Conostegia balbisiana Ser. ex DC.

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 45-47

Conostegia balbisiana Ser. ex DC.

Conostegia balbisiana Ser. ex DC., Prodr. 3: 174. 1828. Type: Jamaica. 1822, C. Bertero s.n. (holotype G!).

Conostegia grisebachii Cogn., DC. Monog. Phan. 7: 700. 1891. Type: Jamaica. 1857, W. Marsh 598 (holotype: GOET!; isotype: BR-fide Schnell (1996), K!, TCD!).

Description.

Shrubs and trees 2-12 m tall with thick strongly tetragonal glabrous stems; the nodal line present. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in length. Petiole 1-6.6 cm. Leaf blades 5-18 × 2.9-9 cm, 3-5 nerved or if 3-5 plinerved, with the innermost pair of primary veins arising up to about 1 cm above the base, ovate, rounded at the base, acute to rounded and short acuminate at the apex, the margin entire, glabrous. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 8.5-19 cm branched well above the base but sometimes appearing branched at the base because of multiple inflorescences arising at opposing meristems at the terminal node, accessory branches apparently absent, bracts early deciduous, bracteoles 1-2 mm long, subulate, deciduous or persistent. Pedicels 7-10 mm. Flowers (5-)6(-7) merous, calyptrate. Flower buds 11-17 × 5.5-7 mm, elliptic pyriform, the base rounded, the apex acuminate and sometimes mucronate, constricted in the middle, hypanthium 4-4.5 × 5.5-7 mm, glabrous. Petals 12-20 × 7-11.5 mm, pink, obtriangular, emarginate, glabrous. Stamens 12-14, 7-9.5 mm long, androecium slightly zygomorphic, the filament 3.5-4.5 mm, not geniculate, apparently white to pink, anthers 2.85-4 × 1-1.5 mm, narrowly elliptic, sagittate at the base, laterally compressed, yellow, thickened dorsally and with a small hump in dried material, the terminal pore ca. 0.1 mm wide. Ovary 6-9 locular, inferior, glabrous, forming a collar around the style base; the style 6-8 mm, bent below the tip, vertical distance from the anthers to the stigma ca. -0.6 - -0.2 mm, horizontal distance apparently very reduced to absent, stigma truncate, 0.5-0.75 mm wide. Berry ca. 6-7 × 8-9 mm, blue-black. Seeds ca. 0.8 mm, obliquely pyramidal, smooth.

Distribution

(Fig. 64 ). Endemic to Jamaica, 350-950 m elevation.

Conostegia balbisiana can be recognized by its leaves which usually have tufted mite domatia on the leaf base abaxially, large pink flowers and linear anthers. Schnell (1996) discussed variation observed in the three Jamaican endemics and struggled with their recognition. Perhaps population genetic studies might help untangle how many species should be recognized within this Jamaican lineage. For the time being, the three species recognized by Schnell (1996), who studied the most specimens of these taxa, are here recognized. The short style characteristic of section Conostegia is evident in specimens Proctor 10432 and 10285 both at NY.

Specimens examined.

JAMAICA. Hanover: East Slope of Dolphin Head , Proctor 10432 (NY) . Manchester: Holmwood P.T.C., near Christiana, Proctor 10285 (NY) . Portland: Woodlands eastern slopes of south end of John Crow Mountains , Harris and Britton 10730 (NY). St. Andrew: Near Diamond ( Redhills District ), Robertson and Wynter s.n. (NY). St. Ann : Soho, Harris 12024 (NY). St. Catherine: Holly Mount, Mt. Diablo, Harris 8984 (NY); west of Hollymount , Mt. Diablo , Hespenheide 1301 (NY). Ocho Rios and vicinity, Britton and Hollick 2690 (NY). Mandeville, Maxon 2590 (NY) .

Figures

Figure 64. Distribution of Conostegia balbisiana.