Miconia biolleyana Gamba & Almeda 2014, comb. nov.
Creators: name: Gamba, Diana
name: Almeda, Frank
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Myrtales
Melastomataceae
Miconia
Miconia biolleyana

description: 10. Miconia biolleyana (Cogniaux 1891a: 1193) Gamba & Almeda, comb. nov. Basionym: Clidemia biolleyana Cogn. Type: COSTA RICA. Bord de la route à Carrillo, 12 May 1890, Pittier & Durand 2537 (holotype: BRinternet image!; isotypes: BR-internet image!, CR).   
 Suffrutescent herb or shrub 0.3–1.5(–3) m tall, rupiculous or terrestrial, diffusely branched and sometimes prostrate. Upper internodes [(2.2–)4.6–8.7(–14.7) cm long] and cauline nodes terete, nodal line present as a moderate ridge. Indumentum on branchlets, petioles, primary, secondary, tertiary and higher order leaf veins abaxially, inflorescence axes, bracts and bracteoles abaxially, pedicels, hypanthia, and exterior calyx teeth densely to moderately composed of sessile-stellate trichomes 0.4–0.8 mm in diameter that superficially resemble simple trichomes. Leaves of each pair frequently markedly anisophyllous (1:2); the petiole 0.5–2 cm long (on larger leaves) or 0.2–0.3 cm long (on smaller leaves), adaxially canaliculate, the channel obscured by the dense arachnoid tomentum, abaxially grooved, brown; larger blades 13.7–22.5 × 9.8–14.2 cm, broadly ovate to subrotund, the base rounded, the margin entire, the apex acuminate to attenuate; smaller blades 3.6–10.7 × 2.5–7.9 cm, ovate, the base rounded to somewhat truncate, the margin entire, the apex acuminate; chartaceous; mature leaves with adaxial surface glabrous, as well as the primary, secondary, tertiary and higher order veins; abaxial surface glabrous; 5- or 7-nerved (larger leaves) or 5-(7-)nerved (smaller leaves), including the tenuous marginals, with a thick-callose vesicular structure (acarodomatium?) formed at the base of the leaves abaxially where the innermost pair of secondary veins diverge from the primary vein, areolae 1–2 mm, adaxially the primary and secondary veins impressed, the tertiary and higher order veins slightly impressed to flat, abaxially the primary and secondary veins elevated and terete, the tertiary and higher order veins slightly elevated to flat. Inflorescences a pseudolateral dithyrsoid (3–) 6–11 cm, including a peduncle (0.7–) 1.64–3.6 cm or occasionally sessile, divaricately branched from the peduncle apex, when sessile bifurcate or trifurcate and openly branched from the base, each furcation with the same architecture as the pedunculate dithyrsoid, borne on the upper leafy nodes and on defoliated ones; bracts and bracteoles 0.5–1 × 0.25–0.3 mm, subulate, the bracts more or less erect, the bracteoles spreading, glabrous on the adaxial surface, persistent to tardily deciduous in fruit. Flowers 4-merous, subsessile to shortly pedicellate, pedicels to 0.4 mm long when present. Hypanthia at anthesis 3.2–3.4 × 0.75–0.85 mm, free portion of hypanthium 1.4–1.5 mm long, urceolate and constricted distally into a subcylindric neck, bluntly 8-ribbed, ridged on the inner surface, along with torus adaxially minutely and sparsely glandular. Calyx open in bud and persistent in fruit, green to pinkish; tube 0.2 mm long, abaxial surface with the same vestiture as the hypanthium, adaxial surface minutely and sparsely glandular; lobes 0.35–0.4(–0.5) × 0.8–1 mm, broadly triangular, the margin entire, the apex rounded to obtuse, glabrous on both surfaces and often obscured by the exterior calyx teeth; exterior teeth (0.5–) 0.7–0.8 mm long, subulate, inserted at the base of the calyx lobes and exceeding them in length. Petals (1.5–)1.8–2 × 1.2–1.5 mm, oblong-obovate, with a minute projecting infra-apical abaxial tooth, the margin entire, the apex roundedobtuse to somewhat truncate, white to greenish-white, minutely and distally papillose on both surfaces, slightly spreading to erect at anthesis. Stamens 8; filaments 1.3–1.5 × 0.25 mm, whitish, glabrous; anther thecae 1.8–2.5 × 0.35–0.4 mm, linear-oblong, obtuse to emarginate at the apex, opening by one dorsally inclined pore 0.1 mm in diameter, cream; connective cream-yellowish, its prolongation and appendage 0.2–0.35(–0.5) mm long, the appendage deltoid to orbicular, rounded at the apex, copiously gland-edged, the glands subsessile and rounded, sparsely distributed throughout the connective. Ovary 4-locular, completely inferior, 1.8–1.9 mm long at anthesis, the apical collar absent, the apex ca. 0.2 mm in diameter, slightly depressed, glabrous; style 3.2–3.8 mm long, parallel-sided (i.e. terete), glabrous; stigma truncate to expanded-truncate. Berries 3–4 × 3–4 mm when dry, globose, red to red-purple turning blue-purple when fully ripe, the hypanthium indumentum persistent at maturity. Seeds 0.39–0.43 × 0.17–0.19 mm, ovoid, angled, light-brown; lateral and antiraphal symmetrical planes ovate, the   
 SYSTEMATICS OF THE OCTOPLEURA CLADE OF MICONIA   
 Phytotaxa 179 (1) © 2014 Magnolia Press 65 highest point toward the chalazal side or near the central part of the seed; raphal zone suboblong, nearly as large as the corpus of the seed, extending along its entire length, ventrally and longitudinally expanded, dark-brown; individual cells elongate, anticlinal boundaries inconspicuous; periclinal walls flat, microrelief punctate.   
 Additional specimens studied:— COLOMBIA. Antioquia: (Frontino), Nutibara, Cuenca alta del Río Cuevas, 1880 m, 19 November 1986, Sánchez et al. 657 (HUA, MO); (Frontino), Nutibara, Cuenca alta del Río Cuevas, 1720 m, 13 July 1986, Sánchez et al. 353 (HUA, US). Chocó: Road between Bolívar and Quibdó between km 137 and 138 markers, 79–80 km Eof Quibdó, 5°45’N, 76°21’30"W, 910–920 m, 11 March 1984, Croat 57340 (US). Risaralda: (Mistrató), Jeguadas, En la vía Río Mistrató-Puerto de Oro, Camino Pisones-Río Currumay, 5°26’N, 76°5’W, 1100–1150 m, 26 April 1991, Franco et al. 3441 (US). COSTA RICA. Alajuela: (San Ramón), R.B. Monteverde, Cordillera de Tilarán, Estación Eladio's, 10°18’30"N, 84°43’10"W, 820 m, 2 October 1990, Obando et al. 174 (CAS, INB, MO); Along road to Colonia Virgen del Socorro, barranca of Río Sarapiquí, 10°15’N, 84°10’W, 700–800 m, 8 August 1979, Stevens 13577 (CAS, F, MO); Evergreen premontane forest formations along the upper Río Sarapiquí, near Cariblanco and along the road to Colonia Virgen del Socorro, 10°18’N, 84°10’W, ca. 800 m, 17 September 1978, Burger & Antonio 11134 (CAS); R.B. Monteverde, Río Peñas Blancas, Vertiente Atlántica. Finca de Klaus Stein, 10°18’N, 84°45’W, 900 m, 4 July 1988, Bello 159 (CR, MO); R.B. Monteverde, Río Peñas Blancas, Estación Eladio's, 10°19’N, 84°43’W, 820 m, 24 June 1991, Bello & Cruz 2788 (CAS, INB, MO); R.B. Monteverde, Río Peñas Blancas, 10°19’N, 84°43’ W, 1000 m, 1 November 1988, Bello 524 (CR, MO); R.B. Monteverde, Río Peñas Blancas, Estación Eladio's, 10°18’N, 84°45’W, 900 m, 21 December 1990, Bello & Monge 2582 (INB, MO); R.B. Monteverde, Peñas Blancas river valley, Refugio El Alemán, 10°18’N, 84°45’W, 900 m, 30 November 1990, Haber & Ivey 10226 (CR, MO); (Grecia), R.V.S. Bosque Alegre, Cuenca del Sarapiquí, Laguna Hule, 10°17’55.456"N, - 84°12’54.057"W, 700–800 m, 28 July 2002, Kriebel & Larraguivel 690 (INB, MO); (San Ramón), R.B. Alberto Manuel Brenes, Cuenca del San carlos, La Catarata, colectado en orillas del sendero, 10°13’0"N, - 84°36’0"W, 1000 m, 14 August 2002, Alfaro 4077 (INB, MO); (San Ramón), reserva forestal, 1300–1500 m, 18 February 1983, Carvajal 345 (MO); (Virgen del Socorro), No protegida, Cuenca del Sarapiquí, En paredon al lado del camino, 10°15’25"N, - 84°10’20"W, 800 m, 21 July 2002, Kriebel 541 (INB, MO); Virgendel Socorro-Río Sarapiquí-Cariblanco, 600–800 m, 31 August 1983, Chacón & Herrera 1216 (CAS, CR, MO, US). Cartago: (Turrialba), Tayutic, Jicotea, Cuenca media del Río Jicotea, 9°46’55"N, 83°33’15"W, 1200 m, 19 June 1995, Herrera 7991 (CAS, CR); In forest Sof Moravia de Chirripó, 1125 m, 9 August 1968, Davidse & Pohl 1187 (ISC, US); (Turrialba), Pejibaye, Jiménez R.V.S. La Marta, Cuenca del Reventazón, La Marta, Centro Histórico, 9°46’55.4"N, 83°41’19.8"W, 781 m, 4 January 2010, Kriebel et al. 5436 (INB, NY); (Turrialba), Tayutic, Grano de Oro, Cuenca superior Quebrada Molejones, 9°48’5"N, 83°29’30"W, 800 m, 29 July 1995, Herrera & Cascante 8188 (CR, F, MO); (Jiménez), Cuenca del Reventazón, Tuis, a 4 km sobre la calle Rivel, siguiendo sobre el margen del Río Tuis, 9°49’0"N, 83°39’40"W, 1400 m, 24 November 1996, Rodríguez 1764 (INB, MO). Heredia: ca. 3 km Sof Cariblanco on the road to Colonia Virgen de Socorro, ca. 800 m, 23 July 1977, Almeda et al. 3193 (CAS); Canyon of the Río Sarapiquí, about 10 km from Cariblanco, upstream from bridge on road to La Virgen del Socorro, 10 June 1982, Hammel et al. 12833 (CAS). Limón: (Limón), R. Indígena Talamanca Sukut, Desembocadura del Río Sukut en el Río Urén, Camino al SE, hacia Purisqui, 9°23’30"N, 82°58’0"W, 650 m, 7 July 1989, Hammel et al. 17581 (CAS, CR, MO). Puntarenas: (Puntarenas), R.B. Monteverde, Cordillera de Tilarán, Piedades del Norte, Burial, R.B, de Oberdorsf, 10°10’0"N, 84°30’0"W, 1500–1600 m, 6 September 1993, Bello & Cruz 5327 (CAS, INB, MO); E Osa peninsula, more than 500 m from edge of primary moist tropical forest, 8.69539°N, - 83.58246°W, 25 July 2001, Mayfield 1640-1640- 1123 (MO). San José: Alond the hillside just above the Río Hondura at Baja La Hondura, 1150 m, 31 December 1974, Taylor 17896 (NY, US); Along the Río Clara Valley (Bajo La Hondura) below La Palma NE of San Jeronimo, 10°3’N, 83°58’W, 1000–1200 m, 23 October 1975, Burger et al. 9407 (F); Along the Río Claro valley (Río La Hondura drainage) below La Palma NE of San Jerónimo, 10°3’N, 83°58’ W, 1000–1200 m, 23 July 1971, Burger & Burger 7639 (NY, US); Monte Hondura, Along the hillshade just above the Río Hondura at Baja La Hondura, 1150 m, 31 December 1974, Taylor 17949 (NY); (Coronado), P.N. Braulio Carrillo, Camino histórico a Carrillo, 10°4’0"N, 83°58’0"W, 700–1500 m, 25 March 1992, Ballestero & Barquero 125A (CR, F, MO); Río Claro valley (Río La Hondura drainage) below La Palma NE of San Jerónimo, 10°3’N, 83°58’W, 1000–1200 m, 19 November 1969, Burger & Liesner 6288 (F); (La Hondura), Tropical Science Center, 1200 m, 20 February 1966, Schnell 510 (CR, US); (La Hondura), 1300–1700 m, 16 March 1924, Standley 37930 (US); Below La Palma, Río Claro (upper Río La Hondura) along the trail to Guapiles, 10°3’N, 83°58’W, 1100–1200 m, 16 December 1966, Burger 3904 (F).   
 66 Phytotaxa 179 (1) © 2014 Magnolia Press   
GAMBA & ALMEDA  
 PANAMA. Bocas del Toro: De la cabaña de Jaramillo bajando hasta la Qda., y regresando por el camino, 29 November 1990, Aranda et al. 1705 (CAS, PMA); Alongroad between Gualaca and Chiriquí Grande, 6.6 mi Nof middle of bridge over Fortuna Lake, 8°45’N, 82°18’W, 780 m, 25 June 1987, Croat 66757 (MO). Darién: Cerro Pirre, Top of mountain and ridge just south of Pirre, visible from Pirre clearing, 10 July 1977, Folsom 4516 (CAS).   
 Illustration:— None found.   
 Common names and documented uses:— None recorded.   
 Habitat, distribution and ecology:— Miconia biolleyana has been collected in the understory of rain, cloud or riparian forests, where it has been considered fairly common in part of its range. It usually occurs on steep banks and slopes, or near riverbanks, at 600–1880 m from Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia where it is known from fewer collections (Fig. 13).   
 Phenology:— Collected in flower from March through April, June through August and in November; in fruit from June through March.   
 Etymology:— The specific epithet is dedicated to the Swiss botanist and tropical plant collector Paul Biolley (1862–1908).   
 Discussion:— A distinctive species easily recognized by the 8-costate hypanthium, which is constricted above the ovary apex, arachnoid-stellate indumentum, foliar dimorphism at each node, and gland-edged dorso-basal appendage on each stamen. It is most similar to M. erikasplundii (see discussion under that species). It is also similar and most closely related to M. radicans, with which it shares the facultative rupiculous habit, similar vegetative and floral pubescence (arachnoid tomentum of sessile-stellate trichomes), and strongly dimorphic leaves at each node. It has a different leaf shape, especially in the larger leaves (broadly ovate to subrotund in M. biolleyana vs. elliptic-oblong and falcate in M. radicans), and flower dimensions (all floral characters smaller in M. radicans). The callose thickened structures at the abaxial blade base where the primary veins diverge from one another may be acarodomatia of some kind reminiscent of those also found, but not as conspicuous, in M. erikasplundii and M. radicans. The three species belong to the Quinquenervia subclade, and are more closely related to M. atropurpurea and M. neocoronata.   
 Conservation status:— Considered Endangered EN B2ab(iii) based on IUCN criteria (AOO). However, it is protected in Costa Rica but not in Panama or Colombia, which warrants a status of Vulnerable VU. Protected in Costa Rica in the Monteverde Biological Reserve, in the Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Reserve, and in the Bosque Alegre Wild Life Refuge (Alajuela, the former also in Puntarenas); in La Marta Wild Life Refuge (Cartago); in the Braulio Carrillo National Park (San José); and in the Talamanca Sukut Indigenous Reserve (Limón).
description: Published as part of Gamba, Diana & Almeda, Frank, 2014, Systematics of the Octopleura Clade of Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) in Tropical America, pp. 1-174 in Phytotaxa 179 (1) on pages 65-67, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.179.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/10089927