Conostegia micrantha Standl.

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 77-79

Conostegia micrantha Standl. Fig. 88

Conostegia micrantha Standl., Field Mus. Nat. Hist, Bot. Series 4: 246. 1929. Type: Panama. Bocas del Toro: Buena Vista Camp on Chiriquí Trail, Almirante, 400 m, January-March 1928, G. Cooper 578 (holotype F!, isotype NY!).

Description.

Shrubs to trees 1.5-10 m tall with tetragonal to terete stem which are densely tomentose with sessile stellate hairs; the nodal line present yet slight. Leaves of a pair equal to subequal in length. Petioles 0.5-6 cm long. Leaves 5.7-21.5 × 2-10.5 cm, 3-5 nerved or slightly plinerved, ovate-elliptic to ovate, the base acute to obtuse, the apex acute to acuminate, the margins entire or remotely denticulate, the adaxial surface glabrous, the abaxial surface densely tomentose with sessile stellate hairs. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 5-12.5 cm long branched above the base but sometimes appearing branched at the base because of multiple inflorescences arising at opposing meristems at the terminal node, accessory branches present or absent; bracteoles to 3 mm long, linear, early deciduous. Pedicels 0.5-3 mm long. Flowers (4-)5(-6) merous, calyptrate. Floral buds 2.5-6.5 × 1.5-3.5 mm, obovoid pyriform, the base rounded, the apex rounded to acute or or short apiculate, slightly constricted below the calyptra; the hypanthium 3-3.25 × 2.35-2.85 mm, with scattered stellate trichomes. Petals 3.5-5.25 × 2.5-3 mm, totally white with or white with pink or violet bases, oblong or broadly ovate, spreading to somewhat reflexed, glabrous, entire. Stamens mostly 12-18, 3.5-5.5 mm long, slightly zygomorphic, the filament 1.5-2.5 mm, white, 1.8-2.5 × 0.5-0.75 mm, linear to slightly sinuous, cream to yellow, the pore ca. 0.1 mm, subterminal and slightly ventrally inclined. Ovary 5-7 locular, inferior, glabrous, lacking an elevated collar around the style base. Style 3-4 mm, straight but bending slightly towards the apex, vertical distance between the anther and the stigma ca. -0.5 mm, horizontal distance absent; stigma capitellate, 1-1.5 mm wide. Berry 5-6 × 5-6 mm, purple black. Seeds 0.3-0.6 mm long, pyramidal, the testa smooth to slightly foveolate.

Distribution

(Fig. 89 ). Nicaragua to Panama and in Ecuador, 100-1200 m elevation.

Conostegia micrantha is very similar to Conostegia montana from which it can de distinguished on the basis of the dense indument of stellate trichomes on the stem apices, the abaxial surface of the leaves, and the inflorescence. Some populations of Conostegia montana on the Caribbean islands as well as in Central American highlands can have stellate trichomes, complicating their distinction. When sympatric, such as in La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica, Conostegia montana is glabrous and has narrower leaves. Schnell (1996) discussed the possibility that this species is derived from Conostegia montana . This is indeed a possibility supported also by the molecular phylogeny where Conostegia micrantha falls in a clade of several specimens of Conostegia montana . The question does remain as to whether Conostegia montana should be considered a single species.

Specimens examined.

NICARAGUA. Río San Juan: in tall forest near Río San Juan at ‘‘ El Relos " ca. midpoint between El Castillo and Delta de San Juan, Bunting and Licht 771 (NY) . Jinotega: Cordillera Isabelia near Rio Bote Comarca de Bocaycito 117 km from Matagalpa, Neill 7170 (NY) .

COSTA RICA. Alajuela: Cataratas de San Ramón, Brenes 13654 (CR, NY); Forested stream edge and cleared slopes below the Methodist Rural Center Quebrada Marín, About 7 km east of Ciudad Quesada, Burger and Stolze 4990 (CR, F, NY); Upala, San Cristobal, Sendero toma de agua, Espinoza 1739 (INB, NY); R. V. S. Bosque Alegre, Laguna Hule, Kriebel and Larraguivel 694 (INB, NY); Woods N.E. base of Arenal Volcano 5 km W of Fortuna San Carlos, Lent 2524 (NY); San Carlos, Fortuna, R. B. Arenal Mundo Aventura, Rodríguez 8715 (INB, NY); Bijagua, Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio, estación Pilón, Santamaría and Azofeifa 1104 (INB, NY); Villa Quesada, San Carlos, Smith 2508 (CR, NY); P. N. Tenorio, Sector Pilón, Río Celeste, Desviación hacia la catarata, Vargas and Villalobos 1243 (INB, NY); Near Artezalea and Methodist Rural Center about 8 km N.E. of Villa Quesada, Williams 17200 (NY). Cartago: entre Pavones y Chitaria, Turrialba, Jiménez 734 (CR, NY). Heredia: Finca La Selva, the OTS Field Station on the Río Puerto Viejo just E of its junction with the Río Sarapiquí, Southern boundary, SW corner, Folsom 9525 (INB, NY); Cantón de Sarapiquí, entre Bijagual y Magsasay, Bosque ripario sobre el río Mojón, Rodríguez et al. 3110 (INB, NY). Limón: Pococí, P.N. Braulio Carrillo, Estación Quebrada González, entre sendero El Ceibo y sendero Botarrama, Rodríguez et al. 5076 (INB, NY); Talamanca, Bratsi ca. 1 km NW de Laguna Dabagri, Rodríguez et al. 11296 (INB, NY).

PANAMA. Bocas del Toro: Region of Almirante , Buena Vista camp on Chiriquí trail, Cooper 619 (NY) . Coclé: n. side Gaital above El Valle, Darwin 2780 (NY); El Valle de Antón, Trailside woods near La Mesa about 5 miles north of El Valle , Wilbur and Luteyn 11721 (NY) .

ECUADOR (fide Schnell). Esmeraldas: near Rio Palavi Awa encampment, Hoover et al. 3741 (MO) . Los Ríos or Pichincha: Montanas de Ila , on road from Patricia Pilar to 24 de Mayo, Dodson et al. 8673 (MO) .

Figures

Figure 88. Conostegia micrantha. A Branch apex B Abaxial view of leaf base. Photos of specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5553.

Figure 89. Distribution of Conostegia micrantha.