Conostegia papillopetala (Kriebel & Almeda) Kriebel, 2016

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 202-205

Conostegia papillopetala (Kriebel & Almeda) Kriebel comb. nov. Fig. 180

Conostegia papillopetala (Kriebel & Almeda) Kriebel. Basionym: Miconia papillopetala , Phytotaxa 134 (1): 32. 2013. Type: Panama. Veraguas: Parque Nacional Santa Fé. Sendero a la cima del Cerro Mariposa, 960 m, N 08.50412, W 081.11999, 16 September 2011, R. Kriebel & J. Burke 5718 (holotype: NY!, isotypes: INB!, PMA!).

Description.

Shrubs 1-2.5 m tall with young stems copiously covered with pinoid hairs intermixed with asperous-headed hairs that are both golden-orange in color, nodal line not evident and concealed by the copious indument. Petioles 0.1-1 cm. Leaves subisophyllous to anisophyllous; blades 3.5-16 × 1.5-8.5 cm, 3-5-plinerved, diverging from the midvein 0.5-3 cm above the blade base usually asymmetrically, elliptic, base obtuse to rounded and sometimes oblique, apex acuminate, the mar gin denticulate, adaxially glabrous except for short and long pinoid hairs on the main veins towards the base, somewhat bullate and dark green when alive, abaxially densely pubescent on tertiary and higher order veins with pinoid golden-orange hairs. Inflorescences terminal, lax dichasia branched from the base, (4-)7-10 cm long, copiously covered with golden-orange pinoid hairs intermixed with asperous-headed hairs; bracts to 8 mm long, linear oblong; bracteoles 0.5-1 mm long, lanceolate, less pubescent than the rest of inflorescence rachis, drying pinkish. Pedicels ca. 0.5 mm. Hypanthia campanulate 1.25-2 × 1-1.25 mm, densely covered with asperous-headed that appear somewhat stellate. Flowers 5-merous. Calyx fused in bud, shortly apiculate and less pubescent than the hypanthium, rupturing at anthesis into irregular, broadly rounded hyaline lobes 0.25-0.75 mm long and 0.5-0.75 mm wide at the base, the exterior calyx teeth 0.25-0.5 mm long, linear oblong, the calyx tube 0.25-0.5 mm long. Petals 1.25-2 × 2.5-3 mm, ovate, pink, papillose abaxially, reflexed at anthesis, emarginate. Stamens 10, 3-3.5 mm long, radially arranged around the style; filaments 1.5-2 mm long, geniculate near the apex, translucent white; anthers 1.25-1.75 × 0.4-0.6 mm, linear-oblong, somewhat laterally compressed, cream yellow, pores 0.1-0.15 mm, truncate to somewhat ventrally inclined. Ovaries 5-locular, half inferior, the apex elevated into a low papillose collar. Styles 4.5-4.75 mm long, slightly curved, distance between the anther apex and the stigma 1-1.5 mm; stigmas truncate to capitellate, 0.4 mm wide. Berries pink when immature and turning purple at maturity, 3.3-4.5 × 3.5-4.5 mm; seeds ovoid and angled, 0.4-0.5 × 0.2-0.3 mm, orange-brown, lateral symmetrical plane ovate to triangular, the highest point toward the chalazal side, antiraphal symmetrical plane ovate-triangular and inconspicuously verruculose on the angles, raphal zone narrowly triangular and extending the length of the seed, expanded into an appendage that covers about 30% of the seed length.

Distribution

(Fig. 181 ). Endemic to cloud forests in the provinces of Coclé and Veraguas, Panamá, at 750-1400 m elevation.

Conostegia papillopetala can be recognized by its indument of long asperous headed hairs, short petiolate, somewhat bullate, narrow and plinerved leaves, small, herkogamous flowers with pink papillose petals and seeds with tubercles on the edges. It is similar and closely related to Conostegia friedmaniorum , Conostegia galdamesiae , and Conostegia pendula . See the discussion section under these species for difference with Conostegia papillopetala .

Specimens examined.

PANAMA. Coclé: Atlantic slope near the continental divide along lumbering road N of El Copé, 9.4 km above El Copé, Croat 44624 (CAS, PMA); Atlantic slope near the continental divide along lumbering road N of El Copé, 2.2 km N of lumber sawmill, Croat 44668 (CAS, MO, PMA); Lumber camp at Alto Calvario , 7 km N of El Copé, 900 m, Folsom 1276 (CAS, INB, MEXU, MO, PMA); Near continental divide along lumbering road, 2.3 km beyond sawmill above El Cope , Hammel 990, 1054 (CAS, MO, PMA) . Veraguas: Trail on ridge summit of Cerro Tute, Cordillera de Tute, 1 km past Escuela Agricola Altos de Piedra, W of Santa Fe, Knapp and Sytsma 2654 (BM, CAS, MO, PMA); Santa Fe, Altos de Piedra , trail leading up Cerro Mariposa (=Cerro Arizona) about 2 km past the Escuela Agricola, ca. 3 km from summit, Penneys and Blanco 1707 (CAS, FLAS, NY, PMA, US).

Figures

Figure 180. Conostegia papillopetala. A Stem apex B Branch C Inflorescence D Infructescence E Flower bud with closed hyaline calyx and apiculum F Pickled flower G Longitudinal cut of flower with style removed H Petal I Stamen. Photos of specimen vouchered R. Kriebel and J. Burke 5718.

Figure 181. Distribution of Conostegia papillopetala.