Bertolonia maculata De Candolle (1828: 114)

Bisewski, Gessica C. A., Bacci, Lucas F., Amorim, André M. & Goldenberg, Renato, 2022, The Genus Bertolonia (Melastomataceae) In The State Of Bahia, Brazil, Phytotaxa 548 (2), pp. 153-183 : 172-174

10. Bertolonia maculata De Candolle (1828: 114) . Figure 14 .

Herbs 10–30 cm tall, terrestrial, epiphytic, rarely rupiculous. Stem 3–6 mm wide, rounded, densely glandulose-punctate (trichomes less than 0.1 mm long) and densely glandulose-villose (trichomes 2–4 mm long). Leaves opposite; petioles 2–8.4 cm long, rounded or quadrangular, moderately to densely glandulose-punctate and moderately to densely glandulose-villose (trichomes 1.3–2.7 mm long); blades 3.4–14.5 × 2.5–8.9 cm, flat, elliptic to widely ovate, base cordate, seldom subcordate, apex acute or obtuse, seldom acuminate, margins entire, moderately ciliate, adaxial surface green, sparsely to moderately glandulose-punctate and moderately to densely glandulose-villose (trichomes 1.5–2 mm long, brownish), abaxial surface vinaceous, moderately to densely glandulose-punctate and sparsely glandulosevillose (trichomes 1.2–1.5 mm long, brownish), main veins 5, seldom 3, plus two pairs that do not reach the leaf apex, basal. Inflorescences terminal, 6–15 cm long (15.5–19.5 cm long in infructescences), branches densely glandulosepunctate and densely glandulose-villose, glabrous when old. Bracts and bracteoles not seen. Hypanthium 2.4–3.1 × 3–3.7 mm, short terete or obconic, glandulose-punctate and glandulose-villose. Sepals ovate, apex acute, seldom rounded, margins entire, ciliate, both surfaces glandulose-punctate and glandulose-villose. Petals 6.5–9 × 2.5–4.5 mm, pink, elliptic, base cuneate, apex apiculate, the apiculum ca. 0.8 mm long, with a caducous gland head, margins entire, eciliate, both surfaces papillose, otherwise glabrous. Stamens 3.6–6.3 mm long; filaments 1.2–3.7 mm long; anthers 2–2.7 mm long, cream colored, narrowly oblong, surface flat or slightly undulate, pore rounded, thickened margins, introrse; connective shortly dorsally prolonged (ca. 0.1 mm), unappendaged. Style 3.3–7.8 mm long, straight, glabrous. Fruits 0.4–0.7 × 0.9–1.2 cm. Seeds widely fusiform.

Examined material: — BRAZIL. Bahia: Eunápolis, Almeida 33 ( CEPEC!, US); Belém 2645 ( CEPEC!, US). Guaratinga, Santos, T.S. 897 ( CEPEC!, RB, US). Itabuna, Mello Filho 2993 ( CEPEC!). Itamaraju, Amorim 6852 ( CEPEC!); Jardim, J.G. 3941 ( CEPEC!, HUEFS!, NY); Martinelli 14824 ( RB!); Mori 10686 ( CEPEC!, K, NY, RB!, US). Porto Seguro, Amorim 4254 ( CEPEC!, UPCB!); Carvalho 172 ( CEPEC!, MBML!, RB); Carvalho 357 ( CEPEC!); Mello Filho 2947 ( CEPEC!); Mello Filho 2989 ( CEPEC!); Harley 16139 ( CEPEC!, NY, US, K); Lopes 917 ( CEPEC!); Paixão 1889 ( CEPEC!, UESC!); Pereira 27 ( ALCB!, CEPEC); Thomas 12049 ( CEPEC!). Santa Cruz de Cabrália, Bonfim 511 ( CEPEC!, UEC!, UPCB!); Eupunino 164 ( CEPEC!, US); Guedes 6682 ( ALCB!); Mori 10864 ( CEPEC!); Santos, F.S. 355 ( CEPEC!, US); Webster 25094 ( CEPEC!, MO). Una, Martini 29 ( CEPEC!, UESC!); Martini 142 ( CEPEC!, UESC!); Mattos-Silva 1292 ( CEPEC!, HUEFS!, US). Uruçuca, Amorim 622 ( CEPEC!); Bacci 239 ( UEC!); Jardim, J.G. 4165 ( CEPEC!, HUEFS!).

Conservation Status: — Bertolonia maculata has an EOO of 73,894 km ² and AOO of 42,500 km ², and should be classified as “Least Concern” (LC), following IUCN (2017) categories. In Bahia, this species has been found in the conservation units “ Estação Ecológica Pau-Brasil ”, “ Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Veracel ” and “ Reserva Biológica de Una ” but also within private properties .

Notes: — Bertolonia maculata occurs in the states of Bahia and Espírito Santo. In Bahia, the species is widely distributed in lowland rainforests ( Fig. 13b ) along the central and southern coast, with some specimens also collected inland, in this case in the southern region of the state, in low elevation areas (100–450 m), on rocky outcrops or at the base of trees ( Baumgratz 1990). Collected with flowers and fruits between January and February, and June to November. Bertolonia maculata can be distinguished by the stem, petioles and hypanthium densely glandulose-villose (the trichomes 1.3–4 mm long), petals with an apiculate apex and anthers dehiscing through an introrse pore with thickened margins. It is closely related to B. marmorata , and they differ mainly by the morphology of the anthers. Bertolonia maculata has anthers with a flat or slightly undulate surface, and dehiscing through an introrse pore with thickened margins (vs. undulate anthers with extrorse pores that do not have thickened margins). Bertolonia maculata is also similar to Bertolonia carmoi , and differs from it by the petals with an apiculate apex (vs. acuminate or acute in B. carmoi ) and unappendaged anthers (vs. dorsally bilobed in B. carmoi ) For more details see Baumgratz (1990) and Table 1 .

Figures

FIGURE 13. Distributions of species of Bertolonia in Bahia.A.Bertolonia linearifolia. B. Bertolonia maculata. C. Bertolonia marmorata. D. Bertolonia reginatoi. E. Bertolonia riocontensis. F. Bertolonia violacea. G. Bertolonia vitoriana.

FIGURE 14. Bertolonia maculata. A. Fertile branch.B.Trichomes on the petiole.C. Leaf base, abaxial surface.D. Short-stalked glandular trichomes on the abaxial leaf surface. E. Inflorescence. F. Hypanthium and calyx, abaxial surface. G. Petals apex, showing the apiculum with glands (arrow). H. Stamen, lateral view. I. Ovary and style. [A: Pereira 27; B, F: Mattos-Silva 1292; C: Paixão1889; D: Amorim 6802; E: Carvalho 357; G: Webster 25094; H, I: Santos 355].