Miconia argentimuricata Majure & Judd, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas. 7: 268. 2013.

Majure, Lucas C., Becquer, Eldis R. & Judd, Walter S., 2016, Revision of the Lima clade (Miconia sect. Lima, Miconieae, Melastomataceae) of the Greater Antilles, PhytoKeys 72, pp. 1-99 : 39-42

10. Miconia argentimuricata Majure & Judd, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas. 7: 268. 2013. Figs 14 , 15A-F

Calycogonium muricatum Griseb., Cat. Pl. Cub. 95. 1866. Type: CUBA. Guantánamo, Cuchillas de Baracoa, 14 May, 1860-1864, C. Wright 2485 (lectotype: GOET! [GOET007038], designated here; isolectotypes: GDC! [G00328229], GH! [GH00073119], GOET! (as C. Wright 682), HAC!, K! [K000329532], MO! [MO-2049514], YU! [YU065051]).

Ossaea muricata (Griseb.) C. Wright, Anal. Acad. Ci. Habana 5: 434. 1868. Type. Based on Calycogonium muricatum Griseb.

Type.

Based on Calycogonium muricatum Griseb.

Description.

Evergreen shrub, to 1.5 m tall; stems round in cross section, not ridged, the internodes 0.5-10.9 cm long, stem indumentum of ascending, bulla-based hairs to 2.2 mm long; nodal line absent. Leaves opposite, decussate, broadly to narrowly elliptic, 2.7-9.3 × 1.4-4.5 cm, slightly anisophyllous, apex acute to acuminate, base rounded to acute, margins dentate, dentations covered in well-developed bulla-based hair, venation acrodromous, 5-7-veined, the midvein and 3 pairs of arching secondary veins, the outermost intramarginal, secondary veins mostly basal to suprabasal, the innermost pair suprabasal, produced 2.5-17 mm from leaf base, positioned 2.3-10 mm in from margin at widest point of blade, tertiary veins percurrent, more or less perpendicular to midvein, 1.9-5.6 mm apart at midleaf, intertertiary veins present, tertiary veins often joined by quaternary veins; adaxial leaf surface covered in well-developed bulla-based hairs completely covering the leaf areoles, widest hair bases to 2.1 mm, apices of bulla-based hairs mostly recurved toward the leaf margin, young leaf adaxial surface producing long-stemmed, clavate-dentritic hairs along the primary, secondary, and tertiary veins from between the bulla-based hairs, sessile, glandular hairs produced along the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary veins between the bulla-based hairs; abaxial leaf surface covered in sparse bulla-based hairs, these spreading to erect, often crisped, those along the primary, secondary, and tertiary veins larger than hairs produced throughout the lamina, the lamina clearly visible, lamina appearing as a series of pits from depressions of the bulla-based hairs produced from the upper leaf surface, sessile, glandular hairs produced throughout the lamina and along veins; petioles 0.2-2.1 cm long, covered in ascending to spreading, bulla-based hairs on both surfaces. Inflorescences terminal, flowers mostly produced in glomerulate clusters, 3-42 flowered, 3.3-7.6 × 1.5-9.8 cm, the peduncle 0.4-2.2 cm long, proximal inflorescence branches 8-26 mm long; bracts narrowly ovate with a long attenuate apex, 1.2-2.2 mm long; bracteoles narrowly ovate with a long attenuate apex, 1.4-2 × 0.3-0.4 mm, glabrous. Flowers 5-merous, sessile or with pedicels to 0.5-0.9 mm long; hypanthium 3.2-3.4 mm long, short-oblong to globose, unlobed to slightly 5-lobed, but lobing mostly obscured by bulla-based hairs, slightly constricted below the torus, free portion of the hypanthium 0.5-0.6 mm long, abaxial surface covered in bulla-based hairs to 2.7 mm long, and sessile, glandular hairs; adaxial surface (i.e., free portion) covered in small, bulla-based hairs developing into androecial fringe; calyx teeth 2.2-2.7 × 0.4-0.6 mm, ascending or spreading, covered in bulla-based hairs; calyx lobes triangular, acute to rounded at apex, 0.4-2.2 × 0.8-2.5 mm, covered in bulla-based hairs abaxially and sessile, sparse, glandular hairs adaxially; calyx tube not tearing, 0.2-0.8 mm long with bulla-based hairs abaxially and sessile, glandular hairs adaxially; petals 5, 3.6-4.5 × 1.9-2.7 mm, white, ovate or elliptic with an acute apex and membranous margin, with 3-4 slightly bulla-based hairs produced abaxially, just below the apex, to 2.7 mm long; stamens 10; filaments 2.2-2.9 mm long, glabrous, anthers 1.2-2 mm long, with one dorsally oriented pore, anther thecae 1.1-1.8 mm long, anthers with a dorso-basal appendage 0.2-0.25 mm long; style 3.3-3.8 mm long, glabrous, slightly dilated in the middle, collar absent, style subtended by a crown of multicellular, linear to elongate-triangular (needle-like) hairs, which are slightly longer than the surrounding bulla-based hairs of the ovary apex, stigma punctate; ovary 2.4-3 × 3.8-4.5 mm, apex flat to slightly rounded, pubescent with bulla-based hairs, except for the linear or elongate-triangular hairs forming crown, placentation axile with deeply intruded placenta, 5-locular; berries globose, purple to violet at maturity, 5-6 mm long (including calyx tube), 5.3-7 mm wide, seeds 0.6-0.65 mm long, obpyramidal, slightly falcate, testa smooth, light brown, raphe dark amber, smooth, extending the length of the seed.

Phenology.

Miconia argentimuricata has been collected in fruit from December through July and in flower from November through April.

Distribution

(Fig. 11 ). Miconia argentimuricata is restricted to eastern Cuba and can be found in both the Sierra Maestra (including Loma del Gato) and the Baracoa-Moa-Sierra de Cristal regions.

Ecology.

Miconia argentimuricata occurs from 600-1400 m in elevation and can be found on granitic soils (Sierra Maestra) or on serpentine soils in the northern part of its distribution (Moa region). The species occurs in lower elevation “manacales” (wet, montane rainforest; see Borhidi 1996) in the northern part of its range and higher elevation "monte frio" in the southern part of its range.

Conservation status.

Considering the wide range of Miconia argentimuricata and that it occurs in protected areas in both parts of its range (Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt, Parque Nacional Pico Turquino, Reserva Ecológica Loma del Gaato-Monte Líbano), this species should be considered stable and possibly of least concern. However, some populations in the Moa region may be under threat from mining operations, and Bécquer (2007) suggested the species was near threatened.

Discussion.

Populations of Miconia argentimuricata from the Sierra Maestra are readily distinguished from those of the Baracoa and Moa regions by their more robust growth form (broadly elliptic leaves, larger inflorescences), as well as their darker, copper rather than silver color of the leaf adaxial surface (in herbarium specimens). The leaves are narrowly elliptic to often ovate with narrowly acute to acuminate apices in those specimens from the Baracoa-Moa-Sierra de Cristal region. However, morphological characters are sufficiently cohesive between the two regions to place those geographically separated populations within a single species.

Although Howard and Wright (1988) provided a microfiche of the lectotype of Miconia argentimuricata (as Calycogonium muricatum ), he did not lectotypify the species explicitly in writing, and thus his lectotypification was incomplete. We have fully lectotypified the species with the specimen from GOET here. As specimens collected by Wright were often assigned species numbers by Asa Gray, as well as Wright’s collection numbers, one of the isolectotypes here subsequently has a different number on the label (Wright 682) than that given in the protologue (Wright 2485) for the species (see also discussion by Bécquer 2012).

Specimens examined.

CUBA. Prov. Granma. Buey Arriba: margenes del Arroyo Barrio Nuevo, 16 May 1988, Álvarez & al. HFC-64613 (B, HAJB, JE); Buey Arriba. Alto del Escudero , 20 May 1988, Álvarez & al. HFC-64782 (B, HAJB, JE); Buey Arriba. Alto del Rondon , 22 May 1988, Álvarez & al. HFC-64999 (B, HAJB, JE); Oriente , Sierra Maestra, N slope of Punta de Palmamocha , 1250 m, 14 Jul 1922, Ekman 14291 (S); Oriente, Sierra Maestra, on the divide between Río Yara and Río Palmamocha, towards one of the highest tributaries of Rio Yara , 16 Jul 1922, Ekman 14342 (US, S); Granma / Santiago de Cuba, Bartolome Masó/Guamá, Parque Nacional Turquino, sendero Alto de Naranjo-Pico Turquino , entre campamento de La Aguada y Pico Joaquìn, 9 Nov 2013, Michelangeli et al. 2219 (NY). Prov. Guantánamo. Baracoa, Via Sur en las montañas prox. Fajá, 10 Feb 1952, Acuña & Diaz-Barreto 17520 (HAC); Baracoa, Cañadas en la carretera de Quibiján, 1 Jan 1960, Alain & López-Figueiras 7123 (HAC, HAJB); Baracoa, cañadas a lo largo Via Muluta, 1 Jan 1960, Alain & López-Figueiras 7142 (HAC); Baracoa, cañadas a lo largo Via Muluta, 1 Jan 1960, Alain & López-Figueiras 7145 (HAC); Baracoa, cañadas a lo largo Via Muluta, 1 Jan 1960, Alain & López-Figueiras 7164 (HAC); Baracoa, carretera de Quibiján, en cañada, 1 Jan 1960, Alain & López-Figueiras 7142 (HAC); Baracoa, carretera de Quibiján, en cañada, 1 Jan 1960, Alain & López-Figueiras 7145 (HAC); Baracoa, carretera de Quibiján, en cañada, 1 Jan 1960, Alain & López-Figueiras 7164 (HAC); Sierra de Imias . Lomas Jubal , 19 Aug 1975, Álvarez & al. HFC-27511 (B, HAJB, JE); IBID HFC-27598 (B, HAC, HAJB, JE); Baracoa. Loma Los Guineos, 400-500 msm, 14 Mar 1986, Arias & al. HFC-58668 (B, HAJB, JE); Baracoa: Sierra de Imias , 800-1100 msm, 29 Aug 1971, Bisse HFC-19543 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa. Montes al sur del Yunque, 9-10 Feb 1072, Bisse HFC-21467 (B, HAJB, JE); Baracoa: pluviosilva al sur de la Loma del Yunque , 300-400 msm, Feb 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-5025 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa: valle al noroeste del Yunque de Baracoa , Feb 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-5197 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa: Mina Iberia, en las orillas del arroyo Iberia, 300 msm, Mar 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-6363 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa: Sierra de Imias , 800-1000 msm, May 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-8858 (B, HAJB, JE); IBID HFC-9455 (HAJB, JE); Guantánamo: Monte Cristi, altiplano, 700 msm, May 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-9335 (HAJB, JE); Aserrío Nuevo Mundo, falda oeste de la mina de Iberia, 200-300 msm, Apr 1975, Bisse & González HFC-25753 (HAJB); Baracoa: Sierra de Imias , Loma de la Ciguapa, 1100 msm, Jun 1967, Bisse & Rojas HFC-2560 (HAJB, JE); Baracoa, alrededores del poblado de Báez, 24 Jan 1977, Bisse & al. HFC-33951 (B, HAJB, JE); Baracoa, Quibiján, Pluviosilva de la zona de Arroyo Blanco en el camino a Vega de la Palma, 16 Feb 1978, Bisse & al. HFC-36916 (B, HAJB, JE); Baracoa, Quiviján, pluviosilva de la parte occidental de la Sierra Azul, 400-500 msm, 17 Feb 1978, Bisse & al. HFC-37002 (B, HAJB, JE); Baracoa, Vega de La Palma , alrededores del rio Duaba , 20 Feb 1979, Bisse & al. HFC-39655 (B, HAJB, JE); Imias . Sierra de Imias , loma de Tres Piedras, 1000-1100 msm, 6 Apr 1984, Bisse & al. HFC-52325 (HAJB); Yateras Palenque. Sierra del Frijol , cerca de Bernardo, 800 m, 17 May 1983, Bisse & al., HFC-49721 (B, HAJB, JE); Imias . Sierra de Imias , falda norte de la Loma de Tres Piedras , 900-1000 msm, 9 Mar 1984, Bisse & al. HFC-52629 (B, HAJB, JE); Imias . Sierra de Imias . La Yamagua. Loma maestra de Yamagua, 750-850 msm, 14 Apr 1984, Bisse & al. HFC-52878 (B, HAJB, JE); Imías, loma al oeste de las cabezadas del rio Jojo , Sierra de Imias , 900-1060 msm, 19 Apr 1984, Bisse & al. HFC-53491 (B, HAJB, JE); Oriente, Baracoa in collibus ad Taco Bay , 2 Dec 1914, Ekman 3702 (NY, S); Baracoa, valle del rio Joa , arriba de Baracoa, 30 Jan 1971, Grudzinskaya 737 (HAC); Upper river valley of Rio Navas , Oriente, 22 Mar 1910, Shafer 4405 (NY); Side and top of El Yunque, Oriente, 20 Dec 1910, Shafer 8006 (A, NY); El Yunque, Mt. Baracoa , 1 Mar 1903, Underwood 1020 (NY). Prov. Holguín. Monte La Brena , Moa, Oriente, 5 Nov 1945, Acuña 13274 (HAC, NY); Piloto, Moa, 6 May 1973, Álvarez & Berazaín HFC-24388 (HAJB); Moa: Pluvisilva Km 8-10 del camino de La Melba, 1 May 1980, Álvarez & al. HFC-42530 (B, HAJB, JE); Frank País. Falda norte de la Sierra Cristal, al suroeste de El Culebro, subida al Pico Cielo, 13 Apr 1987, 13 Apr 1987, Bässler & al. HFC-61109 (B, HAJB, JE); Cuchillas de Toa : Sierra de Maguey , 700 msm, Apr 1970, Bisse HFC-16787 (HAJB, JE); Moa: La Melba, pluviosilva de montaña cerca del aserrío, 500 msm, 27 Dec 1968, Bisse & Lippold HFC-11144 (HAJB, JE); Moa, charrascales en el altiplano de la Sierra de Moa , 600-900 msm, Mar 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-6651 (HAJB, JE); Moa: en las orillas del rio Jiguani , cerca del segundo aserrío de la Melba, Apr 1968, Bisse & Köhler HFC-6772 (HAJB, JE); Km 10 de la carretera de La Melba, 100 msm, 19 Apr 1981, Bisse & al. HFC-44528 (B, HAJB, JE); Aserrío Palenque, entre el rio Cabonico , 400-800 msm, 2 May 1981, Dietrich & al. HFC-45400 (B, HAJB, JE); Oriente, Sierra de Micara , in manacales, 700 m, 13 Dec 1922, Ekman 15927 (HAC, NY, S, US); Moa: camino desde Moa hacia La Melba, 30 Jan 1969, Lippold HFC-12491 (HAJB, JE); IBID HFC-12543 (HAJB, JE); Moa: La Melba, falda este de la Sierra de Moa , 500-800 msm, 5 Apr 1970, Lippold HFC-16566 (HAJB, JE); Moa, Cuchillas de Moa , along road from Moa to La Melba, 24 Jun 2002, Skean 4285 (FLAS, HAJB); Prov. Santiago de Cuba. Cima del Pico Turquino , Sierra Maestra, 10-26 Jun 1936, Acuña 7712 (HAC); Mayarí, bosque húmedo en la falda sur del Cristal, 2-7 Abr 1956, Alain et al. 5570 (HAC); Sierra Maestra: El Uvero, pluviosilva de la loma de La Francia, 800-1000 msm, 3 May 1972, Bisse HFC-21318 (HAJB, JE); IBID, 3-5 Feb 1972, HFC-21332 (HAJB, JE); Sierra Maestra: El Uvero, Loma Siberia, 900-1100 msm, 29 Mar 1969, Bisse & Lippold HFC-13543 (HAJB, JE); Santiago de Cuba: falda este de Gran Piedra, 26 Apr 1969, Bisse & Lippold HFC-14664 (HAJB, JE); Sierra Maestra: subida desde Pico Cardero hasta Pico Cuba, 1300-1800 msm, 10 May 1971, Bisse & Lippold HFC-19017 (HAJB, JE); Sierra Maestra: firme de la Sierra entre Alcarraza y Punta de Lanza, 800-1000 msm, 28 Apr 1969, Bisse & Lippold HFC-19685 (HAJB, JE); Loma del Gato , 8-10 Jul 1931, Bucher 249 (HAC, NY); Oriente, Sierra de Cristal , in manacales at the headwaters of Rio Lebisa , 600-700 m, 14 Dec 1922, Ekman 15940 (S); (HAC); Loma del Gato and vicinity, Cobre Range of Sierra Maestra , 1000 m, 11 Jul-14 Aug 1921, León LS-10416 (HAC, NY); southern Oriente and Pico Turquino, Sierra Maestra, 1200-1400 m, 1 Jul 1922, León LS-10948 (HAC, NY); márgenes del Arroyo Peladero Arriba, Finca la Valenzuela , 5-8 Apr 1955, López-Figueiras 2179 (HAC); margenes del Arroyo Peladero Arriba, alto de la Valenzuela, Sierra Maestra, 5-8 Apr 1955, López-Figueiras 2180 (HAC, HAJB, US); Sierra Maestra, Cordillera de Gran Piedra , 18 Mar 1956, López-Figueiras 2613 (HAC); Sierra Maestra, Entre los arroyos Peladero e Indio, costa sur de Oriente, 900-1350 m, 27 Nov 1959, López-Figueiras UO-390 (HAC); Sierra Maestra, Entre los arroyos Peladero e Indio, costa sur de Oriente, 3000-4500 ft, 27 Nov 1959, López-Figueiras UO-396 (HAC, US) .

Figures

Figure 11. Distribution of Miconia asperifolia (open stars), Miconia hybophylla (closed star), Miconia argentimuricata (closed circles), and Miconia bullotricha (open circles).

Figure 14. Illustration of Miconia argentimuricata. A Habit (Ekman 3702) B petal abaxial surface showing multiple, long, slightly bulla-based hairs (Ekman 15940) C stamen (Lopez-Figueiras 2180), and D seed (Ekman 15940).

Figure 15. Photos of Miconia argentimuricata (A-F) and Miconia asperifolia (G-J). A Inflorescence of Miconia argentimuricata B side view of flower showing long, slightly bulla-based hairs on the petal abaxial surface C flower frontal view D leaf adaxial surface showing striking bulla-based hairs E leaf abaxial surface showing pitting F mature fruit (all from Michelangeli 2219) G inflorescence and flower frontal view of Miconia asperifolia (Judd 5357) H leaf adaxial surface showing well-developed bulla-based hairs (Judd 5357) I leaf adaxial surface showing poorly developed bulla-based hairs (Ionta 2005) J habit and inflorescence of Miconia asperifolia (Judd 5357). Photos A-F taken by F. Michelangeli and G-J by W. S. Judd.