Conostegia grayumii (Almeda) Kriebel, 2016

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 181-183

Conostegia grayumii (Almeda) Kriebel comb. nov. Fig. 163

Conostegia grayumii (Almeda) Kriebel. Miconia grayumii Almeda, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci, series 4, 46(9): 209. 1989. Type: Costa Rica. Heredia: Finca La Selva, Field Station of the Organization for Tropical Studies on the Río Puerto Viejo on its junction with the Río Sarapiqui, elev. 100 m, 22 October 1982, T. McDowell 576 (holotype CAS!, isotype DUKE, MO!).

Description.

Shrub to small tree 1-5 m tall with subquadrate to terete stems which are sparsely to moderately ferrugineous scurfy-pulverulent to glabrous; the nodal line present but inconspicuous. Leaves of a pair somewhat unequal in size. Petioles 0.2-2.1 cm. Leaf blades 3.4-13 × 1.1-3.7 cm, 3-plinerved, with the inner pairs of subparallel veins arising up to 2 cm above the base opposite or generally alternate fashion, narrowly elliptic, the base broadly acute to obtuse and typically asymmetrical, the apex acuminate, the margin undulate denticulate to entire, glabrous above when mature, abaxially glabrous or scurfy pulverulent or glandular-pulverulent. Inflorescence a terminal and deflexed paniculiform cyme 2.4-5.7 cm long, sometimes becoming pseudolateral because of axillary bud elongation, accessory branches absent, rachis thin and glabrous, bracts and bracteoles to 3 mm long, lance-triangular to subulate, persistent and forming a nodal collar. Pedicel 2-2.5 mm. Flowers 5-merous, not calyptrate, nor the sepals fused in bud, floral buds ca. 1.5-2.8 × 1 mm long, the hypanthium 1-2 × 1-1.75 mm, globose, sparingly and deciduously scurfy-puverulent, the calyx lobes rounded-deltoid, hyaline and glabrous, ca. 0.5 mm long, exterior calyx teeth subulate, 0.25-0.5 mm long, torus glabrous. Petals 2-2.75 × 0.75-1.25 mm, white, obovate-oblong, spreading an anthesis, rounded to emarginated apically, papillose adaxially, otherwise glabrous. Stamens 10, 1.5-2.5 cm long, radially arranged around the style, filaments 1-1.5 mm, with a geniculation near the apex, white, anthers 0.75-1.25 × 0.25-0.5 mm, oblong, white to yellow, the pore ca. 0.1 mm wide, retuse to somewhat dorsally inclined. Ovary 5 locular, 3/4 inferior, glabrous. Style 3-4.5 mm long, gradually curving, vertical distance from the anther pore to the stigma 1.35-1.65 mm, stigma punctiform to truncate, ca. 0.29 mm wide. Berry 3-5 × 3-5 mm, purple black. Seeds 0.3-1 mm, angulate-pyramidate, smooth with verruculose angles.

Distribution

(Fig. 164 ). South eastern Nicaragua to the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica and one outlying population in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica on the Pacific side, 0-300 m in elevation.

Conostegia grayumii is a small tree restricted to lowland rain forests which can be recognized by its glabrosity, small plinerved and asymmetric leaves, and small flowers on wiry inflorescences. This species was identified before its recognition as a distinct taxon as Conostegia brenesiana (as Miconia brenesii ). Almeda (1989b) noticed important differences between both such as the fact that Conostegia brenesiana has noticeably broader anther pores and lacks seed testa ornamentation present in Conostegia grayumii . Lastly, Almeda (1989b) noted the difference in habitat occupied by both taxa. Conostegia grayumii is restricted to the lowlands whereas Conostegia brenesiana is mostly restricted to middle elevation cloud forests. The molecular phylogeny shed further light on the relationships of these taxa. In fact, they did not form a sister species pair. Conostegia grayumii appears more closely related to Conostegia cinnamomea , Conostegia dissitiflora , Conostegia fraterna , and Conostegia povedae than to Conostegia brenesiana .

Specimens examined.

COSTA RICA. Alajuela: Laguna de Lagarto Lodge , sendero El Tucán, Solano and Hernández 1440 (INB, NY) . Heredia: Finca La Selva, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Loop trail near SW trail, Grayum 1834 (NY); Chilamate, Hotel Selva Verde, Kriebel 2783 (INB); Finca La Selva , al lado de la Estacion del Rio , Kriebel 5222 (INB); Finca La Selva , the OTS Field Station on the Rio Puerto Viejo just E of its junction with the Rio Sarapiqui , on bluff above the El Salto Stream at Rafael’s Point, Wilbur 66335 (NY) . Limón: Pococí, Estacion Biológica La Suerte, Primavera , Kriebel 1605 (INB, MO); Siquirres, alrededores de la finca de Erick Berlin, Santamaría and González 4584 (INB, NY) . Puntarenas: P.N. Piedras Blancas, Serranias de Golfito , Sendero frente los Altos, Fletes 641 (INB, MO) .

Figures

Figure 163. Conostegia grayumii. A Abaxial surface of several leaves. Note consistency of asymmetric venation B Inflorescence C Close up the flower D Infructescence E Apex of an inflorescence branch F Close up of bracteoles G Pickled flower at anthesis with the style removed H Longitudinal section of a flower with all parts removed I Petal J Stamen K Berry. Photos of specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5807.

Figure 164. Distribution of Conostegia grayumii.