Two new species of Miconia sect. Sagraea (Melastomataceae) from the Macaya Biosphere Reserve, Haiti, and twelve relevant new species combinations

Abstract

The Sagraea clade (Melastomataceae, tribe Miconieae) is briefly characterized, typified, and formally treated as a section within Miconia. In addition, two new species of Miconia sect. Sagraea, endemic to the floristically diverse Massif de la Hotte of southwestern Haiti and discovered during the course of a systematic revision of the Caribbean species of this section, are here described and illustrated. Miconia hottensis and M. navifolia, morphologically similar and possible sister species, are compared to each other and to the widespread Caribbean species M. capillaris and the southwestern Dominican Republic endemic M. tetraptera; these four species share rectangular stems with four low ridges or wings and minute, short-stalked, peltate or pseudopeltate hairs and likely form a clade.