Miconia yamanigueyensis Bécquer & Michelang.

Bécquer, Eldis R., Bochorny, Thuane, Gavrutenko, Maria & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2022, A revision of the “ basal-axile placentation clade ” of Miconieae, the newly erected Miconia sect. Liogieria (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) from the Greater Antilles, Willdenowia 52 (3), pp. 387-432 : 427-428

14. Miconia yamanigueyensis Bécquer & Michelang. in Brittonia 71: 118. 2018 ≡ Pachyanthus moaensis Borhidi in Abstr. Bot. (Budapest) 4: 26. 1976 [non Miconia moensis (Britton) Alain in Contr. Ocas. Mus. Hist. Nat. Colegio “De La Salle” 14: 4. 1955]. – Holotype: Cuba, Prov. Oriente [Guantánamo, Baracoa], Sierra de Iberia, Taco Bay, SantamarÍa, in pinetis, 22 Mar 1970, Borhidi A. 4872 [Muñiz O. & Vázquez] SV 27745 (HAC ex SV!; isotype: BP [n.v.]). – Fig. 24.

Morphological description — Shrubs 1–2.5 m tall, densely branched, evergreen. Indumentum of lanate (vermiform) trichomes 0.1–0.2 mm long, whitish or grey to ferruginous, on young branches, leaves, inflorescences, flowers and hypanthium, and elongate glandular trichomes c. 1 mm long, on young leaves. Young branches terete, slightly flattened, densely lanate. Mature branches with grey and fissured bark. Petiole 0.2–1 cm long, terete, densely lanate; leaf blade 1.7–7 × 0.5–2 cm, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, coriaceous, base obtuse, rounded to emarginate, acute to apiculate, margin revolute, entire; adaxial surface flat to bullate, when young densely white lanate with scattered elongate glandular trichomes mostly toward margin, later glabrescent; abaxial surface densely whitish to brown or ferruginous lanate. Venation with 1 pair of secondary veins, symmetric, slightly suprabasal, placed 1 mm above base; midvein and secondary veins deeply impressed adaxially and strongly prominent abaxially, tertiary veins slightly impressed adaxially and prominent abaxially, quaternary veins mostly inconspicuous. Mite domatia absent. Inflorescence 1.5–3 × 2.7–3.5 cm, a corymbiform cyme, peduncle 1–2 cm long, with 5–9 flowers; each inflorescence with 2–4 pairs of branches, pseudopedicel c. 6 mm long; bracts c. 1 mm long, subulate, early caducous, 4–10(–33) × 1.5–2.5(–16) mm, bracteoles persistent, 1–1.5 mm long, subulate. Flowers 5- or 6-merous, sessile or with pedicel 1–2 mm long. Hypanthium c. 2.5 mm long, campanulate, free portion 0.7–1.1 mm long, external surface densely ferruginous lanate, internal surface puberulous with appressed trichomes. Calyx tube 0.5–1 mm long; calyx lobes 0.4–1 × 1.4–1.5 mm, not extended, ovate to broadly triangular, internal surface pubescent; calyx teeth 0.5–3 mm long, linear, acute, erect at anthesis. Petals 3–4.5(–5) × 2–2.5 mm, obovate to spatulate, light pink to purple, with lanate trichomes at margin and on abaxial surface, base decurrent, apex rounded to truncate. Stamens 10, deflexed to side of flower opposite style, deflexed backward and turning pink to red with age, falling together with petals. Filaments 3.3–4.2 × c. 0.3 mm, white to light pink. Anthers c. 2.2 × 0.5–0.6 mm, oblong-elliptic, obtuse, smooth; connective projecting below thecae 0.1–0.2 mm; thecae smooth, with a ± apical pore. Ovary 3-locular, free portion rounded to conic, sulcate, apex deeply depressed at insertion of style, forming a ring around style, densely lanate; placentation axile-central to basal. Style c. 6.4 mm long, pubescent at base. Berries c. 5 mm in diam., globose, 20–24-seeded. Seeds c. 1.8 mm long.

Phenology — Flowering specimens have been collected from March to June and in October and November, fruiting specimens from April to July.

Distribution and ecology — Miconia yamanigueyensis is endemic to E Cuba ( Fig. 5), where it is found in the coastal area between Moa and Baracoa (HolguÍn and Guantánamo) and to the S on serpentine outcrops of Peladero de Jauco, MaisÍ (Guantánamo). It grows in pine forests and semi-arid montane serpentine shrub woods ( Borhidi 1996) at 0– 200 m.

Informal conservation status — Miconia yamanigueyensis (as Pachyanthus moaensis ) was preliminarily assessed in the Red List of Cuban flora as Least Concern (LC) (see González-Torres & al. 2016). The EOO of M. yamanigueyensis is estimated to be 450 km 2 (within the limit for Endangered status under sub-criterion B1) and its AOO to be 8 km 2 (within the limit for Critically Endangered under sub-criterion B2). It is known from eight localities representing five locations (sensu IUCN 2012), three of them included in the National Park Alejandro de Humboldt and the Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources Cuchillas del Toa. The number of locations allows us to assess this species within the Endangered category using criterion B. In addition, a decline in extent and quality of habitat and number of individuals is projected by mining at Playa la Vaca, Moa. The populations are not considered severely fragmented, and the species is not considered rare, at least in the Yamaniguey area. Based on these additional data, we assess M. yamanigueyensis as Endangered (EN) under criteria B1ab (i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v).

Discussion — Miconia yamanigueyensis shares with M. baracoana and M. monocephala the indumentum of lanate (vermiform) trichomes but differs by the pedunculate corymbiform cymose inflorescences (vs sessile dichasia in M. baracoana and capitate dense cymes in M. monocephala ). Also, M. yamanigueyensis is related to the M. rosmarinifolia complex (including M. moana ), as has been shown by Bécquer & al. (2008), Goldenberg & al. (2008) and Michelangeli & al. (2008), but differs by the presence of lanate (vs stellate) trichomes and its 5- or 6-merous (vs 4-merous) flowers.