Conostegia subpeltata (Kriebel & Almeda) Kriebel, 2016

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 226-228

Conostegia subpeltata (Kriebel & Almeda) Kriebel comb. nov. Fig. 196

Conostegia subpeltata (Kriebel & Almeda) Kriebel. Basionym: Clidemia subpeltata Kriebel & Almeda, Brittonia 61(3): 214, f. 2E, F, 6A-I. 2009. Type: Costa Rica. Cartago: Cantón de Paraíso, Parque Nacional Tapantí, al lado de quebrada en la salida del Sendero Arboles Caídos, 948'18"N, 8357'12"W, 1200 m, 8 August 2003, R. Kriebel & D. Solano 3643 (holotype: INB!, isotypes: CAS!, CR!, MO!, NY!, US!).

Description.

Shrubs to small trees with adventicious roots 1.5-2 (reportedly to 5) m tall with quadrisulcate young nodes that become terete with age and that are moderately to copiously covered with pinoid hairs intermixed or replaced with stellate and asperous hairs; the nodal line not evident. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in length. Petiole 0.7-3.1 cm. Leaf blades 5.75-16.5 × 2.8-8.9 cm, 3-5-plinerved, diverging from the midvein 0.8-1.4 cm above the blade base in opposite to alternate fashion, elliptic to elliptic-ovate, base rounded to subcordate and generally slightly peltate, apex acuminate, margin subentire to denticulate or crenulate, adaxially glabrous, abaxially stellate pubescent on tertiary and higher order veins. Inflorescences laxly branched dichasia in the axils of the upper leaves or lateral, usually arising on branchlets below the leaves and paired mainly at defoliated nodes, 1.5-4 cm long, branching above the base, accessory branches absent, rachis moderately to copiously covered with pinoid hairs intermixed or replaced with stellate and asperous hairs, bracteoles 0.5-1 mm long, subulate. Pedicels 1-2 mm long. Floral buds 4 × mm. Flowers 4 (-5) merous, calyx not calyptrate but fused in bud, shortly apiculate and rupturing into 4 irregular, broadly rounded hyaline lobes 0.25-0.75 mm long and 0.5-0.75 mm wide at the base, the exterior calyx teeth 0.25-0.5 mm long, linear oblong, hypanthium 2-2.75 × 1.25-2 mm, narrowly campanulate to urceolate, sparsely stellate. Petals 2.5-3.5 × 2.5-3 mm, translucent white, ovate to orbicular, glabrous m, reflexed at anthesis, emarginated and strongly asymmetrical. Stamens 8, 3-3.75 mm long, radially arranged around the style, the filament 1.5-2 mm long with a geniculation near the apex, translucent white, anthers 1.25-1.75 × 0.5-0.75 mm, linear-oblong, laterally compressed, yellow, the pore 0.1-0.15 mm, truncate to somewhat ventrally inclined. Ovary 4-locular, inferior, the apex elevated into glabrous collar around the style base. Style 5-5.75 mm long, straight to slightly curving, vertical distance between the anther apex and the stigma 1.9-2.25 mm, horizontal distance absent, stigma truncate to capitellate, ca. 0.3 mm wide. Berry ca. 4-5 × 4-5 mm. Seeds 0.4-0.6 mm, triangular, regulate or muriculate.

Distribution

(Fig. 197 ). Endemic to Costa Rica where it is known from the Caribbean slope of the Guanacaste and Talamanca mountain ranges at (100-)900-1200 m.

Conostegia subpeltata is a very distinctive species because of its slightly peltate leaves, well defined stellate trichomes on the leaves and hypanthia, axillary inflorescences, and 4-merous flowers with a calyx that is fused in bud and ruptures irregularly into unequal lobes. The flowers of this species resemble the common morphology on section Geniculatae with bright yellow anthers and exserted styles. This species is known from very few specimens but surprisingly these few specimens come from two mountain ranges, one in Volcan Miravalles in Guanacaste and the other from the Talamanca mountain range (Tapanti National Park and Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve). Conostegia subpeltata forms a well supported species pair with Conostegia colliculosa in the molecular phylogeny. This species pair is in turn sister to Conostegia calocoma . Conostegia subpeltata can be easily distinguished from both of these close relatives by the subpeltate leaves and axillary inflorescences. It shares the 4-merous flowers with Conostegia calocoma .

Specimens examined.

COSTA RICA. Cartago: Cantón de Paraíso, P. N. Tapantí, al lado de quebrada en la salida del Sendero Arboles Caídos, Kriebel et al. 1389 (INB, NY); loc. cit, Kriebel 5347 (INB); near bridge over Rio Aquiares 1/ 2 km above Santa Cruz, Lent 659 (F) . Guanacaste: Bagaces, Volcan Miravalles, estación Cabro Muco, Azofeifa 76 (INB, MO). Limón: Rainforest slopes of Cerro Skopte west of Río Siori and Río Coén about 7 km beyond Coroma, Almeda and Daniel 7040 (CAS, CR); bosque primario, between Camp 3 and point 11B close to a stream ca. 1km NW of Laguna Dabagri, Bridgewater 4183 (INB, NY); Cuenca del Rio Estrella, R. B. Hitoy Cerere, sendero en alrededores de la estación, Rodríguez et al. 4921 (CR, INB, MO) .

Figures

Figure 196. Conostegia subpeltata. A Leaf adaxial surface B Close up of peltate leaf base C Inflorescence F Infructescence E Inflorescence with floral buds F Floral bud. Note rupturing calyx G Pickled flower H Petal I Stamen J Style. Photos of specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5347.

Figure 197. Distribution of Conostegia subpeltata.