Leandra aspera Cogn. in de Candolle & de Candolle (1891: 655)

Reginato, Marcelo, 2016, Taxonomic revision of Leandra sect. Leandra (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), Phytotaxa 262 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

3. Leandra aspera Cogn. in de Candolle & de Candolle (1891: 655) . Lectotype (second-step, designated here):— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Nova Friburgo, Alto Macahé, A.F.M. Glaziou 16861 ( BR 5227747 image!, isolectotypes B, destroyed, BR image! (×2), C image!, G image!, K image! (×2), NY!, P, R (×2)). ( Figs. 21 , 22 , 23 ) 30 • Phytotaxa 262 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

REGINATO TAXONOMIC REVISION OF LEANDRA SECT. LEANDRA

Phytotaxa 262 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 31 32 • Phytotaxa 262 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

REGINATO

Shrubs, 1 m tall. Branches, petioles, leaves, inflorescences, bracts and bracteoles covered by appressed, unbranched trichomes (ca. 0.5 mm), these sparser on the leaf surfaces. Leaves isophyllous or slightly anisophyllous in each pair (4:6 ratio); petioles 0.5–1.5 cm long; blades 3–10 × 0.7–2.5 cm, slightly obovate or lanceolate, apex acute or shortly acuminate, base cuneate, margin crenulate or entire, ciliate (0.5 mm), chartaceous; 3 acrodromous nerves, plus 0–1 additional pair of faint veins, basally nerved, nerves slightly conspicuous on adaxial surface and acrodromous nerves prominent, transversal flat on abaxial, reticulation slightly conspicuous. Inflorescences terminal, seldom pseudolateral, 1 per node, 4–6 cm long, 2–3 pairs of opposite paraclades, accessory branches absent, ca. 15 flowers per inflorescence, these in glomerules; bracteoles 4–5 × 0.5–2 mm, lanceolate, uniformly covered by unbranched trichomes, non-involucral, early caducous. Flowers 5-merous, sessile. Hypanthium 3.5–4 × 2.3–2.7 mm, campanulate to tubular, torus indumentum absent. Calyx tube 0.3–0.4 mm long; inner lobes 1.4–1.6 × 0.9–1.1 mm, triangular; external teeth 2.5–3 mm long. Petals white, 3.8–4.2 × ca. 1.5 mm, linear to lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous, spreading at anthesis. Stamens 10, opposite to the style; filaments geniculation present, the larger 5.1–5.5 mm long, the smaller 4.5–5 mm long; anthers pink, the larger 3.8–4.2 mm long, the smaller 3.4–3.7 mm long, linear-subulate, dorsally curved, pore ca. 0.12 mm wide, connectives dorsally produced below the anthers 0.3–0.5 mm, appendage present, a basal-dorsal bifurcation in the connective of larger anthers. Ovary 3-celled, ca. 2.5 × 1.5 mm, ca. 35 % inferior, apex sparsely covered by unbranched trichomes (0.5 mm). Style 10–11 mm long, sigmoid, opposite of the stamens, stigma ca. 0.25 mm diam. Fruits and seeds not seen.

Notes:—Among the species with caducous bracteoles, Leandra aspera is readily identified by the basally nerved leaves. There are few collections of L. aspera , but most (including the type) present slightly obovate leaves, which also would distinguish the species from its close relatives. Nonetheless, there are some specimens with predominantly lanceolate leaves.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Castelo, Kollmann 10578 (RB, UPCB); Santa Teresa, Hupp 75 (RB), Vervloet 1722 (RB).

Figures

FIGURE 21. Distribution of Leandra aspera.

FIGURE 22. Leandra aspera. A. Detail of the leaf on adaxial view. B. Branch with inflorescences. C. Detail of the leaf base. D. Detail of the shoot. E. Inflorescence. F. Leaf on abaxial view. Voucher: Hupp 75.

FIGURE 23. Leandra aspera. A. Flower. B. Flower bud. C. Stamens. D. Bracteole. E. Style. F. Hypanthium and ovary cross section. G–H. Detail of anther base. I. Detail of anther pore. J. Petal. K. Hypanthium and calyx longitudinal section. L. Detail of the ovary. M. Anthers. Scales: A–E, J–K, M = 1 mm; F–I, L= 0.25 mm. Voucher: Kollmann 10578.