Miconia javorkana Borhidi

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 : 401-404

3. Miconia javorkana Borhidi in Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29: 187. 1983 [‘ javorkaeana ’] ≡ Graffenrieda cordifolia Alain in Contr. Ocas. Mus. Hist. Nat. Colegio “De La Salle” 14: 1. 1955 ≡ Miconia cordifolia (Alain) Borhidi in Abstr. Bot. (Budapest) 4: 32 1976, nom. illeg. [non Miconia cordifolia Wurdack in Phytologia 31: 498. 1975]. – Holotype: Cuba, Prov. Oriente [HolguÍn], Camino de la Breña, Moa, 27 Jun 1945, Clemente [& Crisogono] NSC-4407 (HAC ex LS!; isotype: NY 99579!). – Fig. 8.

Morphological description — Shrubs 1–2 m tall, climbing or decumbent, sparsely branched, evergreen. Indumentum of elongate glandular trichomes 1.5–1.8 mm long, reddish on young branches, leaves, inflorescences and hypanthium. Young branches terete, slightly flattened, glandular pilose. Mature branches with dark grey and fissured bark. Leaves sessile; blade 2–4.5 × 1–3.7 cm, ovate to orbiculate, coriaceous, base cordate, apex obtuse to acute or acuminate to apiculate, margin revolute, glandular ciliate when young and less frequently serrulate toward apex; adaxial surface flat, glabrous. Venation with 1 pair of secondary veins, symmetric, basal to slightly suprabasal, placed 0–4 mm above base; midvein slightly impressed adaxially and slightly prominent abaxially, secondary veins obscure, sometimes slightly raised adaxially, tertiary veins mostly obscure, sometimes slightly raised adaxially, quaternary veins obscure. Mite domatia absent. Inflorescence c. 5 × 7 cm, a lax paniculate cyme, peduncle c. 1.5 cm long, with 3–19 flowers; each inflorescence with 2 or 3 pairs of branches, pseudopedicel c. 1 cm long; bracts c. 0.7 mm long, subulate, persistent, bracteoles c. 0.4 mm long, subulate, persistent. Flowers 5-merous, sessile. Hypanthium c. 3.7 × 3 mm, campanulate, free portion c. 1 mm long, external surface scattered glandular pilose, internal surface glabrous. Calyx tube c. 1 mm long; calyx lobes inconspicuous, internal surface glabrous; calyx teeth inconspicuous, c. 0.1 mm long, linear, acute, erect at anthesis. Petals 5–6 × c. 3 mm, membranous, obovate, white to light pink, glabrous, base decurrent, apex rounded to emarginate or with an apical notch. Stamens 10, surrounding style, falling after petals. Filaments 3.8–4 × c. 0.3 mm. Anthers c. 2.5 × 0.7 mm, lanceolate, obtuse; connective projecting below thecae as a conspicuous dorsal spur 0.4–0.5 mm long; thecae ovate in lateral view. Ovary 3-locular, free portion rounded to conic, furrowed, apex deeply depressed at insertion of style, forming a ring around style, glabrous; placentation axile-basal. Style c. 6 mm long, glabrous. Berries c. 5 mm in diam. (only immature fruits seen), globose, 25–30-seeded. Seeds c. 1.7 mm long (immature).

Phenology — Flowering specimens have been collected in May, fruiting specimens in May.

Distribution and ecology — Miconia javorkana is endemic to E Cuba ( Fig. 9), where it is found in the Sierra de Moa and coastal lowland surrounding the city of Moa and Yamaniguey (HolguÍn). It grows in semi-arid montane shrub woods on serpentine soils ( Borhidi 1996) at 10– 800 m.

Informal conservation status — Miconia javorkana was assessed in the Red List of Cuban flora as Critically Endangered (CR) (see González-Torres & al. 2016). The EOO of this species is estimated to be 239 km 2 (within the limit for Endangered status under sub-criterion B1) and its AOO to be 5 km 2 (within the limit for Critically Endangered under sub-criterion B2). The population is not considered to be severely fragmented. Currently it is known from five localities representing four locations sensu IUCN (2012). Therefore, it does not meet the conditions to assess it as Critically Endangered, but as Endangered using criterion B. Three localities representing two locations are inside the National Park Alejandro de Humboldt, but part of its habitat is affected by mining, pollution and deforestation; i.e. Playa La Vaca, Monte la Breña and the mouth of the Yagrumaje River; this last locality is considered lost for this species due to the deplorable state of its habitat. Population studies have not been conducted on this species, but it is considered rare. The species is therefore assessed as Endangered (EN) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v).

Discussion — Miconia javorkana can be distinguished from all other species of M. sect. Liogieria and almost all other Cuban melastomes by its climbing or decumbent habit and sessile and cordate leaves with glandular ciliate margin when young.