Blakeeae Benth. & Hook. f., Gen. Pl. 1: 727, 735. 1867.

Penneys, Darin S. & Judd, Walter S., 2013, A revised circumscription for the Blakeeae (Melastomataceae) with associated nomenclatural adjustments, PhytoKeys 20, pp. 17-32 : 18-20

Blakeeae Benth. & Hook. f., Gen. Pl. 1: 727, 735. 1867.

Pyxidantheae Triana, Bull. Congr. Int. Bot. Amsterdam. 457. 1865. Type genus: Pyxidanthus Naudin.

Type genus:

Blakea P.Browne.

Remarks.

Evergreen shrubs, trees, or lianas, growing as terrestrials, hemiepiphytes, or epiphytes, with variable indumentum, the hairs sparsely to densely distributed, unicellular or multicellular, variously smooth to roughened to barbellate, furfuraceous-granulose, eglandular, or sessile to short- to long-stalked globular glandular, setae slender to stoutly conic, occasionally apically fimbriate. Twigs rectangular, square, quadrate, to terete in cross-section, sometimes formicarial with hollow or apically inflated internodes and subnodal entrance holes. Stipules absent, interpetiolar and ± coriaceous, or layered and membranaceous. Petioles terete, canaliculate, to winged; leaves opposite, decussate, nearly sessile to petiolate, equal to anisophyllous, then the smaller leaf sometimes deciduous; blade chartaceous to coriaceous, flat to verrucose, frequently drooping and vivid yellow to scarlet when senescent, the apex acute, to broadly rounded, often abruptly short to long acuminate, the base acute, to rounded, to cordate, rarely subpeltate or decurrent along petiole margins, the margin plane to revolute, entire to toothed; venation acrodromous, basal to plinerved, with prominent midvein and 2 to 7 pairs of secondary veins (including a pair of weak, submarginal veins), tertiary veins numerous and striolate to widely spaced, subperpendicular to midvein; adaxial surface usually glabrescent, but sometimes with persistent hairs (as above), the veins variously flat to impressed; abaxial surface light to dark green or tan, essentially glabrous to densely pubescent with various hair types (as above), the midvein and major secondary veins raised, minor secondary veins, tertiary veins and higher order veins flat to raised; acarodomatia frequently present in primary-axillary vein axils, formed by hair tufts, coalesced veins, or membranes, or rarely a foliose flap of tissue partially encircling the adaxial apex of the petiole ( Blakea austin-smithii , Blakea chlorantha ). Inflorescences axillary in distal nodes, simple or compound cyme ( Chalybea ) or solitary to fasciculate ( Blakea ), bracts and bracteoles caducous ( Chalybea ) or persistent ( Blakea ), each flower subtended by a single pair ( Chalybea ) or two (very rarely three) pairs ( Blakea ) of bracteoles, the bracteoles obscure to foliaceous, membranaceous to coriaceous, free to completely connate, appressed to hypanthium or spreading, linear to elliptic to oblate, entire to remotely denticulate, with pubescence as above. Flowers perfect, 6-merous (4-merous in Blakea tetramera ), mostly showy, actinomorphic to zygomorphic as a result of the declinate androecium ( Blakea ), frequently with pleasantly sweet to musky fragrance ( Blakea ), rarely nectariferous, the stomatal nectaries located on the anther connective appendages. Hypanthium narrowly to broadly globose, cylindrical to conical, terete to costate, the outer surface glabrous or with pubescence (as above), when present, hairs usually denser proximally, the inner surface glabrous or rarely glandular-pubescent, obscurely to prominently ridged, the apices of the ridges not to distinctly projecting around style base. External calyx teeth, when present, (4-) 6 (absent in calyptrate species), distinct, with apex acuminate to acute, or reduced to blunt thickenings; internal calyx lobes (4-) 6 (absent in calyptrate species), valvate or rarely imbricate, the lobes merely inconspicuous tubercles, to narrowly to broadly triangular, truncate, lanceolate, to orbicular, rarely with a large flap of tissue elaborated from the apical and distal portion of the calyx lobe, then tightly held to the underside of the lobe ( Blakea bocatorena ined., Blakea calycosa , Blakea tuberculata ), the margin entire, often callose-thickened, in fruit, the lobes sometimes becoming colorful, sometimes inrolled; calyx tube glabrous inside. Petals (4-) 6, rarely containing druse crystals, imbricate in bud, orbiculate, ovate, elliptic, obovate, to rhombic, frequently widely so, sometimes clawed, symmetrical or oblique, reflexed, rotate, or pseudocampanulate, white, cream, pink, lavender, magenta, red, or green, the apex acute, obtuse, rounded, truncate, to emarginate; margin entire to minutely erose; both surfaces usually glabrous, rarely sparsely pubescent. Stamens 12 (6 and antesepalous in the hexandrous Blakea clade; 8 in Blakea tetramera ), incurved in bud, isomorphic or rarely subequal with central stamens slightly larger than those at perimeter of cycle ( Blakea ); filaments in cross section nearly flat dorsally, usually with an obscure to prominent ventral keel and laterally narrowed (rarely cylindrical), white, cream, pink, or lavender; anthers white, cream, yellow, bluish, lavender, to deep purple, free or connate, laterally rounded to flattened, anther sacs somewhat to deeply separated ventrally, linear to obtuse, opening by one or two pores, the pores sometimes confluent, dorsally to ventrally positioned; dorsal basal anther connective appendages smooth to rugose, mostly modified blunt knobs, parallel longitudinal ridges, triangular spurs (sometimes two present), or caudate. Ovary (2-) 4-6 ( –12)– loculate, inferior to superior, apically glabrous or rarely glandular-pubescent, smooth to ridged, unadorned or with circumstylar, short- to long-acute projections, ± rectangular flanges, or rarely with ascending, radiating, elongate appendages ( Blakea glandulosa , Blakea hirsuta ); placentation axile to deeply intruded axile, the ovules numerous, anatropous; style elongate (bluntly clavate in Blakea princeps ), terete, cylindrical, slightly swollen suprabasally, or tapered, glabrous or glandular-pubescent, white, cream, pink, or lavender; stigma truncate to capitate, rarely obscurely lobed and concave (mostly in Chalybea ). Berries ± globose to elliptical, greenish when immature, becoming yellowish-green, pale greenish-white, red, lavender, orange, or deep purple at maturity, glabrous to pubescent (as above), the exocarp thin to leathery, fairly dry and unpalatable to juicy, sweet, and highly comestible (especially Chalybea ). Seeds numerous, pyramidal to ovoid, testa smooth to sculpted.

Distribution: Mexico (Chiapas) to Bolivia and Brazil; Jamaica, Lesser Antilles. The Pacific slopes of the Cordillera Occidental, Colombia represent the center of specific and morphological diversity. Occurring from sea level to ca. 3000 meters.

Key to the genera of Blakeeae: