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Family:

Melastomataceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28: 124. 1871

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Type Specimens:

Specimen 1: Isotype -- J. J. Triana
Specimen 2: Isotype -- J. J. Triana

Description:

Description Author and Date: Frank Almeda, based on Almeda, F. (2009). Melastomataceae. In: G. Davidse, M. Sousa-Sânchez, S. Knapp, & F. Chiang (eds.), Flora Mesoamericana: Cucurbitaceae a Polemoniaceae. 4(1): 164-338.

Type: Holotype: Colombia, Triana 3968 (BM!).

Description: Shrub (sometimes clambering or reportedly epiphytic) 1-6 m tall, terete to rounded-quadrate uppermost cauline internodes, petioles, primary leaf veins (abaxial surface), inflorescence rachis, and hypanthia moderately to sparsely stellate pubescent and sparsely to densely intermixed with spreading smooth hairs 0.5-2 mm long. Leaves of a pair nearly equal to somewhat unequal in size; blades 5-7-nerved, elliptic-ovate to ovate, 4.5-10 x 1.6-4.7 cm, apex acute to short-acuminate, base rounded to cordulate varying to obtuse, the margin ciliolate, entire to obscurely serrulate, the adaxial surface sparsely to moderately setose with spreading smooth hairs 0.5-1 mm longm or moderately covered with stellate hairs, to essentially glabrous, the abaxial surface densely to moderately setose with spreading smooth hairs 0.5-1 mm long on secondary and higher order veins and on the actual surface; petioles 0.5-2 cm long. Inflorescence a multiflowered panicle 5-12 cm long; flowers 4-merous on pedicels 1.5-2 mm long; the oblong to narrowly obovate and somewhat cucullate deciduous bracteoles 1.5-2 x 0.5-0.75 mm, glabrous adaxially and sparsely stellate puberulent abaxially. Calyx tube 0.5 mm long, the calyx lobes 0.5 x 1 mm, bluntly triangular to rounded-triangular, the exterior calyx teeth bluntly triangular, 0.5 x 0.5 mm, shorter then the calyx lobes. Petals white to pink, reflexed at anthesis, densely papillose on both surfaces, broadly obovate to subrotund, 3-4 x 2.5-4 mm. Anthers isomorphic, yellow, 1.5-2 mm long, strongly compressed laterally, the pore positioned on the dorsal side abaxially the apex; connective prolonged dorso-basally into a blunt rounded deflexed appendage about 0.5 mm long. Style glandular-puberulent, 3.5 mm long; stigma-peltate and 4-lobate; ovary 4-locular, completely inferior, apex-minutely glandular-puberulent, at first somewhat ribbed but ultimately becoming rounded on mature fruits. Berry reportedly white, 4-5 x 4-5 mm when dry. Seeds angulate-ovoid, the testa smooth, 0.5 mm long.

Habitat and Distribution: Locally common in cloud forest and rainforest. 250-1350 m. Colombia and Ecuador. PANAMA (Almeda & Nakai 3468, CAS).

Taxonomy and Systematics: South American populations of M. goniostigma have 5-merous flowers and a 5-locular ovary but Panamanian populations consistently have 4-merous flowers and a 4-locular ovary. The anthers of this species are unusual. They are laterally compressed and release pollen through a pore that is positioned on the dorsal side just abaxially the anther apex and adjacent to the distal portion of the connective. Other distinctive features of M. goniostigma include its papillose petals, glandular-puberulent filaments and style, and the peltate stigma that is 4-lobate.

Notes: [Description based only on Mesoamerican specimens.]