Melastoma montanum (Lauterb.) K. Meyer
Table of contents
1. Protologue
Melastoma montanum (Lauterb.) K. Meyer, Diss. Univ. Mainz (1999): 96. - Otanthera montana Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Südsee (1905): 327. - Type: Schlechter 14069, Bismarck-Geb., Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, Papua New Guinea, 1200 m, Jan 1902 (not seen).
Frutex ramis modice validis obtuse tetragonis setulosis; foliis petiolatis oblongis subacuminatis basi rotundatis quinqu- vel subseptemnerviis, supra pilis strigilosis appressis, scabris, subtus praecipue in nervis setuloso-villosis, subcoriaceis; paniculis terminalibus densifloris; floribus brevissime pedicellatis bracteis 2--3 sessilibus subrotundatis dorso setulosis suffultis; calyce setis penicillatis subvalidis dense hirsuto; petalis ovatis ciliatis calycis tubum subaequantibus; staminibus infra antheram linearem breviter bicalcaratis; ovario subgloboso vertice setuloso; stylo glabro.
Der vorliegende 25 cm lange Blütenzweig ist am Grunde 4--5 mm dick und nach Abfall der bräunlichen Borsten mit graubrauner Rinde bekleidet. Der mit gleichfarbigen Borsten bedeckte Blattstiel ist 10 bis 20 mm, die Spreite 6--13 cm lang und in der Mitte 3--6 cm breit. Neben den Hauptnerven wird sie von sehr zahlreichen, unten hervortretenden Nerven durchzogen. Die Blütenstände messen 3 cm, der Kelch 7 mm, die hellrosa Blumenblätter 7 mm, die Staubblätter 6 mm, wovon 3 mm auf das Filament entfallen. Der Fruchtknoten hat 4 mm Durchmesser; der Griffel ist 5 mm lang.
Kaiser-Wilhelmsland: Bismarck-geb., 1200 m ü. M. (Schlechter n. 14069, bl. unf fr. Jan. 1902).
Die Art ist mit O. bracteata Korth. verwandt, unterscheidet sich aber durch den gedrungeneren Habitus, die braunzottige Bekleidung, geringere Anzahl der Brakteen und größere Blüten.
2. Synonyms
- Otanthera macrochiton Bakh. f., Meded. Bot. Mus. Herb. Rijks Univ. Utrecht 91 (1943): 105. - Type: Janowsky 617, Armoppa, Bonggo, Irian Jaya, Indonesia, Jan 1914, (L!).
3. Vernacular names
No vernacular names known!
4. Description
Shrubs 0.5--3 m tall; young branches quadrangular, sparsely covered with c. 1.5 mm long spreading dark bristles, bark brown or grey; old branches terete, glabrescent. Leaves lanceolate-elliptic, 9--14 x 3.5--5.5 cm, base acute, apex acuminate; lamina strigose above, beneath sparsely strigose to nearly glabrous, lighter coloured than above; nerves 7, covered with short appressed or spreading bristles; petiole 10--20(--30) mm long. Inflorescences dense terminal cymes enclosed by leaves. Flowers 5-merous; bracts broadly ovate, enclosing half of the hypanthium, 7--9 x 8--10 mm, acuminate, outside sparsely bristly, inside glabrous. Hypanthium campanulate, 6.5--7.5 x 5--6 mm, densely covered with long spreading, red to dark violet penicillate emergences 3--3.5 mm long; sepals narrowly triangular, c. 3.5--4 x 1.3--1.6 mm, covered with long bristles; intersepalar emergences 2--3 mm long. Petals obovate, 6--8 x 5--6 mm, ciliate at the margin, red-violet (or white). Stamens isomorphic but anthers unequal in length; anthers of longer outer stamens c. 3 mm long, anthers of shorter inner stamens c. 2.5 mm long, shortly beaked, yellow, connectives prolonged for c. 0.2 mm, with 2 ventral appendages c. 0.5 mm long, filaments c. 3 mm long. Ovary nearly as long as the hypanthium, crowned by golden bristles; style 6--7 mm long. Fruit an indehiscent dark blue berry.
5. Distribution, ecology and notes
Distribution - New Guinea.
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Ecology - Collections: 9. In forests and on stream banks at up to 1000 m altitude.
Notes - This species is known only from New Guinea and therefore is the only Melastoma species endemic to this large island. In morphology, it is closest to M. cyanoides but it is clearly distinct from that species by the large bracts enclosing about half of the hypanthium.
6. Collections
INDONESIA
- Brass 13063, 4 km southwest of Bernhard Camp. Idenburg River, Irian Jaya, 850 m (L)
- Janowsky 617, Armoppa, Bonggo, Irian Jaya (K)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
- Brass 29437, Gurakor, Morobe, 640 m (K)
- Buderus NGF 24049, Asuk-Hudkiu Track, West New Britain, 150 m (L)
- Foreman NGF 45954, Amiaba River, Usino Subdistr., Madang, 150 m (L)
- Millar NGF 13868, Patep River, Morobe, 600 m (L)
- Sands 1078, Amanab Subdistrict, Bewani Mts.; near Kilifas on the river Yenabu, rigde 1.5 km southwest of the village on the south side of the river, West Sepik, 350 m (L)
- Schlechter 17139, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Land: Rani Gebirge, 1000 m (C, K, BM)
- Schlechter 18662, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Land, Bismark-Gebirge, Madang, 300 m (C).
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