Conostegia balbisiana Conostegia grisebachii A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae) Kriebel, Ricardo PhytoKeys 2016 2016-07-20 67 1 326 3B7A1706-E01B-0140-9C63-D6A5F57544C3 Ser. ex DC. Ser. ex DC. Magnoliopsida Melastomataceae Conostegia CoL Plantae Conostegia balbisiana Myrtales 44 45 Tracheophyta species balbisiana   Conostegia balbisianaSer. ex DC., Prodr. 3: 174. 1828. Type: Jamaica. 1822, C. Bertero s.n. (holotype G!).  Conostegia grisebachiiCogn., DC. Monog. Phan. 7: 700. 1891. Type: Jamaica. 1857, W. Marsh 598 (holotype: GOET!; isotype: BR-fide Schnell (1996), K!, TCD!).  Description. Shrubs and trees 2-12 m tall with thick strongly tetragonal glabrous stems; the nodal line present. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in length. Petiole 1-6.6 cm. Leaf blades 5-18 x2.9-9 cm, 3-5 nerved or if 3-5 plinerved, with the innermost pair of primary veins arising up to about 1 cm above the base, ovate, rounded at thebase, acute to rounded and short acuminate at the apex, the margin entire, glabrous. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 8.5-19 cm branched well above the base but sometimes appearing branched at the base because of multiple inflorescences arising at opposing meristems at the terminal node, accessory branches apparently absent, bracts early deciduous, bracteoles 1-2 mm long, subulate, deciduous or persistent. Pedicels 7-10 mm. Flowers (5-)6(-7) merous, calyptrate. Flower buds 11-17 x5.5-7 mm, elliptic pyriform, the base rounded, the apex acuminate and sometimes mucronate, constricted in the middle, hypanthium 4-4.5 x5.5-7 mm, glabrous. Petals 12-20 x7-11.5 mm, pink, obtriangular, emarginate, glabrous. Stamens 12-14, 7-9.5 mm long, androecium slightly zygomorphic, the filament 3.5-4.5 mm, not geniculate, apparently white to pink, anthers 2.85-4 x1-1.5 mm, narrowly elliptic, sagittate at the base, laterally compressed, yellow, thickened dorsally and with a small hump in dried material, the terminal pore ca. 0.1 mm wide. Ovary 6-9 locular, inferior, glabrous, forming a collar around the style base; the style 6-8 mm, bent belowthe tip, vertical distance from the anthers to the stigma ca. -0.6 - -0.2 mm, horizontal distance apparently very reduced to absent, stigma truncate, 0.5-0.75 mm wide. Berry ca. 6-7 x8-9 mm, blue-black. Seeds ca. 0.8 mm, obliquely pyramidal, smooth.  Distribution (Fig. 64). Endemic to Jamaica, 350-950 m elevation.   Figure 64.Distribution of  Conostegia balbisiana.   Conostegia balbisianacan be recognized by its leaves which usually have tufted mite domatia on the leaf base abaxially, large pink flowers and linear anthers. Schnell (1996)discussed variation observed in the three Jamaican endemics and struggled with their recognition. Perhaps population genetic studies might help untangle how many species should be recognized within this Jamaican lineage. For the time being, the three species recognized by Schnell (1996), who studied the most specimens of these taxa, are here recognized. The short style characteristic of section  Conostegiais evident in specimens Proctor 10432and 10285both at NY.  Specimens examined.    JAMAICA. Hanover: East Slope of Dolphin Head, Proctor 10432 (NY).   Manchester: Holmwood P.T.C., near Christiana, Proctor 10285 (NY).   Portland: Woodlands eastern slopes of south end of John Crow Mountains, Harris and Britton 10730 (NY). St.  Andrew: Near Diamond ( Redhills District), Robertson and Wynter s.n. (NY). St. Ann: Soho, Harris 12024 (NY). St.  Catherine: Holly Mount, Mt. Diablo, Harris8984 (NY); west of Hollymount, Mt. Diablo, Hespenheide1301 (NY). Ocho Rios and vicinity, Britton and Hollick 2690 (NY). Mandeville, Maxon 2590 (NY). 2016-01-01 2016-12-31 2016-01-01 JAMAICA East Slope of Dolphin Head 1 Hanover 2016-01-01 2016-12-31 2016-01-01 Holmwood P. T. C. Jamaica Manchester 1 Manchester 2016-01-01 2016-12-31 2016-01-01 Jamaica John Crow Mountains 1 Portland 2016-01-01 2016-12-31 2016-01-01 Jamaica Redhills District 1 Andrew 2016-01-01 2016-12-31 2016-01-01 Jamaica Holly Mount Harris Mt. Diablo 1 Catherine