Meriania amischophylla Wurdack, Phytologia

Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, Phytotaxa 602 (1), pp. 1-101 : 16-17

2. Meriania amischophylla Wurdack, Phytologia 48(3): 238 (1981).

Type:— PERU. Loreto [Huánuco]: Prov. Coronel Portillo , Dist. Padre Abad , la cumbre de la Divisoria , 1500–1600 m, 6 Feb 1978 (fl.), J. Schunke V. 9842 (holotype: US! [barcode 00120355 ]; isotypes: AAU!, F! [accession no. 2010208 ], MO! [accession no. 2796540 ], NY! [barcode 00228949 ], U! [barcode U0282674 ], USM! [accession no. 88597 ]) . ( Figure 10 ).

Comments:— Meriania amischophylla is easily distinguishable from other Peruvian species by its subsessile leaves (petioles up to 3 mm long) ( Fig. 10B ), calyces with regular dehiscence ( Fig. 10D ), spreading, reddish-purple corollas and antesepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded descending dorso-basal appendages and dorsal appendages as mere humps ( Fig. 10G ). Laterally expanded dorso-basal appendages have only been observed in six other Peruvian species ( M. hirsuta , M. sumatika , M. vargasii , M. vasquezii , M. vilcabambensis and M. weberbaueri ). Within this group, M. amischophylla is more closely related to M. weberbaueri , with which it shares spreading, fuchsia to reddish-purple corollas and stamen connectives without ascending dorsal appendages. However, M. amischophylla differs from M. weberbaueri by its subsessile leaves (vs. petioles 1.3–5.1 cm long) and distinctly suprabasal secondary veins (vs. basal to slightly suprabasal). Meriania sumatika , M. vargasii and M. vilcabambensis have stamen connectives with ascending dorsal appendages, M. vasquezii has calyces with irregular dehiscence, and M. hirsuta has campanulate, deep red corollas.

Sessile or subsessile leaves are unusual characters in the Andean species of Meriania , occurring only in M. amischophylla , M. amplexicaulis Wurdack , M. mexiae Wurdack and M. sessilifolia . Meriania amplexicaulis ( Ecuador) is the most closely related to M. amischophylla due to its similar indumentum and calyx with regular dehiscence and dorsal projections. However, the former differs by its petals 16–18 cm long (vs. 19–32 cm), stamens with connectives prolonged below the thecae (vs. not prolonged) and antesepalous stamen connectives with ascending appendages (vs. a mere hump).

Distribution and phenology:— Meriania amischophylla is endemic to Peru and restricted to the Cordillera La Divisoria in the Huánuco-Ucayali border, and grows in montane forests at 1500–1600 m ( Fig. 11 ). It has been collected in flower in February and April.

Specimens examined:— PERU. Huánuco: Prov. Leoncio Prado, Dist. Hermilio Valdizán, la Divisoria , carretera a Pucallpa , 1600 m, 24 Apr 1980 (fl.), J. Schunke V. 11374 ( NY!, US!) .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Meriania amischophylla. A. Terminal fertile branch with inflorescence. B. Leaf blade, abaxial view. C. Detail of abaxial surface. D. Flower bud. E. Petal. F. Hypanthium and calyx in lateral view. G. Antesepalous stamen, lateral view, with detail of the dorsobasal appendage, frontal view (above). H. Antepetalous stamen, lateral view. A, D–H from J. Schunke V. 9842; B–C from J. Schunke V. 11374.

FIGURE 11. Distribution map of M. amischophylla, M. bicentenaria, M. rubriflora, M. vasquezii and M. weberbaueri.