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A revision of the Miconia ulmarioides complex (Melastomataceae: Miconieae)

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Abstract

A taxonomic revision is presented for ten species that comprise the Miconia ulmarioides complex (Melastomataceae: Miconieae). This group is characterized by four-merous flowers with four-locular ovaries, short, stout, pink to fuchsia anthers, punctiform or truncated styles and short outer calyx teeth. All species in the group are small trees and shrubs from the northern Andes in Colombia and Venezuela and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Coastal Cordillera of Venezuela, with one species (M. nubicola) endemic to Jamaica. Leandra ossaeoides is transferred to Miconia (as M. ossaeoides) and M. albertii is synonymized under M. ulmarioides. We designate new lectotypes for M. arbutifolia, M. spinulosa, M. inaperta, M. octoscenidium, M. spinulosa var. subintegrifolia, M. ulmarioides, M. aegrotans, and M. ulmarioides var. fendleri. Descriptions, morphological discussions, key to taxa, and photographs of key features are included for all species.

Resumen

Se present a una revisión taxonómica del complejo de Miconia ulmarioides (Melastomataceae: Miconieae). Este grupo se caracteriza por presentar flores tretrameras con ovarios 4-loculares, cáliz con dientes externos cortos, estambres cortos, robustos, rosados a fucsia, y estilos puntiformes o truncados. Todas las especies son árboles pequeños o arbustos del norte de los Andes en Colombia y Venezuela, la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta y la Cordillera de la Costa en Venezuela, con una especie (M. nubicola) endémica a Jamaica. Leandra ossaeoides es transferida a Miconia (como M. ossaeoides) y M. albertii es sinonimizada bajo M. ulmarioides. Se designan lectotipos para M. arbutifolia, M. spinulosa, M. inaperta, M. octoscenidium, M. spinulosa var. subintegrifolia, M. ulmarioides, M. aegrotans, and M. ulmarioides var. fendleri. Se incluyen para todas las especies descripciones, discusiones morfológicas, una clave para su identificación, así como fotografías para la mayoría de ellas.

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Acknowledgments

We graciously thank the editor and two reviewers, Walter S. Judd and Humberto Mendoza, for their careful revision and insightful comments on a previous version of this manuscript. We thank the curators at BM, BR, CAS, COL, FLAS, K, MER, MO, NY, P, US and VEN for access to the collections and/or herbarium loans that made this work possible. We are also grateful to Walter S. Judd and Frank Almeda for providing photographs of live plants in the field. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation through the Planetary Biodiversity Inventory program (DEB-0818399). Elizabeth Kiernan prepared the distribution maps.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Center for Tropical Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Nichole M. Tiernan

  2. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler, Coral Gables, FL, 33183, USA

    Nichole M. Tiernan

  3. The New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Systematic Botany, 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY, 10458-5126, USA

    Fabián A. Michelangeli

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  1. Nichole M. Tiernan
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  2. Fabián A. Michelangeli
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Correspondence to Nichole M. Tiernan.

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Tiernan, N.M., Michelangeli, F.A. A revision of the Miconia ulmarioides complex (Melastomataceae: Miconieae). Brittonia 70, 455–477 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12228-018-9540-6

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