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| Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero
in Mendoza-Cifuentes, Ariza, Granados & Romero, 2019.
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Abstract
Microlicia (Melastomataceae) is a Neotropical genus nearly restricted to southeastern Brazil, and the Guiana Shield in Venezuela, with a few species in some places in the Andes of Bolivia and Peru. A new species of Microlicia endemic to the mountains of eastern Andes of Colombia is described and illustrated. Its affinities with other morphologically similar species from Venezuela are also documented. This novelty is the first record of the genus for Colombia and the northern Andes. It is argued that this disjunct distribution of the genus is attributable to the phenomenon of long-distance seed dispersal by wind.
Keywords: Northeastern Andes, endemism, long-distance seed dispersal, northern Andes, sub-páramo
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| Figure 3. Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero. A Habit B Flowering branch C Sub-páramo habitat at the type locality D, E Sandy soils and substrate of the type locality (all photos by David Granados). |
Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Related to Microlicia benthamiana Triana but differs in having larger internodes, strigose nodes, linear to obovate leaf blades, trichomes between sepals, petals and pedoconective of antesepalous stamens shorter. Also related to Microlicia guanayana Wurdack but differs in having non-strigose adaxial foliar surfaces, 3-nerved leaf blades, hypanthia 10-ribbed, petals < 8.5 mm long and with a rounded setose apex, and stamens with smaller dimensions.
TYPE: COLOMBIA. Boyacá: Municipio de Pisba, vereda Miraflores, Sabana de Nubacá, 2389 m elev., ..., 19 Nov 2018 (fl, fr), H. Mendoza & D. Granados 22014 (holotype: FMB!; isotypes: COL!, CUVC!, HUA!, FMB!, CUVC!, UDBC!).
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| Figure 2. Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero. A Floral bud B Lateral view of the calyx and hypanthium in open flower C Petal D Antepetalous stamen E Top view of ventral appendage of the connective F Lateral view of ventral appendage of the connective G Polysporangiate anther H Antesepalous stamen I Top view of ventral appendage of the connective J Anther K Gynoecium L Longitudinal section of the ovary M Horizontal section of the ovary N Capsule covered by hypanthium O Open capsule P Seeds (A–P from H. Mendoza & D. Granados 22014 (FMB). All photos by Humberto Mendoza-Cifuentes). |
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| Figure 1. Microlicia colombiana Humberto Mend. & R.Romero. A Node at basal portion of a branch B Node with spherical golden glands at the distal part of a branch C Leaves, adaxial (left) and abaxial (right) surfaces D Leaf adaxial surface, with detail of indumentum E Leaf abaxial surface, with detail of indumentum (A–E from H. Mendoza & D. Granados 22014 (FMB). All photos by Humberto Mendoza-Cifuentes). |
Habitat and distribution: Microlicia colombiana is endemic to northeastern Andes of Colombia towards the Orinoquian flank. This species is only known from the type locality in the department of Boyacá near the southern border of Pisba National Natural Park, and a nearby second locality in the department of Casanare, between 2000 to 2400 m elevation (Figure 4A). It grows in open areas of sub-páramo vegetation on white sandy soil covered with sphagnum (Figure 3).
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the restricted occurrence of the new species to Colombia and for being the first record of the genus in this country.
Humberto Mendoza-Cifuentes, William Ariza, David E. Granados and Rosana Romero. 2019. A New Species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae): First Record of the Genus for Colombia. PhytoKeys. 122: 87-96. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.122.34171
