Conostegia extinctoria (Bonpl.) D. Don ex DC.

Kriebel, Ricardo, 2016, A Monograph of Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae), PhytoKeys 67, pp. 1-326 : 126-128

Conostegia extinctoria (Bonpl.) D. Don ex DC. Fig. 120

Conostegia extinctoria (Bonpl.) D. Don ex DC., Prodr. 3: 174. 1828.

Melastoma extinctoria Bonpl., Melast. 133, t. 57. 1806-1816. Type: Colombia. Mariquita, royaume de Santa Fe, A. Bonpland 1719 (fide Almeda in Schnell, 1996, holotype P; isotype P!).

Conostegia pulverulenta Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 3, 16: 110. 1850. Type: In America meridionali?; loco nec collectore cognitis., collector unknown (holotype: P!).

Description.

Shrub to small tree 2.5-7(-12.5) m tall with flattened stems that are furfuraceous on new growth with stellate trichomes; the nodal line present yet slight. Leaves at a node equal to sub equal in size. Petiole 0.7-2.8 cm long. Leaves 6-24.8 × 3-10.1 cm, 5 plinerved, with the innermost pair of veins diverging up to 2.5 cm above the base mostly in sub opposite fashion, elliptic to narrowly ovate, the base subacute to obtuse, acute or acuminate at the apex, the margins remotely undulate to denticulate, adaxially glabrous or glabrescent, abaxially with numerous underdeveloped stellate trichomes. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 6-12.3 cm long branched above the base, accessory branches present, the rachis covered with stout stellate or dendritic trichomes. Pedicel 2-4.4 mm. Flowers (4-)5-6(-7) merous, calyptrate. Floral buds 3-5.5 × 3.75-4.25, oblong-pyriform, acute at the base, acute and apiculate at the apex; hypanthium ca. 3-4 × 3.25-4.25 mm, not constricted in the middle, stellate pubescent, the calyptra and hypanthium not differentiated. Petals 4-5 × 3-3.5 mm, white, broadly obovate, spreading, glabrous, rounded with a lobe to one side of the flower. Stamens (16)27-36, 4.75-6 mm long, apparently slightly zygomorphic, the filament 2.5-3 mm, white, anthers 2.25-2.75 × 0.25-0.75 mm, linear, white to yellowish, not evidently sagittate at the base, the pore 0.1-0.12 mm, ventro-terminal. Ovary (5-)6-7(-8) locular, inferior, glabrous. Style 7-8 mm, straight, lacking a prominent a collar at the base, vertical distance from the anthers to the stigma ca. 1-1.5 mm, horizontal distance absent; stigma subcapitate, 0.75-1 mm wide. Berry 4-5 × 4-5 mm, purple-black. Seeds 0.3-0.4 mm, ovoid, the testa smooth to a little roughened.

Distribution

(Fig. 121 ). From southern Costa Rica to Colombia, with a disjunct population in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba in Peru, 700-1350 m in elevation. The inclusion of the Peruvian locality is based on a specimen cited by Schnell (1996).

Conostegia extinctoria is one of the smallest flowered species in section Australis . The style of this species is exserted as in other species of section Australis (Fig. 120 ). Schnell (1996) commented on the variation within this species, in particular in the number of floral parts. As in other species in this section, some specimens (e.i. Callejas et al. 8926 - NY) suggest the calyptra is not cleanly circumscissle and instead ruptures at anthesis.

Specimens examined.

COSTA RICA. Puntarenas: forets du Boruca, Tonduz 4965 ( US).

COLOMBIA. Antioquia: Municipio Anori, Proyecto hidroeléctrico Porce III, Vargas et al. 1581 (COL); Municipio de San Carlos, Corregimiento El Jordán, Trocha "Los Planes", entre carretera Alto de Samaná-Quebrada La Villa, Embalse Punchiná, Velásquez 266 (NY); Municipio Gomez Plata, 10-15 km en la vía Barbosa-Porce-Amalfi N de Barbosa en límites con el Municipio de Yolombo a orillas del Rio Medellin , Callejas et al. 8926 (MO, NY); Municipio de Amalfi , Finca la Picardia , sector el Coco, David, Rivas and Hernández 1227 (NY) . Tolima: Mariquita, en La Parroquia, Uribe 2766 (NY); Ibague, cerca de la Escuela de Agronomia , Uribe 4957 (COL) .

PERU (fide Schnell). Cuzco: La Convención, east side of Rio Apurimac, across from Hacienda Louisiana, Cordillera Vilcabamba, Madison 10001-70 (NA) .

Figures

Figure 120. Conostegia extinctoria. A Fertile branch B Close up of the flower. Photographs by M. A. Buitrago Aristizabal of specimen vouchered J. M. Posada 308.

Figure 121. Distribution of Conostegia extinctoria.