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| Miconia garagoana Humberto Mend., W. Ariza & L. Carvajal, in Mendoza-Cifuentes, Ariza-Cortés et Carvajal Rojas, 2024. |
Abstract
A new species, Miconia garagoana, from riparian environments of the northern Cordillera Oriental of Colombia, is described. This is the second species exclusive to rheophytic conditions that grows in the Andean forest in Colombia and is characterized by the presence of stellate-lepidote trichomes on young structures and inflorescences, terminal inflorescences, 4-merous (rarely 5-merous) flowers, oblong-subulate anthers with an apical pore and 2-locular ovary. The differences with other rheophytic species occurring in Colombia are noted and it is argued that it is related to other Andean species with bluish-green ripe fruits such as M. squamulosa and M. symplocoidea. This new species is so far known only from Colombia and its threat category is suggested as Critically Endangered” (CR).
Key words: Eastern Mountains, endemism, Miconieae, northern Andes, rheophytic plants, riparian environments
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| Miconia garagoana Humberto Mend., W.Ariza & L.Carvajal A flowering branch B leaf seen from the underside C flower in lateral view D longitudinal cut of the ovary-hypanthium E dorsal tooth of calyx F petals G, H, I stamens in different views J ripe friut. Illustration based on W. Ariza-Cortés et al. 4855 (UDBC). |
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| Miconia garagoana Humberto Mend., W.Ariza & L.Carvajal A, B different views of flowering branch C leaf variation D branch with flowers and fruits E seeds. All photos by Lindon Carvajal and William Ariza. |
Miconia garagoana Humberto Mend., Ariza-Cortés & L.Carvajal, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Rheophytic shrubs with stellate-lepidote trichomes in distal branches and inflorescences; leaves linear-elliptic, 3-nerved or 3- slightly plinerved, length-to-width ratio is greater than 5.5:1; terminal inflorescences with 1-9(-14) flowers, flowers 4-merous (rarely 5-merous), anthers oblong-subulate with a ventrally oriented pore, ovary 2-locular, fruits bluish-green with large and relatively few sedes. Similar to Miconia riparia Triana but differs in the indumentum of stellate-lepidote trichomes (vs. indumentum of pinoid trichomes in M. riparia), flowers predominantly 4-merous (vs. 5-merous). Also similar to Miconia rheophytica Posada-Herrera & Almeda, but the latter has branches with dense indumentum of dendritic ferruginous trichomes, ciliate leaf margins, dichasial axillary inflorescences, 5-merous flowers and 3-locular ovary.
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the municipality of Garagoa in the department of Boyacá, where the majority of individuals of the species have been observed.
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| Miconia garagoana Humberto Mend., W. Ariza & L. Carvajal A Andean forests in the area of origin B habitat C–F different views of growth habit. All photos by Lindon Carvajal and William Ariza. |
Humberto Mendoza-Cifuentes, William Ariza-Cortés and Lyndon Carvajal Rojas. 2024. Miconia garagoana - Melastomataceae: A New rheophytic Species from the eastern Andes of Colombia. PhytoKeys 247: 145-154. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.247.119563
Resumen: Se describe una nueva especie, Miconia garagoana, de ambientes riparios del norte de la Cordillera Oriental de Colombia. Esta es la segunda especie exclusiva de condición reofitica que crece en bosques andinos de Colombia y se caracteriza por la presencia de cubiertas de tricomas estrellado-lepidotos en las estructuras jóvenes e inflorescencias, inflorescencias terminales, flores 4-meras /raras veces 5-meras), anteras oblongo-subuladas con un poro apical y ovario 2-locular. Se establecen las diferencias con otras especies reofíticas presentes en Colombia y se argumenta que está relacionada con especies de andinas de frutos maduros color verde-azuloso como M. squamulosa y M. symplocoidea. Esta nueva especie hasta ahora se conoce sólo de Colombia y se sugiere su categoría de amenaza como En Peligro Crítico (CR).
Palabras clave: Ambientes riparios, Cordillera Oriental, endemismo, Miconieae, norte de los Andes, plantas reofíticas
