Melastoma pellegrinianum (H. Boissieu) K. Meyer
Table of contents
1. Protologue
Melastoma pellegrinianum (H. Boissieu) K. Meyer, in Smitinand, T., & Larsen, K. (eds.), Flora of Thailand: Melastomataceae (in press). - Dissotis pellegriniana H. Boissieu, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 59 (1912): 330. - Type: Pierre s.n., Bao-Chang, Bien-Hoa, Vietnam (K!).
Frutex ramis manifeste tetragonis, brevissime, adpresse crasseque strigilloso-setulosis, setis brunneis, basi tubercolosis, ad nodos parum incrassatos annuloso-villosis, setis annuli quibusdam multo majoribus, omnibus adpressis brunneis. Folia rigida, magna (10-12 cm longa, 3-4 cm lata), oblongo-lanceolata, 5-7-nervia, integra, petiolata, petiolo sat crasso, circa 1 cm longo, supra tenuiter strigilloso-villosa nervis impressis, subtus flavescentia, eximie brunneo-punctulata, nervis et nervulis exsertis adpresse pilosis. Inflorescentia sat laxa, paniculata. Panicula e cymis biparibus consistens: pedunculi communes crassi, eximie quadrangulares; pedicelli (pro sectione) sat elongati, demum 6-8 mm longi; bracteae lanceolatae, acutae, herbaceae, villosae, pedicello longiores, caducae. Alabastra acuta. Flores magni, spectabilis. Calycis tubus ovoideus, 5-7 mm longus, pilis omnibus simplicibus, basi tuberculatis, adpressis, praeter basim et apicem dissitiuscule, basi et apice densius vestitus; lobi 5, post anthesim decidui, tubo aequilongi, lanceolati, apice attenuati, praesertim dorso et apice adpresse setosi, cum dentibus 5 minoribus, linearibus, apice praesertim setosis alternantes. Petala 5 magna inaequilateralia, saepe apice pilosa, saltem sepalis 2-plo longiora. Stamina 10, 5 majora sepalis, 5 multo minora petalis opposita. Stamina majora medio curvata, connectivo basi (i.e. ad filamenti apicem) appendicibus duabus, oppositis, crassiusculis, curvatis, corniformibus munito, deinde elongato, filamento longiore; antherae elongatae lineares, apice 1-porosae, loculis duobus incompletis, ventre tantum separatis, undulatis, a connectivo basi manifeste separatis (subauriculatis). Stamina minora connectivo parvo, appendicibus duabus oppositis, iis staminum majorum subconformibus basi munito, istis appendicibus minore; antheris eximie undulatis. Ovarium loculis 5, septis calyce basi adhaerens, pilosum, vertice setosum. Stylus filiformis elongatus. Capsula coriacea, calyce inclusa. Semina minuta, cochleata, eximie tuberculata.
Bao-Chang in prov. Bien-Hoa (Cochinchine australe) et problament ailleurs (Pierre).
2. Synonyms
- Melastoma acutisepalum Geddes, Bull. Misc. Inf. Kew 1930: 313. - Type: Kerr 9244, Klong Kloi, Koh Chang, Thailand, 50 m, 29 Sep 1924 (BK!, K!)
3. Vernacular names
No vernacular names known!
4. Description
Small shrubs 1--2 m tall; young branches quadrangular, covered with small appressed bristles, bark brown; old branches terete. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, 8.5--10 x 1.5--3(--5) cm, base acute, apex acuminate; lamina above strigose, beneath covered with appressed soft hairs; nerves 7, beneath covered with appressed bristles; petiole 8--15 mm. Inflorescences multiflowered (>15 flowers), lax, terminal cymes. Flowers 5-merous; bracts deciduous, triangular, c. 3 x 2 mm. Hypanthium campanulate, 6--7 x 3.5--5 mm, sparsely covered with appressed short bristles; sepals triangular, 8--9 x 2.5--3 mm, outside sparsely appressed bristly, inside glabrous; intersepalar emergences large scales c. 1 mm long. Petals obovate, 12--14 x 7--9 mm, bright violet. Stamens dimorphic; anthers of longer outer stamens 7--8.5 mm long, violet, connectives ventrally curved, 7.5--10 mm long, with 2 ventral appendages c. 1.5 mm long, filaments 9--10 mm long; anthers of shorter inner stamens 6.5--7.5 mm long, sigmoid, yellow, connectives straight, c. 1.5 mm long, with 2 ventral appendages c. 0.8 mm long, filaments 7--9 mm long. Ovary as long as the hypanthium, crowned by bristles; style sigmoid, 22--27 mm long. Fruit a dry capsule, 8--9 x 5--6 mm, opening apically loculicidally, releasing the seeds.
5. Distribution, ecology and notes
Distribution - Central and Southeast Thailand; South Vietnam, Philippines (Culion)
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Ecology - Collections: 9. In forests and/or along streams and waterfalls from 50--600 m altitude.
Notes - This is the only Melastoma species with dry capsular fruits. This resulted in its placement in the African genus Dissotis, which is characterized by similar capsules. The great plasticity of fruits in Melastoma, the vegetative characters (especially the hypanthium indumentum), and its distribution in Asia rather than Africa required a transfer to Melastoma, which is further supported by molecular data. Non-fruiting plants can be identified by the lax, many-flowered inflorescence.
6. Collections
PHILIPPINES
- Escritor BS 21647, Culion, Palawan
THAILAND
- Kerr 9244, Klang Kloi, Koh Chang, Trat, Thailand, 50 m (K)
- Larsen 3396, Sarika falls, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, 300 m (AAU, BKF, C, E)
- Maxwell 74732, Sahm Lahn forest, Muang Distr., Saraburi, Thailand, 150 m (AAU, BK, L)
- Maxwell 76532, Dongrak Range at Chong Bat Lak, Kantaralak Distr., Si Sa Ket, Thailand, 600 m (AAU, BK, L)
- Meyer 9619, Ko Chang: Khlong Phu Falls, Trat, Thailand, 50 m (MJG)
- Niyomdham 1236, Ban Na Hai, Khong Jeam, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, 150 m (BKF)
- Smitinand 6091, Nang Rawng/Rong waterfall, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, 200 m (BKF)
VIETNAM
- D’Alleizette s.n., km 2 Haiphong (L).
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