Conostegia fulvostellata (L. O. Williams) Kriebel, 2016

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 178-180

Conostegia fulvostellata (L. O. Williams) Kriebel comb. nov.

Conostegia fulvostellata (L. O. Williams) Kriebel. Basionym: Miconia fulvostellata , Fieldiana, Bot. 29:571.1963. Type: Guatemala. Huehuetenango: Cerro Chiblac, between Finca San Rafael and Ixcan, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, alt. 1200-2000 m, 22 July 1942, J. Steyermark 49143a (F fide Almeda (2009)).

Description.

Shrubs to small trees 2.5-15 m tall with somewhat flattened cauline internodes that covered by a densely ferrugineus stellate indument; the nodal line inconspicuous. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in length. Petioles 1-5 cm long. Leaf blade 7-14 × 2-6 cm, 3-5-plinerved, with the innermost pair of veins diverging in from the midvein 0.3-2 cm above the base in opposite or alternate fashion, elliptic to elliptic lanceolate, the base acute to obtuse and sometimes asymmetric, the apex acuminate, the margin undulate-denticulate, the adaxial surface glabrous, the abaxial surface densely ferrugineus stellate indumentum. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 7-12 cm long, branching at or above the base, accessory branches absent or present, the axes covered with reddish stellate hairs; bracteoles 0.5-1 × 0.25 mm, linear-oblong, deciduous. Flowers 4-5 merous, not calyptrate nor the sepals fused in bud and rupturing, hypanthium 1.6-2.3 × 1.5-2 mm, campanulate, covered with stellate hairs, calyx tube 0.2 mm long, calyx lobes undulate, ca. 0.2-0.5 mm long but almost undifferentiated, calyx teeth barely evident. Petals 2-3 × 1.5-2 mm, white, oblong-obovate, not seen live at anthesis, glabrous or papillose, if papillose with conspicuous papillae at the base, the apex rounded to emarginate. Stamens 8-10, 4-5 mm long, radially arranged around the style, the filaments 2-2.5 mm, with a geniculation near the apex, anthers 2-2.5 × 0.5-0.7 mm, linear-oblong, yellow, laterally compressed, dorsally thickened, the pore ca. 0.2 mm wide, ventrally inclined. Ovary 4-5-locular, 1/4 inferior, the apex densely stellate puberulent, lacking a collar around the style base. Style ca. 5-6 mm long, mostly straight, vertical distance from the anther to the stigma ca. 1.5-2 mm, the stigma capitate, ca. 0.8-0.9 mm wide. Berry 4-5 × 4-5 mm, purple black. Seeds 0.65-0.8 mm long, Seeds pyramidate, rounded-angulate and obscurely puncticulate, 1.5 mm long (fide Almeda 2009).

Distribution

(Fig. 160 ). Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Nicaragua, at 200-1700 m in elevation.

Almeda (2009) notes significant variation within Conostegia fulvostellata . In particular, populations from Veracruz, Mexico, have four merous flowers and glabrous petals. Specimens form the rest of its range have five merous flowers with papillose petals. More specimens are needed to better establish the differences noted by Almeda. Almeda (1989a) compared Conostegia fulvostellata in the protologue of Miconia ibarrae and noted differences in pubescence and notably in style curvature and seed characteristics. Conostegia fulvostellata has a dense indument in abaxial leaf surface reminiscent of Conostegia oligocephala . With the latter Conostegia fulvostellata also shares an overall geographic range. Conostegia fulvostellata differs from Conostegia oligocephala in its small calyx teeth, four locular ovary and usually papillose petals (vs. evident calyx teeth, five locular ovary and glabrous petals in Conostegia oligocephala ).

Specimens examined.

MEXICO. Chiapas: 13km N of Berriozabal near Pozo Turipache and Finca El Suspiro, Breedlove 26340 (MO, NY); 18-20 km north of Ocozocoautla along the road to Mal Paso, Ocozocoautla de Espinosa , Breedlove 28141 (MO, NY) . Veracruz: cerca de 2 km al S. de Tapalapan, Santiago Tuxtla, Beaman 6043 (MO, NY); Carretera Veracruz-Los Tuxtlas cerca al Cerro El Vigía, Pennington and Sarukhan 9121 (NY); Coatzacoalcos, isthmus of Tehuantepec, Smith 1003 (MO, NY) .

Figures

Figure 160. Distribution of Conostegia fulvostellata.