Open AccessMiconia Elaeagnoides: A morphologically distinctive species within the Caribbean clade of Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae)
Author(s) -
Walter S. Judd,
Lucas C. Majure
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of the botanical research institute of texas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2644-1608
pISSN - 1934-5259
DOI - 10.17348/jbrit.v13.i2.795
Subject(s) - melastomataceae , calyx , biology , clade , petal , pedicel , botany , ovary , monophyly , phylogenetics , biochemistry , gene , endocrinology
Miconia elaeagnoides, a morphologically distinctive species traditionally circumscribed within Tetrazygia, is provided with an updated description and nomenclatural assessment, along with a consideration of phenology, distribution and habitat, and citation of specimens examined. The species exhibits an unusual combination of characters, e.g., flowers with relatively long pedicels (and so well separated) even though their pseudopedicels are nearly sessile, an irregularly opening calyx-calyptra, four obovate petals, a 4-loculate, strongly lobed ovary, and fruit with a constricted calyx. Miconia elaeagnoides is resolved within the Caribbean clade of Miconia, and within this species-rich group it is possibly related to the species of the M. longicollis clade.