ( Anonymous 1939, 1942), so they may have been seen by F. Markgraf and apparently Raimondi 3156 was the only one of the specimens that did not return to Peru. Therefore, according to Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), we chose as lectotype Raimondi 5727.

Distribution and phenology:— Meriania tetragona is distributed in Ecuador and Peru, and it occurs from the department of Amazonas to Lambayeque in montane forests, elfin forests and subparamos at 2200–3300 m ( Fig. 30 ). It has been collected in flower almost year-round except in September and December, and in fruit almost year-round except in April and September.

Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Leimebamba-Balsas road, km 415, 28 Mar 1977 (fl., fr.), J. Boeke 1822 ( MO!, NY!); Path Chachapoyas-Moyobamba , 2700–3300 m, Jan 1930 (fr.), L. Williams 7579 ( F!); 18 kms SW of Leimebamba along road towards Balsas , 3000 m, 06°45’S, 77°48’W, 13 Feb 1985 (fl.), J. Luteyn & E. Cotton 11379 ( MO!, NY!, USM!). Prov. Bongará, Dist. Florida , Tierras de la Comunidad San Lorenzo, 3000 m, 06°45’21.89”S, 78°02’00.74”W, 17 Feb 2020 (fl., fr.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1888 ( HOXA!, KUELAP!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!). Prov. Chachapoyas, Passim 20– 17 km down E slope of Cerro Calla-Calla , 02 Jun 1966 (fl.), G. Edwin & J. Schunke V. 3653 ( F!, NY!); Cerros Calla-Calla , east side, 19 km above Leimebamba on the road to balsas, 3100 m, 04 Jun 1964 (fl., fr.), P. Hutchinson & J. Wright 5507 ( F!, MO!, NY!, P!, US!, USM!); Entre Leymebamba y Calla-Calla , 3100 m, 07 May 1970 (fl.), I. Sánchez V. & W. Ruiz 537 ( CPUN!, F!, NY!); Middle eastern Calla-Calla slopes, near kms 416– 419 of Leimebamba-Balsas road, 2900–3100 m, 09 Jul 1962 (fl., fr.), J. Wurdack 1250 ( F!, NY!, US!, USM!); Jalca de Calla - Calla ( Leymebamba - Balsas ), 2800 m, 23 Oct 1965 (fr.), A. Sagástegui 6057 ( HUT!), same locality, 3100 m, 07 May 1970 (fl.), A. Sagástegui 7462 ( HUT!); Camino Chachapoyas - Celendín, entre Leymebamba y Calla – Calla , 3000 m, 06°45’S, 77°49’W, 27 May 1984 (fr.), D. Smith & J. Cabanillas 7181 ( MO!, USM!); Cordillera Calla - Calla , entre Leymebamba y Balsas, 3200–3300 m, 21 Aug 1963 (fl., fr.), R. Ferreyra & C. Acleto 15311 ( US!, USM!); Dist. Leymebamba, km 407 de la carretera, 19 km de Leymebamba , 3050–3095 m, 06°42’33.3”S, 77°51’09.7”W, 13 Mar 2012 (fr.), F. A. Michelangeli et al. 1739 ( NY!, USM!), km 408 on Leymebamba-Balsas road, 3000–3080 m, 06°45’S, 77°48’W, 21 Feb 1984 (fl.), D. Smith 6121 A ( MO!), A unos 12 km de Leymebamba , ruta Laguna de los Cóndores, borde del camino, 2500–3000 m, 06°44’S, 77°47’W, 19 Aug 1998 (fl.), V. Quipuscoa et al. 1364 ( F!, HUT!), Calla-Calla, Las Palmeras , 3000 m, 15–24 Nov 2004 (fl.), T. Pennington et al. 17701 ( MOLF!); Dist. San Isidro de Maino, ACP Tilacancha, tierras de la comunidad campesina San Isidro de Maino , 2970–3050 m, 06°20’55”S, 77°48’31”W, 13–16 Nov 2021 (fl.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2119 ( MOLF!), same locality, 3000–3050 m, 06°20’50”S, 77°48’14”W, 23–27 Mar 2022 (fl. bud, fr.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2177 ( HOXA!, MOLF!). Prov. Luya, Las Palmas , entre Calla-Calla y Leymebamaba, 2900 m, 14 May 1967 (fl.), I. Sánchez 365 ( CPUN!, F!, MO!); Dist. Camporedondo, Tullanya, cerro Hiucsocunga , 3200 m, 06°04’29”S, 78°18’44”W, 08 Dec 1996 (fr.), R. Vásquez & R. Rojas 21977 ( NY!, USM!). Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Vista Alegre, Sector a una hora del campamento Ruinas quebrada Salas , 2834 m, 06°07’42.73”S, 77°26’06.42”W, 13 Aug 2012 (ster.), J. L. Marcelo-Peña et al. 6785 ( MOLF!). Prov. Utcubamba, Dist. Cajaruro, Comunidad de Capollín , 2850 m, 05°38’27.02”S, 78°14’38.58”W, 12 Jan 2009 (fl.), M. Chocce et al. 5262 ( USM!). Cajamarca: Prov. Chota, Near village of El Campamento, ca. 21 km of Huambos, 2870 m, 06°24’23”S, 79°01’19”W, 20 Apr 1993 (fl.), M. Dillon et al. 6433 ( CPUN!, F!, US!). Prov. Cutervo, Cerros de Cutervo 2500–2600 m, 31 Jul 1946 (ster.), R. Ferreyra 823 ( USM!); without locality, no date (ster.), A. Raimondi 5847 ( USM!), without locality, no date (ster.), A. Raimondi 6546 ( USM!); Dist. Cutervo , Apr 1879 (ster.), A. Raimondi 6507 ( USM!), Comunidades de La Culluna y Chipuluc, bosque El Lambidero, faldas del Cerro Ilucan , 3060 m, 06°21’26.61”S, 78°50’05.57”W, 28–30 Feb 2011 (fl.), L. Dávila et al. 1493 ( UNC!); Dist. San Andrés de Cutervo, Entre el Molina y la Pucarilla, 2200 m, 15 Oct 1987 (fl.), J. Sánchez 337 ( CPUN!, F!, US!), PN Cutervo, “ Jalca ” camino a la laguna “El Pileo”, 2680 m, 15 Mar 1989 (fl.), C. Díaz et al. 3321 ( MO!); Dist. Santo Tomás, PN Cutervo, Sector Santa Rosa , 2700 m, 06°10’46.81”S, 78°46’02.20”W, 26 Nov 2020 (fl.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2092 ( MOLF!, UPCB!). Prov. Jaen, Cerro el Paramillo de Pomahuaca , 2670 m, 06 Nov 1999 (fr.), C. Díaz 10891 ( MOLF!, NY!, USM!); Dist. Sallique , El Espino, 3000 m, 05°41’S, 79°16’W, 11 Jul 2004 (fr.), J. L. Marcelo-Peña et al. 1661 ( MOLF!), El Páramo, 3200 m, 05°40’50”S, 79°16’20”W, 23 Jun 1998 (fl.), C. Campos et al. 5058 ( MO!, NY!, USM!). Prov. Santa Cruz, Dist. Pulan, Cerro Campamento , alrededores de la catarata La Cuda - Margen izquierdo de la quebrada El Cedro , 3015 m, 03–04 Jul 2004 (fl.), G. Iberico et al. 765 ( CPUN!), La Zaina, 2700 m, 12 Feb 2007 (fl.), L. Santa Cruz 1036 ( USM!), same locality, 31 Jul 2007 (fl.), L. Santa Cruz 1993 ( HUT!, USM!). Lambayeque: Prov. Ferreñafe, Dist. Cañaris, 3212 m, 29 Apr 2010 (fl.), M. Chocce et al. 5726 ( USM!). Piura: Prov. Huancabamba, Dist. El Carmen de la Frontera, Rosarios bajos, Proyecto Minero Río Blanco, Quebrada Parramata, 2500–2800 m, 04°53’27.5”S, 79°22’04.8”W, 14 Jul 2004 (fl.), A. Cano et al. 14767 ( USM!) .

Figures

FIGURE 30. Distribution map of M. radula, M. sanguinea, M. tetragona and M. hirsuta.

FIGURE 59. Meriania tetragona. A. Terminal fertile branch with inflorescence. B. Leaf blade, abaxial view. C. Detail of the adaxial leaf surface.D. Detail of the abaxial leaf surface. E. Flower at anthesis.F. Flower with petals and stamens removed.G. Petal.C. Stamen, lateral view. A from J. Luteyn & E. Cotton 11379; B from T. Pennington et al. 17701; C–H from R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2092.

FIGURE 60. Meriania tetragona. A. Terminal fertile branch with inflorescence. B. Interpetiolar flap. C. Abaxial projections on the apex of the petiole. D. Flowers at anthesis, apical view.A and D from R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2092, B and C from R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1888. Photos by Robin Fernandez-Hilario.