Genus Miconia Research Articles

Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana (canela-de-velho), the new trend plant from the Brazilian Cerrado

Miconia albicans (canela-de-velho) is a species widely distributed in the Cerrado. In recent years, its leaves have been commercialized for the preparation of medicinal teas. The genus Miconia is highly diverse in the Cerrado, and the high morphological similarity of the species often results in misidentification, even by specialists. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the identification of M. albicans, and its distinction from other Cerrado species with morphological similarity. In addition, a literature review of the species was performed in search of studies on potential biological and pharmacological activity. Nineteen samples of plants marketed as "canela-de-velho" and/or Miconia albicans were acquired from fairs in six municipalities in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The species were properly identified and conflicting characters were determined. Based on these characters, a survey of all species with morphological similarity in Cerrado was carried out. Thirteen species similar to M. albicans were found, and an illustrated identification key was developed. As for the review of biological activity, only M. albicans presents anti-inflammatory activity identified by one study. M. albicans and six of the 13 identified species showed cytotoxicity at high concentration levels in studies with in vitro and in vivo analyses. M. albicans accumulates aluminum in the leaves, which are the organs used to prepare the infusion. Currently, there are no clinical trials to validate the use of M. albicans as herbal medicine. Indiscriminate use and lack of scientific evidence, besides not producing the desired results, can cause adverse effects.

The Genus Miconia Ruiz & Pav. (Melastomataceae): Ethnomedicinal Uses, Pharmacology, and Phytochemistry.

Species of the genus Miconia are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases, such as pain, throat infections, fever, and cold, and they used as depuratives, diuretics, and sedatives. This work reviewed studies carried out with Miconia species, highlighting its ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological and phytochemical potential. This information was collected in the main platforms of scientific research (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Our findings show that some of the traditional uses of Miconia are corroborated by biological and/or pharmacological assays, which demonstrated, among other properties, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimutagenic, antiparasitic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities. A total of 148 chemical compounds were identified in Miconia species, with phenolic compounds being the main constituents found in the species of this genus. Such phytochemical investigations have demonstrated the potential of species belonging to this genus as a source of bioactive substances, thus reinforcing their medicinal and pharmacological importance.

Una nueva especie de Miconia (Melastomataceae) con anteras connadas de Colombia

La tribu Miconieae comprende cerca de 1.900 especies neotropicales y en recientes trabajos se propone solo un género para la tribu, Miconia, que incluye la totalidad de los géneros considerados previamente, entre los que se incluye el Tococa. En el presente trabajo se describe e ilustra una nueva especie bajo el género Miconia, que presenta anteras lateralmente connadas, procedente del departamento del Chocó, Colombia, la cual se asocia con las especies de la tribu Miconieae con anteras coherentes tales como Tococa symphyandra y Miconia croatii. Este nuevo taxón se identifica por el indumento de las ramas de tricomas elongados y alveolados, haz foliar bullada, el cáliz cerrado en botones y con grandes dientes dorsales, los pétalos y el estilo más grandes que las anteriores especies, y el ápice del ovario truncado. Crece en áreas muy húmedas de bosque subandino en la región central de la cordillera Occidental y hasta ahora solo se conoce de la localidad tipo. © 2019. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Ex. Fis. Nat.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the leaf methanol extract of Miconia minutiflora (Bonpl.) DC. and characterization of compounds by UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS/MS.

Some species of the genus Miconia are used in Brazilian folk medicine as analgesic and anti-inflammatory; however, several species of this genus are still poorly studied. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the phytochemistry characterization by UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS/MS, acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of Miconia minutiflora (Bonpl.) DC. The methanol extract of M. minutiflora (Mm-MeOH) was subjected to ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS/MS) for the identification of the main phytocompounds. The anti-inflammatory properties of the extracts were studied using several inflammation models induced by carrageenan and acetic acid-induced vascular permeability. Antinociceptive effects of Mm-MeOH were assessed in nociception induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid or subplantar formalin injection. The role of α-adrenergic, cholinergic, and opioid receptors in modulating the extract's antinociceptive activity was determined. Analyses by UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS/MS revealed the presence of ellagic acid, gallotannin, and terpenes in the methanol extract. Mm-MeOH (100mg/kg) reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema and vascular permeability and inhibited leukocyte migration toward the air pouch and pleural cavity. Furthermore, Mm-MeOH decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels. Administration of Mm-MeOH reduced the number of writhes by 58.9% and increased the pain threshold in the formalin test. The anti-inflammatory action mechanism of Mm-MeOH is associated with inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, whereas the antinociceptive actions involve peripheral and central mechanisms with participation of α2-adrenergic receptors. These effects may be attributed to the presence of polyphenolics in the extract.

New combinations in the Neotropical genus Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae)

In our published monograph of the Octopleura clade of Miconia (Ruiz & Pavón 1794: 60), we proposed a number of new combinations and new names to reflect the nested position of this group of 33 species within the large and megadiverse neotropical genus Miconia based on morphological and molecular data sets (Gamba & Almeda 2014). At least three of the species names we proposed or accepted in that monograph present nomenclatural problems in need of correction. The name Miconia magnifolia Gamba & Almeda (2014: 91), which was illegitimate and nomenclaturally superfluous, has been rejected and replaced with Miconia solearis (Naudin 1851: 339) Gamba & Almeda (2015: 199). Two other names, Miconia spiciformis Gamba & Almeda (2014: 130) and Miconia neomicrantha Judd & Skean (1991: 62) must also be rejected and replaced. The former is superfluous and illegitimate and our acceptance of the latter species overlooked the epithet of a heterotypic synonym that was available and should have been adopted for a new combination. We here replace these latter two names with the following combinations and provide a summary of relevant synonymy.

Erratum

Previous article FreeErratumOriginal articleEvolution of the Sandpaper Clade (Miconieae, Melastomataceae)PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreIn “Evolution of the Sandpaper Clade (Miconieae, Melastomataceae)” by Lucas C. Majure, Kurt M. Neubig, J. Dan Skean Jr., Eldis R. Bécquer, and Walter S. Judd (International Journal of Plant Sciences 176:607–626), there is one minor nomenclatural error that the authors noticed after publication. Within the taxonomic treatment of the article, a new section within the genus Miconia, Miconia sect. Echinata Judd, Bécquer, & Majure, was described. This new section is supported as monophyletic by a phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences, and it is also morphologically diagnosable. The new section is described and provided with a type. However, the incorrect abbreviation comb. nov. was used instead of sect. nov. for this new section on page 619 of the article. The name Miconia sect. Echinata is not based on any prior name but is in fact newly described. The authors formally correct this error here for valid publication of the name as per the International Code of Nomenclature of Algae, Fungi, and Plants.Miconia sect. Echinata Judd, Bécquer & Majure sect. nov. Previous article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by International Journal of Plant Sciences Volume 176, Number 9November/December 2015 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/684224 © 2015 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.Related articlesEvolution of the Sandpaper Clade (Miconieae, Melastomataceae)26 Sep 2015International Journal of Plant Sciences

Miconia solearis, a new combination to replace the illegitimate Miconia magnifolia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) in Tropical America

In our recently published monograph of the Octopleura clade of Miconia Ruiz & Pavón (1794: 60, Gamba & Almeda 2014) we proposed a number of new combinations and new names to reflect the nested position of this assemblage of 33 species within the large and diverse Neotropical genus Miconia based on morphological and molecular data sets. In proposing the new name, Miconia magnifolia Gamba & Almeda (2014: 91), we overlooked the epithet of a heterotypic synonym that should have been adopted. Miconia magnifolia is therefore illegitimate and nomenclaturally superfluous according to Article 52.1 of the International Code of Nomenclature (McNeill et al. 2012) and is to be rejected because it included the type of a heterotypic synonym whose epithet was available and not already pre-empted in Miconia.

Miconia abscondita(Melastomataceae: Miconieae), A New Species from the Massif De La Hotte, Haiti: Rediscovered in Herbaria After Being Hidden for Nearly Nine Decades

In the course of a taxonomic revision of several clades of Greater Antillean Melastomataceae, we discovered a previously undescribed species, Miconia abscondita, from the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti. Miconia abscondita is based on a vegetative collection by Swedish botanist, E. L. Ekman, which was made in 1926. This new species is a member of the Mecranium clade, a group well supported on the basis of both morphological and molecular data, but which is highly embedded within the phylogenetic structure of the genus Miconia. Miconia abscondita is clearly placed within the Mecranium clade on the basis of DNA sequence data, and this placement also is supported by the form of its hairs and, especially, the pattern of stem indumentum; however, it matches no currently described species. Miconia abscondita is thus described, illustrated, and compared with putatively related and/or phenetically similar species. The discovery of M. abscondita brings to 25 the number of recognized species within the Mecranium clade and to 11 the number of species occurring in the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti, a region of exceptional biodiversity that is under continuous threat from anthropogenic pressure.

Systematics of the Octopleura Clade of Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) in Tropical America

The Octopleura clade of Miconia is a natural group of Neotropical subshrubs and small trees comprising some thirty-three species. These had previously been described in Ossaea and Clidemia, two traditionally recognized genera of Miconieae, but this natural group is nested within the megadiverse genus Miconia. This study represents the first comprehensive monograph of the clade across its entire range based on a study of over 2100 collections from seven herbaria. Thirteen new combinations are made (Miconia aguilarii, M. aurantiaca, M. biolleyana, M. boekei, M. chocoensis, M. evanescens, M. incerta, M. laxivenula, M. palenquensis, M. quinquenervia, M. radicans, M. reitziana, and M. rufibarbis). Thirteen new names are provided for epithets preempted in Miconia (M. albertobrenesii, M. alboglandulosa, M. approximata, M. atropurpurea, M. bensparrei, M. bractiflora, M. erikasplundii, M. magnifolia, M. neocoronata, M. quadridomius, M. sessilis, M. spiciformis, and M. variabilis). Six new species are proposed (M. alatissima, M. anchicayensis, M. formicaria, M. latidecurrens, M. renatoi, and M. veraguensis). A taxonomic key, detailed descriptions, distribution maps, and phenological and ecological information are presented for all species, along with SEM images of seed morphology for selected species. A preliminary geospatial conservation assessment is made for each species. Diagnostic illustrations are included for all new taxa and other selected species. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on four genic loci is presented, along with a reconstruction of ancestral character states. Molecular and morphological data are used to develop a better understanding of the constituent species of the clade and their evolutionary relationships. Three subclades, Approximata, Quinquenervia, and Variabilis, are evident within the Octopleura clade, and supported by morphological synapomorphies.

Pollen Insights into Apomictic and SexualMiconia(Miconieae, Melastomataceae)

The genus Miconia, Melastomataceae, has been highlighted for its high proportion of apomictic species, in which the occurrence of low pollen grain viability is commonly recorded. In this study, we compared aspects of pollen development and viability and ploidy level in a sexual species, Miconia pepericarpa, and an apomictic species, Miconia fallax, and investigated the possible causes of pollen grain sterility in apomictic species. Abnormal meiosis was observed only in apomictic M. fallax and leads to the formation of inviable pollen grains, often with little or no cytoplasmic content. Furthermore, the apomictic species is polyploid, and therefore, chromosomal imbalance would be expected. Symmetric mitotic division was found only in M. fallax, also resulting in inviable pollen grains, usually with cytoplasm content but without generative cell differentiation. At the end of development, the apomictic species also displays another difference when compared with the sexual species: the generative cell does not become fusiform but, rather, maintains a spherical shape. It is unknown whether the generative cell shape may interfere with its function.

Associações espaciais entre indivíduos de diferentes espécies de Miconia spp. Ruiz & Pav. (Melastomataceae)

Este estudo avaliou as associações espaciais de indivíduos pertencentes a todas as espécies arbóreas do gênero Miconia presentes no sub-bosque de um plantio experimental de espécies dos gêneros Eucalyptus e Corymbia. Como o gênero Miconia possui a maioria das espécies pioneiras, a hipótese testada foi de que os pares de espécies analisadas apresentam indivíduos com sobreposição total ou parcial de habitat. Considerando o histórico da área, é possível supor que todos os indivíduos se regeneraram a partir da chuva e do banco de sementes. Foi estabelecido um transecto cruzando a área de estudo no sentido de seu maior comprimento, a partir do qual foram determinadas as coordenadas dos indivíduos do gênero Miconia com DAS (diâmetro medido na altura do solo) maior ou igual a 1 cm. As associações espaciais entre os indivíduos das diferentes espécies foram analisadas por meio da função K de Ripley bivariada. Foram amostrados indivíduos de Miconia pepericarpa DC., Miconia sellowiana Naudin, Miconia albicans Triana, Miconia argyrophylla DC., Miconia chartacea Triana e Miconia cinnamomifolia (DC.) Naudin. De forma geral, os resultados demonstraram ausência de associação espacial negativa entre os pares das espécies, indicando que os indivíduos de Miconia spp. compartilham parcial ou totalmente o mesmo espaço no sub-bosque de um plantio de eucalipto. Os resultados obtidos, apesar de não poderem ser extrapolados para outras espécies, corroboram a ideia de que algumas espécies pioneiras tendem a coexistir, em florestas tropicais, em áreas onde há maior disponibilidade de luz.

In vivo assessment of DNA damage and protective effects of extracts from Miconia species using the comet assay and micronucleus test

The genus Miconia comprises approximately 1000 species belonging to the Melastomataceae family. Several crude plant extracts from Miconia and their isolated compounds have shown biological activities, such as analgesic and anti-neoplastic action; however, no studies concerning their effects on DNA are available. The present study aimed to evaluate, in vivo, the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of four species of plants from Miconia genus using the comet assay and micronucleus test. Their possible protective effects were also evaluated in experiments associating the plant extracts with cyclophosphamide (CPA). The methanolic extracts of Miconia albicans, Miconia cabucu, Miconia rubiginosa, Miconia stenostachya and the chloroformic extract of M. albicans were investigated. For genotoxic and mutagenic evaluations, three concentrations were tested, 200, 400 and 540 mg/kg body weight (bw), based on the solubility limit of the extract in distilled water. For the protective effects, only the highest dose was evaluated against 40 mg/kg bw of CPA. Blood was removed from mice tails pre- (T0) and post-treatment (T1-30 h) for the micronucleus test and 24 h post-treatment for the comet assay. The Student's t-test was used to compare data obtained at T0 and T1, the analysis of variance-Tukey test was used to compare between groups in the micronucleus test and the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's test were used to compare different groups in the comet assay. All the extracts induced alterations in DNA migration (comet assay); however, no mutagenic effect was observed in the micronucleus assay. All extracts showed a protective effect against CPA in both assays. Our study showed that the use of crude extracts could be more advantageous than the use of isolated compounds. The interaction between phytochemicals in the extracts showed efficacy in reducing mutagenicity and improving the protective effects.

Avaliação in vivo da anticlastogenicidade de extratos de plantas medicinais do gênero Miconia através do teste do micronúcleo

The genus Miconia is comprised of approximately 1000 species. For some of them, biological activities have already been described such as the analgesic and the anti-microbial ones. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the possible protective and cytotoxic effects of the methanolic extract from M. albicans, M. cabucu, M. rubiginosa and M. stenostachya and the chloroformic extract from M. albicans in mice bone marrow cells in 540 mg/kg p.c. dose. The extracts were administered by means of forced feeding and the cyclophosphamide (CPA) was applied intraperitonially one hour after supplementation with extracts. All animals were submitted to euthanasia 30 hours after the treatment. The analyzed cells were extracted from mice bone marrow according to protocol described by Schmid (1975). The cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated through the percentage of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) in 200 erythrocytes (PCE + NCE). Two thousand PCEs of each animal were analyzed and the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) frequencies were scored. The results obtained indicated that none of the extracts associated with the CPA showed cytotoxic effect and only the extracts of M. rubiginosa and M. stenostachya showed protective effect to DNA. Chemical analyses of the extracts showed that the four species studied contain mainly flavonoids, phenolic compounds and tannins. The phytochemical characterization of these extracts could contribute to elucidate the protective effect presented only by the species M. rubiginosa and M. stenostachya , besides making it possible the study of other therapeutic activities.

O gênero Miconia (Melastomataceae) no Estado do Paraná, Brasil

O gênero Miconia Ruiz & Pav. apresenta 32 espécies no Estado do Paraná. Estas espécies estão concentradas principalmente no leste do Estado (regiões litorânea, da Serra do Mar e do Primeiro Planalto) e pertencem a sete das 11 seções do gênero, sendo as mais relevantes Glossocentrum (14 spp.) e Miconia (7 spp.). Neste trabalho são apresentadas chave de identificação, descrições e listas de materiais selecionados para as espécies de Miconia do Paraná.

A preliminary phylogeny of the tribe Miconieae (Melastomataceae) based on nrITS sequence data and its implications on inflorescence position

Miconieae is the most diverse tribe of Melastomataceae, with 30 genera and over 2200 species. The tribe is characterized by fleshy fruits and partially to totally inferior ovaries. To test monophyly of the tribe and assess phylogenetic relationships within it, sequence data from nrITS were gathered and analyzed for 110 taxa in Miconieae and 32 putative outgroups. The tribe Miconieae is not resolved as monophyletic, but rather composed of two distinct clades: one composed of the cauliflorous genera Henriettea, Henriettella, Loreya and Bellucia, and a second clade with all other taxa in Miconieae, sister to a polytomy that includes representatives from tribes Merianieae and Blakeeae. Terminal inflorescences are optimized as basal within Miconieae, with lateral inflorescences evolving in at least four different instances. Cauliflory does not appear to be derived from truly axillary inflorescences; instead it seems to have evolved independently. The terminal–flowered genera Tococa, Conostegia, Tetrazygia, Anaectocalyx, Charianthus, Calycogonium, and Leandra pro parte seem to be derived from within the large genus Miconia, as is Clidemia, a genus with both axillary inflorescences and terminal inflorescences that are deflexed to a lateral position by an axillary branch. Maieta and Necranium, both with axillary inflorescences, are resolved as derived from within Clidemia.

A Cladistic Analysis of the Genus Tococa (Melastomataceae) Based on Morphological Data

Abstract Phylogenetic relationships in the myrmecophytic genus Tococa (Melastomataceae) were investigated using morphological data. The data matrix comprised 42 ingroup taxa, two of them previously described as Microphysca, the monotypic genus Myrmidone, and 11 species of the genus Miconia as outgroups. Vegetative and floral characters were used, in addition to characters drawn from seeds using both light and electron microscopy. A cladistic analysis of the morphological matrix, containing 58 informative characters, resulted in 224 most parsimonious trees. This analysis shows that Tococa is not monophyletic, both because there are some species of Tococa more closely related to Miconia than to the remaining species of Tococa, and because Myrmidone and Microphysca are nested within Tococa. However, it is possible to recognize a large, well-supported clade that includes Myrmidone and most species of Tococa. This clade is here defined as Tococa sensu stricto. The tooth in the dorsal side of the anther connect...

A New Species of Miconia (Melastomataceae) from Serra da Canastra National Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

A new species of the genus Miconia sect. Cremanium from highland campo rupestre vegetation of the Serra da Canastra National Park, Sao Roque de Minas, is described and illustrated. It is distinguished from other species in this section by the 4-celled ovary with glabrous apex and leaves lanate below. This new species of Miconia was discovered during a floristic survey carried out by the Herbarium Uberlandense (HUFU) from the Universidade Federal of Uberlandia in the Serra da Canastra National Park, southwestern Minas Gerais state. Miconia angelana R. Romero & R. Goldenberg, sp. nov. TYPE: Brazil. Minas Gerais: Sao Roque de Minas, Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, vale da nascente do rio Sio Francisco, lado das matas, beira do c6rrego, 1100 m, 46?15'-47000'W, 20o00'-20o30'S, 20 Nov. 1996, R. Romero & J. N. Nakajima 3773 (holotype, HUFU; isotypes, K, MO, RB, UEC, US). Figures 1-5. Arbor parva ca. 2 m. Lamina oblongo-lanceolata, apice acuto vel acuminato, basi rotundata, margine remote undulato-denticulato, subtus dense lanato. Panicula elongata; flores 5-meri, sessiles, ramis inflorescentiae in glomerulo denso verticillato-congestis. Antherae oblongae vel cuneatae, ad apicem truncatae, 2-porosae. Ovarium 4-loculare, apice glabro. Small tree, ca. 2 m tall, the stem, branches, petioles, lower leaf surface, inflorescence, and hypanthium densely covered with dendritic hairs with long and slender arms, canescent to yellowish brown; young branches slightly flattened, older branches terete and striate. Petioles 1.2-2.2 cm long, striate; leaf blade 5.5-14.0 x 1.5-4.0 cm, oblong-lanceolate, apex acute to shortly acuminate, base narrowly rounded, margin slightly and remotely denticulate, hyaline, above covered with dendritic hairs, soon becoming glabrous, 3-nerved, with an additional tenuous marginal pair, below with the primaries, secondaries, and transverse veins prominent, impressed above. Panicle 7.513.5 cm long, the sessile, 5-merous flowers capitate-congested on very short lateral branchlets; bracts 0.6-1.0 cm long, linear, bracteoles 3.0-3.5 mm long, linear, persistent. Hypanthium 2.3-3.0 x 2.5-3.3 mm, campanulate. Calyx lobes 0.8-1.4 mm long, triangular, apex acute to rounded, external teeth inconspicuous and hidden by the indument. Petals 2.0-2.5 x 1.8-2.0 mm, obovate, apex retuse and asymmetrical, margins and abaxial side papillose. Stamens 10, subisomorphic; filaments 2.0-2.3 mm long, geniculate, glabrous; connective dorsally thickened and prolonged 0.3-0.6 mm below the thecae, with two ventral short lobes and one dorsal short spur; anthers 1.3-1.6 mm long, oblong to cuneate with truncate apex, biporose. Ovary 1.2 mm long, lower half adherent to the hypanthium, 4-locular, apex elongated, papillose, glabrous, 2-3 ovules per locule; style 3.5-4.0 mm long, filiform, glabrous, stigma truncate. Berry 2.5-3.0 x 3.0-3.5 mm, globose, blackish, surface smooth and glabrescent. Seeds 1.2-1.7 mm long, 10-15 per fruit, narrowly to broadly ovoid, surface smooth. This species grows on the margins of small rivers in rocky soil of the highlands of the Rio Sao Francisco headwaters; it was collected with flowers in November, with fruits in December. The section Cremanium Bentham & Hooker, which has eight species in Brazil, occurs mainly in the southeastern region. The new species is placed in this section based on the presence of cuneate and biporose anthers (Cogniaux, 1891). The 4celled ovary with glabrous apex, seeds 1-1.7 mm long, and leaves lanate below distinguish M. angelana from M. hyemalis A. St. Hilaire & Naudin ex Naudin, to which it is certainly most closely related. The latter differs in having a 3-celled ovary with a stellate puberulent apex, longer seeds (22.6 mm), and leaves stellulate-tomentose below. Miconia angelana also resembles M. lymanii Wurdack, endemic to Santa Catarina (Wurdack, 1962), which has a 3-celled ovary with puberulous apex and leaves stellulate-furfuraceous below. The specific epithet was chosen in honor of AnNOVON 9: 98-100. 1999. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.223 on Wed, 24 Aug 2016 05:41:08 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms Volume 9, Number 1 1999 Romero & Goldenberg Miconia angelana from Brazil 99

Two New Melastomataceae from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Summary. Meriania sanchezii and Miconia picintiiabeisis, two new melastome species from Sio Paulo, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Both occur in the forests on the slopes of Serra do Mar/Serra da Bocaina, in the eastern part of the state, near the Rio de Janeiro border. The genus Meriania Sw. has 74 species distributed from southern Mexico and the West Indies to southeastern Brazil (Renner 1993, Almeda 1993). Only three species occur in the state of Sdio Paulo, all along the northern portion of the Serra do Mar. The genus Miconia Ruiz & Pav. has c. 1,060 species (Goldenberg in prep.), distributed from southern Mexico to southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. Martins et al. (1996) listed 53 species for Sao Paulo, from almost all vegetation types in the state. Two new species were found during the preparation of the treatments of Miconia and Meriania for Flora Fanerogamica do Estado de Sdo Paulo. Both were collected on slopes between 100 and 900 m above sea level in the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Nficleo de Picinguaba, at the eastern tip of Saio Paulo, near the Rio de Janeiro state border. Meriania sanchezii R. Goldenb. sp. nov. ad sectionem Davyae Triana pertinens. M. glabrae (DC.) Triana similis sed foliis reticulatione densiore instructis (areolis 0.5 - 1 mm; in M. glabra 1.5 - 3.5 mm), pari interiore nervorum lateralium prope basin parallelo ad costam disposito 5 - 15 mm ea disjuncto differt. Ab omnibus aliis speciebus sectionis Davyae adhuc cognitis floribus calice aperto (non calyptrato), foliis glabris petiolis non incrassatis, basi non auriculatis et ad marginem integris differt. Typus: Brazil, Sio Paulo, Ubatuba, Picinguaba, Morro do Corisco, 23022'S, 44'48'W, 600 m, 13 May 1995 (fl.), M. Sanchez & F Pedroni 665 (holotypus UEC, isotypi K, SP). Tree 10 - 20 m, glabrous. Petioles 1.3 - 4 cm; blade 8 - 18 x 4 - 10 cm, broadly elliptic, abruptly and shortly acuminate with a cuneate to obtuse base, entire or slightly undulate, membranaceous, shortly 5-plinerved (the primaries inserted up to 3 mm above the base), with a faint additional pair of marginals, the inner pair of laterals closely paralleling the midvein basally for 5 - 15 mm and coalesced with a

Host preference in Camillea verruculospora

Specimens of Camillea verruculospora J.D. Rogers, Laessoe & Lodge collected during the British Mycological Society Expedition in Cuyabeno, Ecuador and additional specimens from Puerto Rico indicate that this tropical ascomycete grows primarily or exclusively on trees in the genus Miconia (Melastomataceae). Camillea verruculospora (Figs 1 and 2) was described by Rogers et al. (1991) from collections in Puerto Rico, Ecuador and Peru, but only the type collection from Puerto Rico contained spores. Our two recent collections of C. verruculospora from Ecuador (Lodge & Laessooe EC-151, BMS1443; Lodge EC-153, BMS-1445) represent the first fertile collections from South America. The stromata of this species are relatively small (3–12 mm diam x 3–6 mm tall), short-cylindrical and have a flat to domed apex surrounded by a raised rim (Figs 1 and 2). Unlike most species of Camillea which have pitted, ribbed or honeycombed spore ornaments, C. verruculospora and the related species, C. obularia (Fr.) Laessoe, J.D. Rogers & Lodge, have warty ornamentation (Fig. 3), characteristic of the subgenus Jongiella (Laessoe et al., 1989). Camillea verruculospora fruited abundantly in Puerto Rico following damage by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, allowing us to recognize the similarity in bark of the trees on which it grew. Identification of dead host trees is normally difficult in tropical rain forests because of the high diversity of tree species. For example, Valencia et al. (1994) reported that a single hectare of rain forest at Cuyabeno had 473 tree species greater than 10 cm diameter at breast height, and the forest zones where C. verruculospora grows in Puerto Rico have over 170 tree species (Wadsworth, 1951). We were thus fortunate to be working at the El Verde Research Area of the Luquillo Mountains in Puerto Rico, which has numerous research plots where all the trees have been identified and tagged. All of our initial collections of C. verruculospora from tagged trees (Lodge PR-813, 2302; Lodge & Laessoe PR-1075 and same tree, Lodge PR-2301) and those with stump sprouts (Lodge PR-498; PR-1606, 1608, 2304, 2305, 2306) were growing on Miconia tetranda D. Don. Hosts for four additional collections of C. verruculospora from Puerto Rico were identified as Miconia sp. from stump sprouts (Lodge PR-488) or wood anatomy (Lodge PR-807, 1607, 2303). Altogether, we collected C. verruculospora from 13 different Miconia trees in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico, and none from other potential host genera or families. When we arrived at Cuyabeno during the BMS expedition to Ecuador, we were delighted to find two collections of C. verruculospora growing on fallen trunks of a Miconia species. The host for a previous collection of C. verruculospora from the nearby Rio Napo area in Ecuador (T. Laessoe 59651, cited in Rogers et al., 1991) was also identified by a wood anatomist as a member of the Melastomataceae, most likely the genus Miconia. The exclusive occurrence of C. verruculospora on species in the Melastomataceae, and usually the genus Miconia, in both Puerto Rico and Ecuador indicate a strong host-preference by this fungus.