Miconia gratissima Bentham ex Triana (1871: 101)

Corrêa, André Luis, Scudeller, Veridiana Vizoni & Goldenberg, Renato, 2017, Melastomataceae in the Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Tupé, Amazonas, Brazil, Phytotaxa 323 (2), pp. 101-127 : 117-118

24. Miconia gratissima Bentham ex Triana (1871: 101) . ( Figure 2 O , 3 L .)

Treelet 2.30–5.10 m tall. Grayish brown rhytidome. Branches erect, cylindrical, not winged, rufous, full; branches, petioles, leaves abaxial surface, bracts, bracteoles, hypanthium and fruits with dendritic persistent trichomes. Leaves opposite, isophyllous; petioles striate 2.2–2.8 mm long; leaf blades 16.1–19.3 × 7.8–11.2 cm, chartaceous, discolored, symmetrical, oblong, base acute, apex slightly acuminate, margins entire, not ciliate, leaf veins 5, basal; ant domatia absent. Paniculate 9.2–16.5 × 4.1–9.1 cm, terminal; bracts ca. 3.5 mm long, oblong, caducous; bracteoles ca. 3 mm long. Flowers 5-merous; pedicel ca. 4.6 mm long; hypanthium ca. 12.1 mm long, urceolate, striate; petals 5.1–7 × 3.1–4.7 mm, white, obovate, symmetrical, apex rounded, base attenuate, margins not ciliate, glabrous; stamens 10, isomorphic, anthers 8.1–8.3 mm long, pinkish, sickle-shaped, curved, apex attenuate,1 apical pore, connective not prolonged, filament 5.8–7.1 mm long, glabrous; ovary ca. 3.9 mm, superior, placentation axillary, 5-locular, with glandular trichomes; style 13.8–16.6 mm long, straight, with glandular trichomes. Berry 9.6–10.8 × 5.2–8.4 mm, unripe fruit green, ripe fruit blackish or purple; seeds numerous, triangular.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Amazonas , Manaus, RDS-Tupé, 02 November 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 90 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 02. November 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 91 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 05 December 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 103 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 07 December 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 120 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 31 January 2013, fr., A. L. Corrêa 137 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 01 February 2013, fl., A. L. Corrêa 158 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) .

Distribution and habitat:— Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Bolivia ( Goldenberg et al. 2013) In Brazil it occurs in Amazonian forests ( Goldenberg & Caddah 2015). In the reserve, it occurs in “terra firme” plateaus on well drained, clay soil with a lot of organic matter.

Comments:— This species is frequent in the reserve. It can be recognized by the grayish brown rhytidome, 5- merous flowers and pinkish, sickle-shaped stamens.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Flower, fruit and bark in species of Melastomataceae in the RDS-Tupé: Flower (A–B).A: Henriettea martiusii; B: Tibouchina fothergillae. Fruit (C–F); C. H. maroniensis; D. Clidemia epibaterium; E. Miconia comptifolia; F. C. capitellata; G. Bellucia spruceana; H. M. longispicata, detail of inflorescence; I. M. rhytidophylla. Patterns and colors of the rhytidome and inner bark; J. M. chrysophylla; K. M. comptifolia; L. M. crassinervia; M. M. dispar; N. M. egensis; O. M. gratissima; P. M. longispicata; Q. M. lourteigiana; R. M. phanerostila; S. M. radulifolia; T. M. regelii; U. M. tomentosa; V. M. umbrosa; W. Tococa coronata; X. Tococa subciliata.

FIGURE 3. Morphological details of Melastomataceae species in RDS-Tupé: A. Adelobotrys marginata, leaf blade (from Corrêa 278); B. Miconia comptifolia, leaf blade with detail of the margins (from Corrêa 219); C. Tococa subciliata, leaf blade with detail of the margins (from Corrêa 112); D. Clidemia epibaterium, leaf blade with of the detail margins (from Corrêa 215); E. C. heteroneura, leaf base (from Corrêa 140); F. C. japurensis, leaf base (from Corrêa 21); G. Henriettea maroniensis, leaf blade and detail of trichomes on the abaxial surface (from Corrêa 139); H. M. poeppigii, leaf blade and detail of trichomes on the abaxial surface (from Corrêa 280); I. M. umbrosa, leaf base and detail of trichomes on the abaxial surface (from Corrêa 81); J. Tibouchina fothergillae, longitudinal section of the ovary, hypathium and calix (from Corrêa 218); K. M. umbrosa, detail of the ovary and style (from Corrêa 81); L. M. gratissima, transverse section of the ovary (from Corrêa 137); M. Aciotis circaeifolia, petal (from Corrêa,21);N. C. epibaterium, petal (from Ribeiro 932); O. Miconia tomentosa, stamen larger (from Corrêa 47); P. Aciotis acuminifolia, fruit (From Corrêa 102); Q. M. rubiginosa, fruit (from Scudeller 1067); R. Miconia phanerostila, seed (from Herb 96); S. M. lourteigiana, arachnoid trichome (from Corrêa 77I); T. M. crassinervia, dendritic trichome (from Corrêa 248) U. M. poeppigii, stellate trichome (from Corrêa 280); V. Adelobotrys marginata, malpighiaceous tricome (from Corrêa 278).