Conostegia oerstediana O. Berg ex Triana, 1871

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 86-90

Conostegia oerstediana O. Berg ex Triana Fig. 95

Conostegia oerstediana O. Berg ex Triana, Trans. Linn. Soc. 28: 98. 1872. Type: Costa Rica. Naranjo, no date, A. Oersted 11 (holotype: C; isotypes: BR!, K!, GH).

Description.

Trees 4.5-18 m tall with whitish flaky bark and tetragonal and ridged stems that are glabrous or with sessile stellate trichomes, these usually minute and inconspicuous; the nodal line present but frequently inconspicuous, lenticels frequent at the nodes. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in length. Petiole 1.3-9 cm. Leaf blade 5.2-25 × 2.9-15 cm, 3-5-plinerved, with the innermost diverging from the mid vein just above the blade or rarely up to 3 cm above the base in opposite or alternate fashion, ovate or elliptic, thick, the base acute to rounded, the apex rounded and abruptly acute to acuminate, the margin entire to denticulate, glabrous on both surfaces. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 6-18 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, bracts absent or if present elliptic to ovate and up to 3 cm long, accessory branches present, the rachis glabrous, bracts apparently lacking and bracteoles early deciduous. Pedicels 1-8 mm. Flowers 6-10 merous (mostly 8), calyptrate. Flower buds 5-12 × 5-10 mm, spherical, the base rounded to truncate, the apex rounded to truncate and usually short apiculate, not constricted and undifferentiated; the hypanthium 5-5.5 × 7-8.25 mm, smooth to more frequently tuberculate, glabrous and frequently evidently white. Petals 7-11 × 7-11 mm, white, obovate, spreading and overlapping, emarginate, glabrous, spreading and overlapping, entire. Stamens (20-)24-28(-36), 7-9 mm long, radial but appearing bilateral because stamens often get stuck below the stigma, the filament 4-5 mm, white, anthers 3-4 × 1-1.5 mm, elliptical to linear-oblong, yellow, strongly laterally compressed, the base sagittate, the pore 0.2-0.3 mm, terminal. Ovary 14-20 locular, inferior, apically glabrous. Style 5.75-8 mm, bending downward to ca. 45 degrees throughout anthesis and protruding below the anthers, vertical distance from the anthers to the stigma ca. 0 mm, horizontal distance ca. -2-0; stigma crateriform, consisting of 14-21 laterally compressed lobes, 4-6 mm wide. Berry 11-14 × 8-10 mm, blue-black or purple-black. Seeds 0.6-0.8 mm, pyramidal, the testa smooth.

Distribution

(Fig. 96 ). Nicaragua to west Panama where it occurs in the mountains from (550)1000-2400 m elevation.

Specimens from Chiriquí have been annotated as Conostegia macrantha (White 194, Penneys and Olmos 1738 -both at NY). I have included these specimens in the circumscription of Conostegia oerstediana on the basis of their glabrous leaves as well as on the description of the style in the second above mentioned specimen where the style was described as curving downward whereas in Conostegia macrantha it is straight. Most populations have tubercles on the hypanthium but in some populations these are reduced or lacking. When the tubercles are lacking, Conostegia oerstediana looks similar to Conostegia bernoulliana . The latter lacks the spherical floral buds of Conostegia oerstediana and instead has a constriction in the middle of the bud. Also, the leaves in Conostegia bernoulliana are narrower. Conostegia oerstediana is also similar to Conostegia bigibbosa . The latter name was considered a synonym of Conostegia oerstediana . See the discussion under Conostegia bigibbosa for the differences between the two species. See also Schnell (1996) for details on crossing experiments between Conostegia oerstediana and close relatives. Flowers of this species have good fragrance which has been reported on several specimens (e.i., N. Zamora 5843, 5844, 5845 - INB, MO). These flowers have been observed to be visited by Bombus volluceloides and other large unidentified bees. Berries of this species have a good taste. Schnell (1996) notes the almost exclusivity of growing on volcanic soils of this species and Umaña Dodero (1988) documented peak flowering in December for populations in Grecia, Costa Rica. Phoradendron chrysocladon A. Gray has been reported as a parasite of Conostegia oerstediana (Braby and Nishida, 2010).

Specimens examined.

NICARAGUA. Granada: in forest on Mombacho Volcano, Williams 20009, 20039 (MO, NY).

COSTA RICA. Alajuela: Los Angeles de Heredia, Brenes 14646 (CR, NY); Los Angeles de San Ramón, Brenes 168, 3820, 6093, 6711, 13630 (CR, NY); El Socorro de San Ramón (Haut de la Palma), Brenes 5242 (CR, NY); San Miguel Arriba de Grecia, Finca Arnold Haehner, Kriebel 5408 (INB, NY); Zarcero, Upper edge tropical zone, Pacific watershed edge of woodland, Smith 7 (NY); near Tapezco River, Cordillera Central, about 10 km north of Zarcero, Williams et al. 28927 (NY). Cartago: Paraíso, Parque Nacional Tapantí Macizo de La Muerte, a orilla de la calle el cruce de Río Humo al tunnel, Acosta and Ramírez 572 (INB, MO, NY); a 20 metros del río Grande de Orosi, Tapantí, Jiménez 1596 (CR, NY); Paraíso, Parque Nacional Tapantí Macizo de La Muerte, Alrededores de la estación, Kriebel 5338 (INB, NY); Woods beside Río Sombrero, 1.5 km S. of Muneco, Lent 1904 (NY); P. N. Tapantí, 500 meters after Rangers Station, Vargas and Villalobos 3827 (INB, MO, NY). Heredia: Collected along the slopes of Cerro Zurquí above the Río Para Blanco, Taylor 17631 (NY). Puntarenas: Cordillera de Tilarán, Road to San Luís about 3 km downslope from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Station, Almeda and Daniel 7179 (CAS, NY); Monteverde San Luis Cerro Chomogo, Kriebel et al. 5515 (INB, NY); Monteverde property of John Campbell, Lumer 1013 (NY). San José: Vicinity of Altos Tablazo about 10 km. W of Tablon and SE of Higuito, Almeda et al. 2841 (CR, NY); Old cart road to Limon, 5.6 km N of San Jeronimo, near La Palma, Hill et al. 17791 (CR); Acosta, Salvaje, Kriebel 5416 (INB, NY); Alto La Palma, Lumer 1341 (NY); La Palma, Tonduz 7427 (NY); Heavily pastured slopes between Volcán Barba and Irazú about 5 miles northeast of San Vicente, Wilbur and Stone 9666 (CR, NY); in mountains near Tarbaca about 15 kms south of San José, Williams 19466 (NY).

PANAMA. Chiriquí: Vicinity of Gualaca ca 8 mi from Planes de Hornito, La Fortuna on road to damsite, Antonio 5157 (MO, NY); Fortuna Dam region , along Quebrada Arena near continental divide, McPherson 8723 (NY); above Boquete near Parque Nacional Volcan Barú, along Rio Caldera in Alto Chiquero , Penneys and Olmos 1738 (NY); Distrito de Bugaba , Santa Clara, Hartmann’s finca, van der Werff and Herrera 7091 (MO, NY) .

Figures

Figure 95. Conostegia oerstediana. A Leaf abaxial surface B Flower at anthesis showing many stamens stuck below the stigma C Lateral view of a flower showing bent style D Infructescence E Longitudinal section of flower bud F View of pickled flower from above G Lateral view of pickled flower with petals removed H Longitudinal section of a flower at anthesis I Petal J Stamen K Style A and D from specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5633 B, C, E-K from specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5627.

Figure 96. Distribution of Conostegia oerstediana.