Tococa subciliata ( De Candolle 1828: 187 ) Triana (1871: 133)

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 : 125-126

42. Tococa subciliata ( De Candolle 1828: 187) Triana (1871: 133) . ( Figure 2 X; 3 C.)

Shrubs 1.70–3.20 m tall. Smooth rhytidome with lenticels apparent. Branches erect, cylindrical, not winged, grayish; branches, petioles, leaves abaxial surface, inflorescences, bracts, hypanthium and fruits with stellate caducous and glandular persistent trichomes. Leaves opposite, isophyllous; petioles slightly channelled 13.5–21.5 mm long; leaf blades 11.2–16.3 × 3.6–5.4 cm, chartaceous, concolorous, symmetrical, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, base rounded or subcordate, apex acuminate, margins serrate and ciliate, adaxial side glabrous, leaf veins 5, basal; ant domatia absent. Paniculate 5.3–13.2 × 2.3–3.8 cm, terminal; bracts ca. 3.3 mm long, caducous; bracteoles not seen. Flowers 5-merous; pedicel 1.9–3.8 mm long; hypanthium 7.9 mm long, conical, wrinkled; petals 9.9–10.6 × 6.4–10.4 mm, pinkish, obovate, symmetrical, apex emarginate, margins not ciliate, glabrous; stamens 10, isomorphic, anthers 6.7– 7.2 mm long, oblong, slightly curved, apex attenuate, 2 subapical pores, connective prolonged, filament glabrous; ovary 2.1–3.2 mm long, inferior, placentation axillary intrusive, 3-locular, glabrous; style ca. 18.4 mm long, straight, glabrous. Berry 13–14 × 6.7 mm, unripe fruit green, ripe fruit purple; seeds numerous, translucent.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Amazonas , Manaus, RDS-Tupé, 06 December 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 112 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 06 December 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 113 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 08 December 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 122 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 08 December 2012, fl., A. L. Corrêa 123 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) ; 30 January 2012, fr., A. L. Corrêa 136 ( EAFM!, HUAM!, INPA!) .

Distribution and habitat:— Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana ( Berry et al. 2001). In Brazil it occurs in Amazonian Forest and Cerrado (Michelangeli, 2015). In the reserve, it occurs in “igapó” on sandy soil.

Comments:— This species is frequent in the reserve. It can be recognized by the brown and smooth rhytidome with lenticels apparent, leaves lacking ant domatia, and petals with an emarginate apex.