Conostegia vulcanicola
Miconia tonduzii
Conostegia
A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae)
Kriebel, Ricardo
PhytoKeys
2016
2016-07-20
67
1
326
20724144-E44F-FE47-10F0-880B50E36538
Donn. Sm.
Donn. Sm.
Magnoliopsida
Melastomataceae
Conostegia
CoL
Plantae
Conostegia vulcanicola
Myrtales
114
115
Tracheophyta
species
vulcanicola
Conostegia vulcanicolaDonn. Sm., Bot. Gaz. 42: 294. 1906. Type: Costa Rica. Forets de l'Achiote, volcande Poas, 2200 m, November 1896, Tonduz 10840 (lectotype: NY!, designated here; isolectotypes: BR[2]!, US!). Other syntypes: Costa Rica. Forets de l'Achiote, volcande Poas, 2100 m elevation, A. Tonduz 10836 (BR, M, US [ Schnell (1996)notes that "this number is mixed with Miconia tonduziiCogn. at BR and US; at CR it includes no Conostegiamaterial]), 10840 (BR [2], NY, US)".
Description. Shrubs or small trees 3 to 5 m tall with flattened stems that become terete with age and are densely puberulent with sessile stellate trichomes; the nodal line present yet slight. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in length. Petioles 1-3.8 cm. Leaf blades 5-15 x2-7.1 cm, 5-plinerved, with the innermost pair of primary veins diverging from ca. 1 cm from the blade base the midvein in opposite to subopposite fashion, elliptic-ovate to elliptic, the base acute, the apex acute to acuminate,the margin entireor ciliate, the adaxial and abaxial foliar surfaces covered with small stellate hairs. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 3-10 cm, accessory branches apparently absent, the rachis with small stellate hairs, linear, the bracteoles to 3 mm, deciduous. Pedicel 5-20 mm. Flowers 5-6 merous, calyptrate. Floral buds 4-7 x2-3.5 mm, oblong-pyriform, the base rounded, the apex acute to short apiculate, slightly constricted below the calyptra. Petals 5-7 mm long, white or pinkish, broadly obovate, spreading, glabrous. Stamens 10-12 (-13), 4-5 mm long, possibly slightly bilateral, the filaments ca. 2.5 mm, white, anthers ca. 2 mm long, linear oblong, yellow, the pore ca. 0.2 mm, terminal. Ovary 4-5-locular, inferior, apically glabrous and forming a low collar around the style. Style 3-5 mm, bending below the stigma, apparently no vertical or horizontal distance between the anthers and the stigma, truncate or subcapitate. Berries 5-7 x5-7 mm, purple-black. Seeds ca. 0.7 mm long, obliquely pyramidal, the testa smooth.
Distribution (Fig. 113). Costa Rica and reported from Panama by Schnell (1996), 1550-2400 m in elevation. Figure 113.Distribution of Conostegia vulcanicola. Consideringthe lengthy discussions provided by Schnell (1996)in problematic species, it is interesting he did not discuss anything under Conostegia vulcanicola, although he did mention that Conostegia micranthaand Conostegia vulcanicolawere probably derived from Conostegia montana. I have gone to several volcanoes in Costa Rica looking for Conostegia vulcanicolaand I found populations that resemble the type specimen except mostly for the reddish hairs on the newest vegetative growth. In general, these specimens also resemble and I have annotated as Conostegia montana. The isolectotype of Conostegia vulcanicolawas previously identified as Conostegia montanaapparently by A. Tonduz and another specimen identified by H. A. Gleason as Conostegia montanawas annotated as Conostegia vulcanicolaby Schnell. The main differences between the two taxa at this time are the indument mentioned above as well as leaf venation. Conostegia vulcanicolatends to have plinerved leaves whereas Conostegia montanalack the reddish indument and usually has nerved leaves. Further investigation into this species complex is needed.
Specimens examined. COSTA RICA. Alajuela: Palmira, Alfaro Ruiz, Smith 1038 (NY).