Conostegia oerstediana A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae) Kriebel, Ricardo PhytoKeys 2016 2016-07-20 67 1 326 C0B7D236-12BB-BEA6-700A-19A3D7D06E5B O. Berg ex Triana O. Berg ex Triana 1871 Magnoliopsida Melastomataceae Conostegia CoL Plantae Conostegia oerstediana Myrtales 85 86 Tracheophyta species oerstediana    ConostegiaoerstedianaO. Berg ex Triana, Trans. Linn. Soc. 28: 98. 1872. Type: Costa Rica. Naranjo, no date, A. Oersted 11 (holotype: C; isotypes: BR!, K!, GH).  Description. Trees 4.5-18 m tall with whitish flaky bark and tetragonal and ridged stems that are glabrous or with sessile stellate trichomes, these usually minute and inconspicuous; the nodal line present but frequently inconspicuous, lenticels frequent at the nodes. Leaves of a pair equal to somewhat unequal in length. Petiole 1.3-9 cm. Leaf blade 5.2-25 x2.9-15 cm, 3-5-plinerved, with the innermost diverging from the mid vein just above the blade or rarely up to 3 cm above the base in opposite or alternate fashion, ovate or elliptic, thick, the base acute to rounded, the apex rounded and abruptly acute to acuminate, the margin entire to denticulate, glabrous on both surfaces. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 6-18 cm long branched above the base but sometimes appearing branched at the base because of multiple inflorescences arising at opposing meristems at the terminal node, bracts absent or if present elliptic to ovate and up to 3 cm long, accessory branches present, the rachis glabrous, bracts apparently lacking and bracteoles early deciduous. Pedicels 1-8 mm. Flowers 6-10 merous (mostly 8), calyptrate. Flower buds 5-12 x5-10 mm, spherical, the base rounded to truncate, the apex rounded to truncate and usually short apiculate, not constricted and undifferentiated; the hypanthium 5-5.5 x7-8.25 mm, smooth to more frequently tuberculate, glabrous and frequently evidently white. Petals 7-11 x7-11 mm, white, obovate, spreading and overlapping, emarginate, glabrous, spreading and overlapping, entire. Stamens (20-)24-28(-36), 7-9 mm long, radial but appearing bilateral because stamens often get stuck below the stigma, the filament 4-5 mm, white, anthers 3-4 x1-1.5 mm, elliptical to linear-oblong, yellow, strongly laterally compressed, the base sagittate, the pore 0.2-0.3 mm, terminal. Ovary 14-20 locular, inferior, apically glabrous. Style 5.75-8 mm, bending downward to ca. 45 degrees throughout anthesis and protruding below the anthers, vertical distance from the anthers to the stigma ca. 0 mm, horizontal distance ca. -2-0; stigma crateriform, consisting of 14-21 laterally compressed lobes, 4-6 mm wide. Berry 11-14 x8-10 mm, blue-black or purple-black. Seeds 0.6-0.8 mm, pyramidal, the testa smooth.   Figure 95.  Conostegia oerstediana. ALeaf abaxial surface BFlower at anthesis showing many stamens stuck below the stigma CLateral view of a flower showing bent style DInfructescence ELongitudinal section of flower bud FView of pickled flower from above GLateral view of pickled flower with petals removed HLongitudinal section of a flower at anthesis IPetal JStamen KStyle Aand Dfrom specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5633 B, C, E-Kfrom specimen vouchered R. Kriebel 5627.  Distribution (Fig. 96). Nicaragua to west Panama where it occurs in the mountains from (550)1000-2400 m elevation.   Figure 96.Distribution of  Conostegia oerstediana. Specimens from Chiriquihave been annotated as  Conostegia macrantha( White 194, Penneys and Olmos 1738-both at NY). I have included these specimens in the circumscription of  Conostegia oerstedianaon the basis of their glabrous leaves as well as on the description of the style in the second above mentioned specimen where the style was described as curving downward whereas in  Conostegia macranthait is straight. Most populations have tubercles on the hypanthium but in some populations these are reduced or lacking. When the tubercles are lacking,  Conostegia oerstedianalooks similar to  Conostegia bernoulliana. The latter lacks the spherical floral buds of  Conostegia oerstedianaand instead has a constriction in the middle of the bud. Also, the leaves in  Conostegia bernoullianaare narrower.  Conostegia oerstedianais also similar to  Conostegia bigibbosa. The latter name was considered a synonym of  Conostegia oerstediana. See the discussion under  Conostegia bigibbosafor the differences between the two species. See also Schnell (1996)for details on crossing experiments between  Conostegia oerstedianaand close relatives. Flowers of this species have good fragrance which has been reported on several specimens (e.i., N. Zamora 5843, 5844, 5845- INB, MO). These flowers have been observed to be visited by  Bombus volluceloidesand other large unidentified bees. Berries of this species have a good taste. Schnell (1996)notes the almost exclusivity of growing on volcanic soils of this species and  UmanaDodero (1988)documented peak flowering in December for populations in Grecia, Costa Rica.  Phoradendron chrysocladonA. Gray has been reported as a parasite of  Conostegia oerstediana(Braby and Nishida, 2010).  Specimens examined.   NICARAGUA. Granada: in forest on Mombacho Volcano, Williams 20009, 20039 (MO, NY).   COSTA RICA. Alajuela: Los Angeles de Heredia, Brenes 14646 (CR, NY); Los Angeles de San Ramon, Brenes 168, 3820, 6093, 6711, 13630 (CR, NY); El Socorro de San Ramon(Haut de la Palma), Brenes 5242 (CR, NY); San Miguel Arriba de Grecia, Finca Arnold Haehner, Kriebel 5408 (INB, NY); Zarcero, Upper edge tropical zone, Pacific watershed edge of woodland, Smith 7 (NY); near Tapezco River, Cordillera Central, about 10 kmnorth of Zarcero, Williams et al. 28927 (NY).  Cartago:  Paraiso, Parque Nacional TapantiMacizo de La Muerte, a orilla de la calle el cruce de RioHumo al tunnel, Acosta and Ramirez572 (INB, MO, NY); a 20 metros del rioGrande de Orosi, Tapanti, Jimenez1596 (CR, NY); Paraiso, Parque Nacional TapantiMacizo de La Muerte, Alrededores de la estacion, Kriebel 5338 (INB, NY); Woods beside RioSombrero, 1.5 km S. of Muneco, Lent 1904 (NY); P. N. Tapanti, 500 meters after Rangers Station, Vargas and Villalobos 3827 (INB, MO, NY).  Heredia: Collected along the slopes of Cerro Zurquiabove the RioPara Blanco, Taylor 17631 (NY).  Puntarenas: Cordillera de Tilaran, Road to San Luisabout 3 kmdownslope from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Station, Almeda and Daniel 7179 (CAS, NY); Monteverde San Luis Cerro Chomogo, Kriebel et al. 5515 (INB, NY); Monteverde property of John Campbell, Lumer 1013 (NY).  San Jose: Vicinity of Altos Tablazo about 10 km. W of Tablon and SE of Higuito, Almeda et al. 2841 (CR, NY); Old cart road to Limon, 5.6 km N of San Jeronimo, near La Palma, Hill et al. 17791 (CR); Acosta, Salvaje, Kriebel 5416 (INB, NY); Alto La Palma, Lumer 1341 (NY); La Palma, Tonduz 7427 (NY); Heavily pastured slopes between VolcanBarba and Irazuabout 5 milesnortheast of San Vicente, Wilbur and Stone 9666 (CR, NY); in mountains near Tarbaca about 15 kms south of San Jose, Williams 19466 (NY).    PANAMA.  Chiriqui: Vicinity of Gualacaca 8 mifrom Planes de Hornito, La Fortunaon road to damsite, Antonio 5157 (MO, NY); Fortuna Dam region, along Quebrada Arena near continental divide, McPherson 8723 (NY); above Boquete near Parque Nacional Volcan Baru, along  RioCaldera in Alto Chiquero, Penneys and Olmos 1738 (NY); Distrito de Bugaba, Santa Clara, Hartmann'sfinca, van der Werffand Herrera7091 (MO, NY). 2016-01-01 2016-12-31 2016-01-01 La Fortuna, van der Werff PANAMA Vicinity of Gualaca Fortuna Dam region Planes de Hornito 1 Chiriqui