New and noteworthy Melastomataceae from the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park and surrounding areas in Oxapampa, Pasco, Peru

Abstract

We describe six new species of Melastomataceae from the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park and surrounding areas from the Department of Pasco, Province of Oxapampa in Central Peru. Macrocentrum andinum is the first species of the genus described from the Andes, found along creeks at 400–500 m elev. and characterized by its anysophyllous leaves, pubescent stems and four-merous flowers. Meriania rubriflora is found in forests above 2200 m elev. and it is characterized by stem nodes with stipular flaps, leaves with an acute base and four merous, deep red flowers. Miconia palcazuana is found along rivers and streams at 300–400 m on the eastern flank of the park, and it can be distinguished by its flowers with pink anthers with glands on the connective and narrowly oblanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate leaves. Miconia yanachagaensis grows in the dwarf-sclerophyllous forests at the top of ridges and grasslands over 2800 m elev. and it is characterized by its long dendritic-pedicellate trichomes on the abaxial leaf surface, the stems flattened to terete and the presence of a conspicuous annular nodal line. Triolena rojasae is found growing on rocks along the Palcazú River and its tributaries, and it is characterized by its lanceolate-crenate leaves. Triolena vasquezii grows on the northern end of the Huancabamba canyon and the North East portion of the park and can be distinguished by its pustulate leaves with purple abaxial surface and anthers with two ventral appendages. We also present the first report of the genus Wurdastom for Peru.