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20. Meriania radula (Benth.) Triana, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28(1): 66 (1871) [1872]. Basionym: Axinaea radula Benth., Pl. Hartw. [Bentham] 130 (1839) [1844]. Type:— ECUADOR. Loja: in Cerro San Francisco prope Loxa, no date (fl., fr.), Hartweg s.n. (lectotype, designated by Wurdack 1980: K! [barcode K 000329444]). (Figures 46–47). Axinaea purpurea Ruiz & Pav., Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. Chil. 1: 122 (1798). Type:— PERU. Huánuco: Muña, no date (fl., fr.), H. Ruiz & J. Pavón s.n. (lectotype, designated here: MA! [barcode MA813832]; isolectotypes: B-probably destroyed [negative at F], BM! [barcodes BM000939005, BM000939006], F! [accession nos. 842789, 844825], HAL! [barcode HAL120101], MA! [barcodes MA813830, MA813831]). Miconia incarum J.F.Macbr., Trop. Woods no. 17: 12 (1929). Type:— PERU. Huánuco: at head of canyon 6 miles south of Mito, 3000 m, 01–05 Aug 1922 (fl.), J.F. Macbride & W. Featherstone 1867 (holotype: F! [accession no. 518362]). Comments:— Meriania radula belongs to the M. radula complex which is characterized by the combination of ovate, bullate leaf blades, campanulate, deep red corollas (Fig. 47G) and stamen connectives with dorso-basal appendages perpendicular to the thecae (Fig. 46G). This complex includes M. almedae Wurdack, M. hirsuta, M. radula, M. sanguinea Wurdack and M. tetragona. Within this complex, M. radula is easily recognisable by its nodes without interpetiolar flaps and abaxial tuberculate projections on the apex of the petioles. Also, M. radula is the only species within the complex with abaxial densely setulose leaf blades, evenly covering the entire surface (Fig. 46C). The dorsal projections on the calyx in M. radula are whitish when dry and contrast with of the rest of the calyx and hypanthium. Among the Peruvian species, this feature occurs in M. penningtonii and is less conspicuous in M. hirsuta. Some specimens of M. penningtonnii have even been erroneously determined as species of the M. radula complex. However, M. radula is easily distinguishable from M. penningtonii by its terete internodes (vs. quadrangular and 4- winged) and campanulate, deep red corollas (vs. spreading, reddish-purple). Nomenclatural notes:— Axinaea purpurea and A. radula were published in 1798 and 1844, respectively. Triana (1871) [1872] considered these two species as conspecific when he proposed the combination in Meriania, and aware of the specific epithet of the former unavailable in Meriania due to the existence of M. purpurea Sw., published in 1798. Therefore, the oldest legitimate name, A. radula was used for the valid combination in Meriania (Art. 11.4 of the ICN; Turland et al. 2018). According to Art. 9.10 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we must consider that Wurdack (1980) made an inadvertent lectotypification of A.radula when he wrote“ Hartweg s.n.(K, holotype) ”in his treatment of Melastomataceae for the Flora of Ecuador. Also, we chose as lectotype of A. purpurea the sheet (duplicate) housed in MA that best matches the illustration published in Ruiz & Pavón (1957, see pl. CDX), conforming with Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania radula occurs in Ecuador and Peru, and it is recorded from Amazonas to Pasco in subparamos and elfin forests at 2590–3600 m (Fig. 30). It has been collected in flower from February to November, and in fruit in February, March, August, September and November. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Chachapoyas, road Balsas to Chachapoyas, upper eastern Calla-Calla slopes at pass, 3000–3300 m, 02 Jun 1998 (fl.), M . Weigend et al. 98/339 (CPUN!, F!, USM!); Trail to Laguna de Los Cóndores, surroundings of Laguna Esperanza / Siete Lagunas, 3275–3500 m, 06°48’44”S, 77°42’59”W, 26 Jun 2010 (fl.), R . Bussmann et al. 16485 (MO!, NY!); Upper slopes of Puma-urcu east-southeast of Chachapoyas, 2700–3000 m, 01 Jun 1962 (fl.), J . Wurdack 658 (F!, MO!, NY!, P!, U!, US!, USM!); Dist. Leymebamba, km 397 de la carretera, 27 km de Leymabamba, 2300–3540 m, 06°43’44”S, 77°53’18”W, 13 Mar 2012 (fl., fr.), F. A . Michelangeli et al. 1732 (NY!, USM!), path from Atalaya to La Muralla Karst, 3300–3400 m, 06°49’18”S, 77°44’00”W, 04 Jul 2010 (fl.), R . Bussmann et al. 16617 (MO!, NY!). Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Vista Alegre, bosque ribereño, 26 Aug 2012 (fl.), J. L . Marcelo-Peña et al. 7258 (MOLF!), same localitty and date (fr.), 7267 (MOLF!). Cajamarca: Prov. Cajamarca, Dist. Jesús, SAIS, José Carlos Mariátegui, km 60, 3300 m, 04 Jun 1984 (fl.), D. Smith & I . Sánchez-Vega 7488 (MO!). Prov. Contumazá, Dist. Contumazá, Bosque Cachil, 3400–3600 m, 08–11 Mar 2012 (ster.), L . Dávila 2309 (UNC!). Prov. Cutervo, CP San Cristóbal del Nudillo, sector el Mirador, 2690 m, 06°18’33.68”S, 77°51’40.71”W, 01– 03 Nov 2012 (fr.), L . Dávila 2482 (UNC!), 2590–2750 m, s.f. (fr.), L . Dávila 2954 (UNC!). Prov. Hualgayoc, Hacienda Taulis, Río La Quina above La Playa, 2850 m, 04 Sep 1964 (fl., fr.), P . Hutchinson & K. von Bismarck 6500 (F!, MO!, NY!, US!, USM!); Dist. Chugur, Sector las Quinuas, Ramírez, el Chencho, 3186 m, 06°41’19.44”S, 78°42’44.68”W, 01–02 Sep 2018 (fl., fr.), L . Dávila 3852 (UNC!). Prov. Santa Cruz, Dist. Pulán, Bosque Los Cedros, San Pedro Sur - La Mariela, 3200 m, 06°49’04.96”S, 78°54’03.86”W, 15–16 May 2010 (ster.), L . Dávila 1146 (UNC!), Caserío La Zanja, sector Pampa Verde y San Pedro Norte, Bosque El Cedro, 2900–3300 m, 20–22 Sep 2013 (fl.), L . Dávila 2672 (UNC!), parte baja de la quebrada Cocan, ladera oeste, 3280 m, 02 Nov 2001 (fl.), I . Sánchez & M. Sánchez 11109 (CPUN!, F!), Parte Oeste del campamento La Zanja, Sector San Pedro Norte, 3320 m, 06 Jun 2004 (fl.), G . Iberico & L. Dávila 636 (CPUN!, UNC!). La Libertad: Prov. Bolivar, Nevado de Cajamarquilla, 09 Sep 1946 (fl.), R . Ferreyra 1265 (USM!). Prov. Pataz, valle del río Mixiollo, encima de Ongón, 3200 m, 03 Aug 1914 (fl.), A . Weberbauer 7032 (F!, MOL!, US!). Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Huancabamba, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, La Colmena Trocha Erica, 3320 m, 10°27’13”S, 75°26’33”W, 19 Aug 2008 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 11528 (HOXA!, USM!). San Martín: Prov. Huallaga, Dist. Bolivar, surrounding “Pampa Hermosa” around old Chacha and Inca settlement, 3000 m, 07°02’07”S, 77°40’29”W, 24 May 2011 (fl.), R . Bussmann et al. 17087 (F!, HAO!, L!, MO!). Prov. Mariscal Cáceres, Bosquecillo, PN Río Abiseo, 3400 m, 21 Jun 1988 (fl. bud), B . León & K. Young 2008 (USM!); Río Abiseo National Park, forest near lake in Chochos valley, 3050 m, 07°30’S, 77°30’W, 13 Feb 1986 (fr.), K . Young 2771 (F!); Puerta del Monte, 3450 m, 21 Nov 1989 (fl. bud), K . Young 1952 (USM!); Dist. Huicungo, Sector Los Chochos, lado occidental del PN Río Abiseo, 3400 m, 07°38’30.03”S, 77°28’50.89”W, 19 Jul 2016 (fl.), D. Paredes et al. 604 (MOLF!). Prov. Rioja, Dist. Nueva Cajamarca, Cuenca Yuracyacu, 3215 m, 06°00’35.2”S, 77°27’45.19”W, 30 Jul 2005 (fl.), W . Palomino et al. 8000 (CUZ!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 53-57, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Wurdack, J. J. (1980) Melastomataceae. In: Harling, G. & Sparre, B. (Eds.) Flora of Ecuador. No. 13. Univ. Goteborg & Riksmuseum, Stockholm, pp. 1 - 406.","Triana, J. J. (1871) [1872] Les Melastomacees. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 28: 1 - 188. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.1871. tb 00222. x","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. H., Li, D. Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashutten. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018","Ruiz, H. & Pavon, J. (1957) Flora Peruviana et Chilensis, Tomus IV. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Instituto Botanico A. J. Cavanilles, Madrid, 246 pp."]}

3. Meriania bicentenaria Rob.Fern., R.Rojas & Michelang., Willdenowia 52(1): 40 (2022). Type:— PERU. Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Oxapampa, Abra Oxapampa-Villa Rica, 2300–2500 m, 10°40’36”S, 75°18’55”W, 06 Aug 2004 (fl., fr.), R. Vásquez, A. Monteagudo, L. Valenzuela, J. Perea & A. Peña 30366 (holotype: HOXA! [accession no. 10648]; isotypes: NY! [barcode 03785787], USM! [accession no. 215491]). (Figures 12–13). Comments:— Meriania bicentenaria is part of the M. macrophylla complex (see comments under M. franciscana for diagnostic characteristics) and differs from other species of Meriania by the combination of densely pubescent abaxial leaf blades, with roughened to dendritic trichomes evenly covering entire surface (Fig. 12B–C), calyces with rounded lobes and without dorsal projections, campanulate, fuchsia to light fuchsia corollas, strongly dimorphic stamens, antepetalous stamens with inflated (bulbous) connectives (Fig. 12E), and antepetalous stamen connectives without dorsal appendages (Fig. 12F). Among Peruvian species, M. bicentenaria most closely resembles M. franciscana but differs by the indument on abaxial leaf blades (densely pubescent vs. sparsely to densely puberulent), petal color (fuchsia to light fuchsia vs. reddish-purple), and the dorsal appendages of the antepetalous stamen connectives (absent vs. blunt ascending). A detailed comparison of M. bicentenaria with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2022). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania bicentenaria is a tree endemic to central Peru (Department of Pasco) and grows in montane forests at 2200–2550 m (Fig. 11). It has been collected in flower from June to September, and in fruit from March to November. Specimens examined:— PERU. Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Palcazú, without locality, 2200 m, 10°32’S, 75°23’W, 04 Oct 1984 (fr.), D. Smith et al. 8685 (F!); Dist. Oxapampa, camino a la Cordillera Yanachaga, 2400 m, 10°23’S, 75°27’W, 19 Jul 1984 (fr.), D. Smith et al. 7913 (F!, US!, USM!), camino Oxapampa-Abra Villa Rica, 2270 m, 10°39’23”S, 75°20’27”W, 10 Aug 2004 (fl.), A . Monteagudo et al. 6960 (HOXA!, NY!), camino Oxapampa-Villa Rica, km 37 en zona de amortiguamiento, 2462 m, 10°38’12”S, 75°24’45”W, 15 Mar 2006 (ster.), S . Vilca et al. 643 (HOXA!, USM!), Centro de Investigación del CDS, 2210 m, 10°32’44”S, 75°22’16”W, 11 Jun 2022 (ster.), R . Fernandez-Hilario 2298 (HOXA!, MOLF!), Cuenca del río San Alberto, 2286 m, 10°32’39.90”S; 75°22’13.63”W, 01 Oct 2019 (ster.), C . Llerena 23 (MOLF!), same locality and data (fr.), C . Llerena 32 (MOLF!), CDS, Sector San Alberto - Entrada al PN Yanachaga Chemillén, 2290 m, 10°32’25”S; 75°22’14”W, 10 Jun 2021 (fl.), R . Villanueva-Espinoza 675 (MOLF!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, 2420 m, 10°32’S, 75°21’W, 26 Aug 2002 (fl., fr.), A . Monteagudo et al. 3807 (AMAZ!, MOLF!, NY!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, cercanías del Refugio el Cedro, 2420 m, 10°32’51”S, 75°21’32”W, 26 Aug 2002 (fl., fr.), A . Monteagudo et al. 3808- A (HOXA!), San Alberto, 2457 m, 10°32’43.54”S, 75°21’37.14”W, 24 Mar 2014 (ster.), R . Tupayachi et al. 13589 (HSP!), San Alberto, 2457 m, 10°32’41.47”S, 75°20’29.34”W, 25 Mar 2014 (ster.), R . Tupayachi et al. 13601 (HSP!), Sector San Alberto, 2468 m, 10°32’45”S, 75°21’24”W, 17 Aug 2006 (fr.), L . Cárdenas et al. 715 (CUZ!, F!, HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Sector San Alberto, zona de amortiguamiento, 2450 m, 10°19’S, 75°13’W, 16 Mar 2005 (fr.), R . Rojas et al. 3539 (HOXA!, NY!); Dist. Huancabamba, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Fundo Osobamba. 2243 m, 10°23’34.7”S, 75°28’28.1”W, 25 Jun 2016 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 30395 (USM!), Grapanazu, sector San Daniel, zona de amortiguamiento del PN Yanachaga Chemillén, 2236 m, 10°26’36”S, 75°26’21”W, 08 Jul 2004 (fl.), J . Perea et al. 1445 (HOXA!, NY!), same locality and data (fl.), J . Perea et al. 1449 (HOXA!, NY!), same locality, 10 Jul 2004 (fl., fr.), J . Perea et al. 1467 (HOXA!, NY!), Acazazu, 2200–2300 m, 10°30’24”S, 75°23’13”W, 06 Jul 2004 (fl., fr.), R . Rojas et al. 3132 (HOXA!, NY!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Sector Quebrada Yanachaga, 2300 m, 10°23’45”S, 75°28’55”W, 19 Aug 2004 (fl.), R . Vásquez et al. 30410 (HOXA!, NY!, USM!), same locality and data (fl.), R . Vásquez et al. 30419 (HOXA!, MO!), same locality, 2407 m, 10°23’38”S, 75°28’36”W, 20 Set 2004 (fl., fr.), J . Perea & J. Mateo 1781 (HOXA!, NY!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, parcela permanente 1.0 ha Oso Playa, 2200 m, 10°17’58”S, 75°36’35”W, 11 Nov 2006 (fr.), A . Monteagudo et al. 13406 (NY!, USM!), Torre Bamba, 2550 m, 10°18’24”S, 75°35’06”W, 20 May 2004 (fr.), R . Rojas et al. 2403 (HOXA!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 17-20, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Fernandez-Hilario, R., Rojas, R., Lajo, L., Pillaca-Huacre, L., Wong, A. A., Paredes-Burneo, D., Villanueva-Espinoza, R., Michelangeli, F. A. & Goldenberg, R. (2022) Nine new species and new country recorded for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia 52: 39 - 74. https: // doi. org / 10.3372 / wi. 52.52103"]}

26. Meriania speciosa (Bonpl.) Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., ser. 3, 18: 128 (1852). Chaetogastra speciosa (Bonpl.) DC., Prodr. 3: 131 (1828). Basionym: Rhexia speciosa Bonpl., Monogr. Melast. 2: 9, t. 4 (1806). Type:— COLOMBIA. Cauca: Prope Popayán, no date (fl.), A. Bonpland 2027 (lectotype, designated by Mendoza-Cifuentes 2021: P! [barcode P00136460]; isolectotypes: F! [accession no. 940290], P! [barcodes P00136461, P00136462], US! [barcode 00120188]). (Figure 57). Meriania spruceana Cogn. in A.DC. & C.DC., Monogr. Phan. 7: 426 (1891). Meriania longifolia var. spruceana (Cogn.) Cuatr., Trab. del Mus. Nac. de Cienc. Nat. de Madrid 33: 93. 1936. Meriania longifolia var. spruceana (Cogn.) J.F.Macbr., Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 13(4/1): 309 (1941), isonym. Type:— PERU. San Martín: In monte Campana prope Tarapoto, Aug 1856 (fl.), R. Spruce 4204 (lectotype, designated here: BR! [barcode 000005201327]; isolectotypes: B-probably destroyed [negative at F], BR! [barcode 000005201624], C! [barcode C10014729], E! [barcode E00285763], F!-fragment [accession no. 869148], G! [barcode G00319573], GH! [barcode 00072679], K! [barcodes K000006312, K000006313], LD! [barcode 1683604], NY! [barcode 00228979], P! [barcode P02274656], TCD! [barcode TCD0000734]). For other synonyms see Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021). Comments:— The Peruvian specimens of M. speciosa are easily recognisable by their narrowly elliptic to lanceolate leaf blades 7.7–10 × 1.3–2.1 cm (Fig. 57B), solitary inflorescences or sometimes in 3-flowered dichasia, glabrous hypanthia and calyces, calyces with acute dorsal projections (Fig. 57E), spreading, reddish-purple corollas, isomorphic stamens, and stamen connectives with one triangular descending dorso-basal appendage (Fig. 57G). These characters are constant in all examined specimens. Historically, the Peruvian populations of M. speciosa have been recognized as a distinct entity, as M. spruceana (Cogniaux 1891, Brako & Zarucchi 1993) or M. longifolia var. spruceana (Macbride 1941). These populations have been considered related to M. candollei Cogn., M. grandidens Triana, M. lindenii Cogn., M. longifolia (Naudin) Cogn., M. speciosa (Bonpl.) Naudin and M. umbellata H.Karst., all endemic to Colombia, except M. longifolia (also in Venezuela) and M. speciosa (also in Ecuador). These species have been traditionally accepted in different works (Almeda et al. 2021; Brako & Zarucchi 1993; Wurdack 1973, 1980). However, Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021) considered in his taxonomic revision of Meriania for Colombia that all of them are synonyms of M. speciosa. In fact, there is a lot of variability in all the specimens from Colombia and Venezuela, and it is not possible to clearly determine the morphological limits between the entities. Also, Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021) reported the presence of intermediate forms in the Colombian populations. Therefore, we have chosen to consider M. speciosa as a highly variable species for the moment. Among Peruvian species, M. speciosa could be confused with M. prunifolia due to the small leaves, sometimes elliptic leaf blades and solitary inflorescences. However, the former is easily distinguishable by its glabrous terminal branches and leaf blades (vs. moderately to densely furfuraceous in M. prunifolia), terete hypanthia (vs. slightly costate), and calyces with acute dorsal projections (vs. aciculate). Nomenclatural notes:— Cogniaux (1891) cited Spruce 4204 as type in the protologue of M. spruceana but without indicating any herbarium, so it must be considered as a syntype conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). Therefore, according to Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we chose as lectotype the sheet 000005201327 (BR) because contains a label indicating that it was part of A. Cogniaux’s herbarium and probably that was the material he examined for the description of M. spruceana. Distribution and phenology:— Meriania speciosa is distributed from Venezuela to northern Peru, and occurs in the departments of Amazonas and San Martín in premontane and montane forests at 900–1850 m (Fig. 16). It has been collected in flower in January, February, April, May, August, and September, and in fruit in April. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Chirimoto, entre Zrumilla y Achamal, borde del camino, 1100 m, 12 Sep 2001 (fl.), V. Quipuscoa & M. Vilchez 2709 (F!, HUT!); Dist. Vista Alegre, entre Valle Encantado y Salas, 1100–1853 m, 06°15’07.1”S, 77°16’23.2”W, 30 May 2008 (fl.), V. Quipuscoa et al. 4063 (HSP!, HUT!). San Martín: Zepelacio, near Moyobamba, 1100 m, May 1934 (fl.), G. Klug 3642 (F!, NY!, US!). Prov. Huallaga, Dist. Saposoa, alrededores de Monumentos Históricos de Buenos Aires (Zarumilla), 1440 m, 06°36’34”S, 77°21’30”W, 11 Aug 2000 (fl.), V. Quipuscoa et al. 2036 (F!, HUT!). Prov. Lamas, Dist. Alonso de Alvarado, San Juán de Pacayzapa, al este del puente (Carretera a Moyobamba), 900 m, 12 Apr 1973 (fl., fr.), J. Schunke V. 5906 (F!, NY!, U!, US!). Prov. San Roque, without locality, 1350–1500 m, Jan-Feb 1930 (fl.), L. Williams 7010 (F!, NY!, US!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 70-71, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Mendoza-Cifuentes, H. (2021) Revision taxonomica del genero Meriania (Melastomataceae) en Colombia. Acta Botanica Mexicana 128 - e 1734: 1 - 137. https: // doi. org / 10.21829 / abm 128.2021.1734","Cogniaux, C. A. (1891) Melastomaceae. In: De Candolle, A. L. P. P. & De Candolle, A. C. P. (Eds.) Monographiae Phanerogamarum 7. G. Masson, Paris, pp. 1 - 1256.","Macbride, J. F. (1941) Melastomataceae, Flora of Peru. Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series 13: 249 - 521. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 2350","Almeda, F., Mendoza-Cifuentes, H., Penneys, D. S., Michelangeli, F. A. & Alvear, M. (2021) Meriania. In: Bernal, R., Gradstein, S. R. & Celis, M. (Eds.) Catalogo de plantas y liquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Available from http: // catalogoplantasdecolombia. unal. edu. co (accessed 30 June 2021).","Wurdack, J. J. (1973) Melastomataceae (Memecyleae by Morley, T.). In: Lasser, T. (Ed.) Flora de Venezuela. No. 8. Instituto Botanico, Ministerio de Agricultura y Cria, Caracas, pp. 819.","Wurdack, J. J. (1980) Melastomataceae. In: Harling, G. & Sparre, B. (Eds.) Flora of Ecuador. No. 13. Univ. Goteborg & Riksmuseum, Stockholm, pp. 1 - 406.","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. H., Li, D. Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashutten. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018"]}

17. Meriania peltata L.Uribe, Caldasia 8(40): 532 (1962). Meriania macrophylla subsp. peltata (L.Uribe) Humberto Mend., Acta Bot. Mex. 128(e1734): 73 (2021). Type:— COLOMBIA, Cundinamarca: bosques abajo del Salto de Tequendama, cerca a El Ermiteño, 2200 m, 18 May 1959 (fl., fr.), L. Uribe Uribe 3285 (holotype: COL! [barcode COL000003288]; isotypes: AAU!, COL! [barcodes COL000016055, COL000003289, COL000003290], ENCB! [ENCB008627], F! [accession no. 1810513]. GH! [barcode 00072676], MO! [barcode MO-313849], NY! [barcodes 00228973, 02500165], US! [barcodes 00120384, 00120385], VEN! [barcode 111520]). (Figures 40–41). Comments:— We place two nearby populations collected in northern Peru and identified by H. Mendoza in 2009 (see identification label of Llatas & Suarez 2762) with reservations under M. peltata, which differs from the typical form (Colombia) by its truncate to repand calyces (Fig. 40G) (vs. evident and irregular lobed) and stamen connective with acuminate to falcate descending dorso-basal appendages (Fig. 40E–F) (vs. bifid). Meriania peltata was previously known only from Andean forests from Ecuador and Colombia (Fernández-Fernández 2010, Almeda et al. 2021), and now two new localities are recorded in the Department of Cajamarca in northern Peru. Meriania peltata is one of the four Peruvian species (along with M. bicentenaria, M. franciscana and M. ninakurorum) that form part of the M. macrophylla complex (see comments under M. franciscana for diagnostic characteristics). It can be differentiated from the other ones by the combination of peltate leaves (vs. subpeltate in M. ninakurorum, and not peltate in M. bicentenaria and M. franciscana), large ovate leaf blades (22.8–28.7 × 13.3–16.7 cm) and pubescent to setulose abaxial leaf surfaces (Fig. 40C). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania peltata occurs from Colombia to northern Peru (Department of Cajamarca in montane forests at 2200–2400 m) (Fig. 9). It has been collected in flower in July. Specimens examined:— PERU. Cajamarca: Prov. Cutervo, Dist. San Andrés, Grutas de San Andrés, 2200 m, 15 Jul 1990 (fl.), S . Llatas & Suarez 2762 (F!, US!); Dist. Santo Tomás, PN Cutervo, cerca de la catarata Santa Rosa, 2400 m, 06°10’52.39”S, 78°45’31.97”W, 26 Nov 2020 (ster.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2093 (HOXA!, MOLF!, UPCB!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 48-50, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Fernandez-Fernandez, D. (2010) Analisis cladistico de las especies ecuatorianas del genero Meriania (Melastomataceae) basado en caracteres morfologicos y moleculares. Tesis Master. Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo, Espana.","Almeda, F., Mendoza-Cifuentes, H., Penneys, D. S., Michelangeli, F. A. & Alvear, M. (2021) Meriania. In: Bernal, R., Gradstein, S. R. & Celis, M. (Eds.) Catalogo de plantas y liquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Available from http: // catalogoplantasdecolombia. unal. edu. co (accessed 30 June 2021)."]}

30. Meriania tomentosa (Cogn.) Wurdack, Phytologia 35(1): 4 (1976). Basionym: Centronia tomentosa Cogn., Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Belgique ser. 3, 14: 943 (1887). Type:— ECUADOR: Ad margines sylvarum primaev in Andibus central aequadorensibus rara, 3000 m, 1876 (fl.), E. André 4475 (lectotype, designated by Wurdack 1980: BR! [barcode 000005187867]; isolectotypes:, CAS! [barcode 0001923], K! [barcodes K000329483, K000329484], NY! [barcode 00221501]). (Figures 63–64). Rhexia excelsa Bonpl., in Humdoldt & Bonpland, Monogr. Melast. 2: 90, t. 34 (1813). Osbeckia excelsa (Bonpl.) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 2: 312. 1825. Graffenrieda excelsa (Bonpl.) DC., Prodr. 3: 106 (1828). Brachycentrum excelsum (Bonpl.) Meissn., Pl. Vasc. Gen. 2: 81 (1838). Centronia excelsa (Bonpl.) Triana, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28(1): 70, t. 5 (1871) [1872]. Type:— ECUADOR: Loxa, 1852 (fl.), A. Bonpland 3335 (lectotype, first step designated by Wurdack 1980, second step designated by Mendoza-Cifuentes 2021: P! [barcode P00136435]; isolectotypes: F!-fragment [accession no. 937280], P! [barcode P00136436]). Centronia tunguraguae S.F.Blake, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 35: 118 (1922). Type:— ECUADOR. Tungurahua: Pondoa, on slopes of Mt. Tungurahua, 2745 m, 10 Mar 1921 (fl.), W. Popenoe 1296 (holotype: US! [barcode 00120322]). Centronia peruviana J.F.Macbr., Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 13(4/1): 327 (1941). Type:— PERU. Huánuco: Carpish, banks of a mountain stream, 2850 m, 09 Nov 1938 (fl.), H.E. Stork & O.B. Horton 9928 (holotype: F! [accession no. 1052336]). Comments:— Meriania tomentosa is the second most widely distributed Meriania species in Peru, and it is recognisable by its calyptrate calyces with irregular dehiscence and without dorsal projections, campanulate, reddish-orange corollas, isomorphic stamens, and cream anthers. In Peru there are three other species with calyptrate calyces (M. acida, M. escalerensis and M. sessilifolia), and two with subcalyptrate calyces (M. juanjil and M. vasquezii). Within these groups only M. acida shares similar calyces and corollas with M. tomentosa. However, M. acida has smaller flowers than M. tomentosa, hypanthia ca. 4.5 mm long vs. 8.5–9 mm long and petals 9–10 mm vs. 20–24 mm long. The original material of M. tomentosa exhibits indumentum covering the entire abaxial leaf blades, short trichomes on the hypanthium and calyx, linear bracteoles, and calyptrate calyces with a prolonged apiculum. Although most of the Peruvian specimens have the same indumentum on the leaves and shape of the bracteoles (Fig. 64B), there is variability among populations. The calyx apices vary from acute to moderately apiculate. Also, most specimens distributed from the department of Amazonas to Huánuco (e.g., Wurdack 1661) show denser indumentum and longer trichomes than the typical form (Fig. 63A). On the other hand, some specimens from the department of Amazonas (e.g., Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1905) have broadly elliptic bracteoles, even completely covering the flower buds (Fig. 63D). In the department of Pasco there are two clearly distinguishable forms, the former (e.g., Michelangeli et al. 2884) has ferrugineous tomentose indumentum evenly covering abaxial leaf blades, and the latter (e.g., Cárdenas & Francis 450) has setulose indumentum sparsely to moderately covering the abaxial leaf blades. Although we have been able to find these different forms within M. tomentosa, in sterile or fruiting specimens is not possible to identify them. This is because it is necessary to examine the calyces and bracteoles, which are usually early deciduous. For this reason, for the moment we have chosen to consider all Peruvian examined specimens under Meriania tomentosa s.l. Nomenclatural notes:— Cogniaux (1887) cited André 4473 as type in the protologue of C. tomentosa but without indicating any herbarium, so it must be considered as a syntype conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021) erroneously chose as lectotype the sheet K000329483 because, according to Art. 9.10 and 9.19 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we must consider that Wurdack (1980) made an inadvertent lectotypification of C. tomentosa when he wrote “ André 4475 (BR, holotype) ” in his treatment of Melastomataceae for the Flora of Ecuador. Humboldt & Bonpland (1813) did not cite any specimens in the protologue of R. excelsa but the specimen Bonpland 3335 is original material because it is associated with the taxon, and so it must be considered as a syntype conforming with Art. 9.4 and 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). According to Art. 9.10 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we have to consider that Wurdack (1980) made an inadvertent lectotypification (first-step) of R. excelsa when he wrote “ Bonpland 3335 (P, holotype) ” in his treatment of Melastomataceae for the Flora of Ecuador. However, there are two sheets of Bonpland 3335 housed in P. Therefore, when Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021) chose the sheet K000329439 as the lectotype he made a second-step lectotypification, conforming with Art. 9.17 (Turland et al. 2018). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania tomentosa is widely distributed in the Andes from Venezuela to southern Peru, and occurs from the department of Amazonas to Cusco in montane forests at 2100–3300 m (Fig. 38). It has been collected in flower almost all year round except in January and March, and in fruit almost all year round except in January, May, November and December. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bongará, Dist. Florida, desde toma de agua en San Lorenzo hacia CP Vista Alegre, 2840 m, 05°48’17.71”S, 78°01’36.70”W, 17–18 Feb 2020 (fl.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1905 (HOXA!, KUELAP!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!), trocha rumbo a CP Perlamayo, 2320 m, 05°47’10”S, 77°54’49”W, 30 Aug 2022 (fl. Bud, fr.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2274 (MOLF!); Dist. Jumbilla, Along road to Tialango, 2100 m, 05°52’31”S, 76°46’36”W, 04 Nov 2012 (fl.), H . van der Werff et al. 25013 (HOXA!, HUT!, NY!); Dist. Pomacochas, Caserío San Lorenzo, 2800–3500 m, 05°48’25.76”S, 78°00’25.13”W, 28–31 Dec 2011 (fl.), L . Dávila 2180 (UNC!); Dist. Yambrasbamba, Ruta desde CP La Florida hacia finca de Don Ilario, 2150 m, 05°40’17.71”S, 77°56’58.73”W, 12 Nov 2020 (fl.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2070 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!). Prov. Chachapoyas, Middle slopes of Cerro Yama-uma (Cerro Carán) above Taulia, 4–8 km south-southeast of Molinopampa, 2700–3000 m, 11 Aug 1962 (fl.), J . Wurdack 1661 (F!, NY!, P!, US!, USM!); Dist. Leymebamba, alrededor de la laguna de Los Cóndores, parte sur, 2500–2700 m, 06°51’05.28”S, 77°46’25.61”W, 16 Aug 1998 (fl.), V . Quipuscoa et al. 1267 (F!, NY!). Cajamarca: Prov. Chota, Dist. Chadín, CP La Palma, 2530–2707 m, 06°27’12.67”S; 78°24’31.63”W, 24 Nov 2013 (fl.), L . Dávila 2705 (UNC!); Dist. Paccha, Rejo pampa, 2450 m, 21 Jul 1993 (fl.), J . Sánchez 826 (CPUN!, F!). Prov. Hualgayoc, Dist. Chugur, Sector Las Quinas, Ramírez, El Chencho, 3186 m, 06°41’19.44”S; 78°42’44.68”W, 01–02 Sep 2018 (fl.), L . Dávila 3856 (UNC!). Prov. San Miguel, Bosque natural de Quellahorco, al noreste de la localidad de Tongod, 2700 m, 14 Sep 1991 (fl., fr.), I . Sánchez V. & A. Briones 5788 (CPUN!, F!, NY!, UNC!, US!). Prov. Santa Cruz, Dist. Pulán, El Progreso, 2700 m, 31 Jan 2006 (fl. bud), L . Santa Cruz 184 (USM!), 04 Sep 2006 (fl.), L . Santa Cruz 560 (USM!), Chilal, 2700 m, 04 Sep 2006 (fl.), L . Santa Cruz 605 (USM!), 31 Jul 2007 (fl.), L . Santa Cruz 1964 (USM!), La Zaina, 2700 m, 04 Sep 2006 (fl., fr.), L . Santa Cruz 611 (USM!), Sector Pampa Verde, 2920 m, 06°48’6.19”S; 78°54’28.05”W, 16 Oct 2004 (fl.), G . Iberico et al. 950 (CPUN!, UNC!), Sector San Pedro, 3300 m, 05 Jun 2004 (fl.), G . Iberico & L. Dávila 606 (UNC!). Cusco: Prov. La Convención, Dist. Huayopata, Inkatambo, 2630 m, 13°04’07”S, 72°26’49”W, 24 Apr 2007 (fl.), L . Valenzuela 9551 (CUZ!), Incatambo, quebrada Curcur, 2490–2570 m, 13°04’05”S, 72°26’49”W, 21 Nov 2004 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 4477 (CUZ!); Dist. Santa Ana, Tunquimayo, 2800 m, 13°03’S, 72°56’W, 13 Jun 2003 (fr.), E . Suclli & V. Chama 965 (CUZ!, NY!), 2000–2200 m, 12°54’34”S, 72°48’36”W, 20 Oct 2002 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 742 (CUZ!); Dist. Quellouno, Lacco, 2741 m, 12°36’44”S, 72°14’37”W, 16 Jun 2006 (fr.), L . Valenzuela et al. 6896 (NY!, USM!); Dist. Vilcabamba, frente a Yupancca, 2560–2640 m, 13°03’15”S, 72°55’59”W, 03 Jun 2002 (fl.), W . Galiano et al. 4298 (CUZ!, NY!). Prov. Paucartambo, EB Wayqecha, 3000 m, 13°10’S, 71°35’W, Mar 2010 (fr.), P . Chambi s.n. (USM!). Prov. Quishpicanchi, Dist. Marcapata, Sitio Culebrayoc, marca 1550 m en la trocha, 2463 m, 13°29’41.2”S, 70°53’16.2”W, 05 Jun 2012 (fr.), F . A. Michelangeli et al. 1799 (NY!, USM!), Comunidad de Unión Arasa, 2150 m, 13°29’40.92”S, 70°52’23.16”W, 26 Apr 2011 (fr.), J . Wells & P. Centeno 980 (USM!). Huánuco: Prov. Huánuco, Dist. Chinchao, Carpish, 2750 m, 09 Sep 1948 (fl. bud), R . Scolnik 1075 (NY!), ca. 47 km NNE of Huánuco on road to Tingo María, just below the Carpish pass, 2500–2600 m, 14 Jul 1981 (fl.), M . Dillon 2602 (F!), Trail from S entrance of Carpish tunnel to crest of ridge, 2740 m, 27 Feb 1978 (fr.), J . Luteyn & M. Lebron-Luteyn 5477 (NY!), West side of Carpish pass, 2800 m, 22 Oct 1959 (fl.), B . Maguire & C. Maguire 44432 (F!, NY!, US!). Prov. Pachitea, above La Molina near Panao, 12 Sep 1940 (fl.), E . Asplund 13691 (US!). Junín: Prov. Chanchamayo, Dist. San Ramón, Puyu Sacha, 2500 m, 11°05’46”S; 75°26’05”W, 01–11 Apr 2021 (fl.), R . Villanueva-Espinoza 546 (MOLF!). Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Cordillera Yanachaga, road over shoulder of Cerro Pajonal to Villa Rica drainage, 12 km SE of Oxapampa, 2300–2500 m, 10°35’S, 75°20’W, 09 Oct 1982 (fl.), R . Foster & D. Smith 9072 (F!, NY!, US!, USM!); Road to Chacos, 2400–2700 m, 10°35’S, 75°06’W, 17 Jul 2003 (fl.), H . van der Werff et al. 18569 (NY!); Dist. Huancabamba, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, la Colmena-trocha Erica, 2300 m, 10°26’37”S, 75°26’15”W, 22 Aug 2008 (fl., fr.), L . Valenzuela et al. 11612 (HOXA!, NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, sector Quebrada Yanachaga, 2265 m, 10°23’45”S, 75°28’55”W, 19 Aug 2004 (fl.), R . Vásquez et al. 30405 (HOXA!, NY!), de amortiguamiento del PN Yanachaga Chemillén, 2407 m, 10°23’38”S, 75°28’36”W, 20 Sep 2004 (fl.), J . Perea & J. Mateo 1794 (HOXA!, NY!), Fundo Osobamba. PN Yanachaga Chemillén, 2243 m, 10°23’34.7”S, 75°28’28.1”W, 25 Jun 2016 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 30448 (USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Quebrada Yanachaga, 2420 m, 10°23’21.6”S, 75°28’20.1”W, 20 Feb 2018 (fr.), F . A. Michelangeli & S. Riva 2973 (HOXA!, USM!), Sector Oso Playa. Camino a la parcela Oso Playa, 2565 m, 10°19’05”S, 75°36’28”W, 25 Jun 2006 (fl.), L . Cárdenas et al. 469 (CUZ!), Sector Oso Playa, Trocha a la parcela Oso Playa, 2370–2475 m, 10°19’20”S, 75°36’06”W, 24 Jun 2006 (fl.), L . Cárdenas & R. Francis 450 (HOXA!, USM!), Sector Oso Playa, margen izquierda del río, 2370–2475 m, 10°19’20”S, 75°36’06”W, 17 Jun 2006 (fl.), L . Cárdenas et al. 350 (MO!); Dist. Oxapampa, Chacos “Rincón Chacos”, proyecto Apícola, 2750 m, 10°37’25”S, 75°17’43”W, 23 Jul 2010 (fl.), R . Rojas et al. 7361 (HOXA!, NY!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, cercanías del refugio El Cedro, 2440–2500 m, 10°32’S, 75°21’W, 17 Aug 2002 (fl., fr.), A . Monteagudo et al. 3701 (HOXA!, NY!, USM!), same locality and date (fl., fr.), 4429 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, flanco oriental del valle de Palcazu, a 20 minutos del 2720 m, 10°31’56”S, 75°20’54”W, 19 Oct 2006 (fl.), A . Monteagudo & R. Francis 12900 (HOXA!, NY!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Sector San Alberto, 2450 m, 10°32’43”S, 75°21’30”W, 14 Mar 2019 (fr.), R . Vásquez et al. 43050 (HOXA!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, sector San Alberto, alrededores del refugio El Cedro, 2240 m, 10°32’42.4”S, 75°21’04.3”W, 22 Mar 2016 (fr.), F . A. Michelangeli et al. 2750 (NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, sector San Alberto, camino del refugio El Cedro al 2420–2700 m, 10°32’43”S, 75°21’30”W, 03 Oct 2007 (fl., fr.), L . Hernani & A. Peña 383 (HOXA!, NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, sector San Alberto; claro alrededor del refugio El Cedro, 2415 m, 10°32’43.2”S, 75°21’29.8”W, 20 Jul 2017 (fl. bud, fr.), F . A. Michelangeli et al. 2884 (HOXA!, USM!), Sector San Alberto, camino al 2400–2600 m, 10°32’43”S, 75°21’30”W, 15 Aug 2006 (fl., fr.), L . Cárdenas et al. 693 (CUZ!, F!, HOXA!, MO!, MOLF!, NY!), Sector San Alberto. Cercano al Refugio, 0.5 km, 2468 m, 10°32’45”S, 75°21’24”W, 18 Aug 2006 (fl.), L . Cárdenas et al. 733 (CUZ!), same locality and date (fl.), 734 (HOXA!), Sector San Alberto. Zona superior al refugio aprox. 4 km, 2878 m, 10°31’45”S, 75°21’08”W, 12 Aug 2006 (fl.), L . Cárdenas et al. 661 (CUZ!), same locality and date (fl.), 669 (HOXA!, MO!, USM!), de amortiguamiento PN Yanachaga Chemillén, parte media de la quebrada San Luis, 2200–2350 m, 10°33’55”S, 75°20’43”W, 18 Sep 2007 (fl., fr.), A . Monteagudo et al. 15094 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!). Piura: Prov. Huancabamba, Loma Redonda (Sapalache-Chinguela), 2400 m, 15 Sep 1981 (fl., fr.), A . Sagástegui et al. 10188 (HUT!, NY!, US!); El paso de Huascar Rey (límite entre Dp. De Piura y Cajamarca, ruta Huancabamba a Tabaconas), 2700 m, 11 Jul 1961 (fl.), C . Friedberg 322 (P!, US!, USM!); Dist. El Carmen de la Frontera, Carretera Sapalache-Cerro Chingelas, 9.5 km después de Sapalache, 3035 m, 05°08’23.6”S, 79°23’45.4”W, 03 Sep 2016 (fr.), F . A. Michelangeli et al. 2620 (NY!, USM!), same locality and date (fr.), 2623 (NY!, USM!). Prov. Morropón, Dist. Chalaco, Bosque Mijal, 2900 m, 30 Aug 2004 (ster.), A . Córdova 512 (MOLF!). San Martín: Prov. Huallaga Dist. Bolivar, Surrounding “Pampa Hermosa” around old Chacha and Inca settlement, 2400 m, 06°59’32”S, 77°39’16”W, 24 May 2011 (fl), R . Bussmann et al. 17068 (F!, MO!, NY!, US!), same locality and date, 07°02’07”S, 77°40’29”W, (fl.), R . Bussmann et al. 17069 (F!, MO!, NY!, US!). Prov. Mariscal Cáceres, Near Mirador, Río Abiseo National Park, 3000–3100 m, 14 Jul 1988 (fl.), B . León 2175 (US!); Dist. Huicungo, ACP Los Chilchos, borde de la Laguna de los Condores, 2870 m, 06°51’07”S, 77°42’03”W, 27 Jun 2022 (fl.), F . A. Michelangeli et al. 3206 (NY!, USM!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 79-80, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Wurdack, J. J. (1980) Melastomataceae. In: Harling, G. & Sparre, B. (Eds.) Flora of Ecuador. No. 13. Univ. Goteborg & Riksmuseum, Stockholm, pp. 1 - 406.","Mendoza-Cifuentes, H. (2021) Revision taxonomica del genero Meriania (Melastomataceae) en Colombia. Acta Botanica Mexicana 128 - e 1734: 1 - 137. https: // doi. org / 10.21829 / abm 128.2021.1734","Cogniaux, C. A. (1887) Notice sur les Melastomatacees austro-americaines de M. Ed. Andre. Bulletins de l'Academie royale de Belgique, ser. 3 14 (12): 927 - 973.","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. H., Li, D. Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashutten. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018","Humboldt, A. & Bonpland, A. (1813) Monographie des Melastomacees. In: Humboldt, A. & Bonpland, A. (Eds.) Monographia Melastomacearum, Vol. 2 - Rhexies. Chez Gide Fils, Paris, pp. 1 - 158."]}

34. Meriania vilcabambensis Wurdack, Phytologia 21(6): 353 (1971). Type:— PERU. Cusco: Prov. La Convención, Cordillera Vilcabamba, Knox’s Cascade, c. 1 km north of Camp 2 ½, NE 14 km walking distance from the Hacienda Luisiana and the Apurimac River, 1730 m, 12°35’S, 73°35’W, 28 Jun 1968 (fl.), T. Dudley 10595 (holotype: US! [barcode 00120393]; isotype: US! [barcode 02925667]). (Figure 69). Comments:— Meriania vilcabambensis is a poorly known species, and only the type has flowers at anthesis. It is characterized by its lobed calyces with small claw-shaped dorsal projections (ca. 3 mm long; Fig. 69E–F), dimorphic stamens, stamen connectives with ascending dorsal appendages, and antesepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded descending dorso-basal appendages (Fig. 69G). Meriania axinioides Gleason, a species endemic to Bolivia, has leaves similar to M. vilcabambensis, but the former differs by its glabrous flowers (vs. furfuraceous in M. vilcabambesis, Fig. 69C), calyces with conical dorsal projections not exceeding the apex of the lobes (vs. small claw-shaped dorsal projections exceeding the apex of the lobes), and petals 9–10 mm long (vs. ca. 16 mm long). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania vilcabambensis is endemic to southern Peru (Department of Cusco) and grows in montane forests at 1100–1730 m (Fig. 21). It has been collected in flower in June. Specimens examined:— PERU. Cusco: Prov. La Convención, Camp 2 ½, ca. 14 km walking distance NE from Hacienda Luisiana and the Apurímac River, 1730 m, 12°30’S, 73°30’W, 28 Jun 1968 (fl. bud), T . Dudley 10583 (US!); Dist. Echarate, Km 59 al 61 del Derecho de Via del Gaseoducto Camisea, margen izquierdo del río Poyentimari, 1100–1150 m, 09 Apr 2007 (fl. bud), S . Baldeón et al. 6719 (USM!), Santa Ana, Kepashiato, 1167 m, 12°44’02”S, 73°22’03”W, 19 Aug 2006 (fl. bud), L . Valenzuela et al. 7494 (MOLF!, NY!, USM!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on page 86, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984

Key to the species of Meriania in Peru 1. Leaf blades with dentate-undulate, revolute auricles at the base (Fig. 4L), and punctiform abaxial surfaces (Fig. 4B) M. cuzcoana - Leaf blades without auricles (but M. rigida and M. zunacensis with revolute bases, and M. franciscana and M. neillii with slightly revolute bases), and abaxial surface not punctiform..........................................................................................................................2 2. Inflorescences solitary, dichasia 3 or 9-flowered (often reduced to 5-flowered)...............................................................................3 - Inflorescences in panicles with more than 10 flowers (but see comments below M. hirsuta)...........................................................5 3. Calyx calyptrate with irregular dehiscence................................................................................................................... M. sessilifolia - Calyx lobed with regular dehiscence..................................................................................................................................................4 4. Terminal branches and leaf blades glabrous; leaf blades 7.7–10 cm long; hypanthium terete; calyx with acute dorsal projections............................................................................................................................................................................................ M. speciosa - Terminal branches and abaxial leaf blades moderately to densely furfuraceous; leaf blades 2.3–8.2 cm long; hypanthium slightly costate; calyx with acicular dorsal projections (Fig. 5H).............................................................................................. M. prunifolia 5. Leaf blades bullate (Fig. 4A); corolla campanulate and deep red; stamen connectives with dorsal-basal appendages almost perpendicular to thecae (Fig. 6G).......................................................................................................................................................6 - Leaf blades flat to bullate; corolla spreading or campanulate, white, pink, pink-orange to reddish-orange, or fuchsia to reddish-purple but never deep red (except red in M. rubriflora); stamen connectives with dorsal-basal appendages not perpendicular to thecae..................................................................................................................................................................................................9 6. Nodes with developed interpetiolar flaps...........................................................................................................................................7 - Nodes with only interpetiolar lines, not flaps.....................................................................................................................................8 7. Internodes quadrangular and 4-winged (Fig. 3D); petioles with abaxial tuberculate projections (rarely horn-shaped) on the transition zone from the petiole to the midvein (Fig. 3H).............................................................................................................. M. tetragona - Internodes terete-quadrangular; petioles with abaxial liguliform projections on the transition zone from the petiole to the midvein (Fig. 3G)........................................................................................................................................................................ M. sanguinea 8. Branches, petioles, and both leaf surfaces hirsute (Fig. 4J); antesepalous stamen connectives with dorso-basal appendages laterally expanded............................................................................................................................................................................. M. hirsuta - Branches, petioles, and abaxial leaf surfaces moderately to densely setulose (Fig. 4H); stamen connectives from both cycles with dorso-basal appendages not laterally expanded.................................................................................................................. M. radula 9. Antepetalous stamens with inflated (bulbous) connectives (Fig. 6H)..............................................................................................10 - Stamens from both cycles without inflated (bulbous) connectives..................................................................................................13 10. Leaf blades subpeltate to peltate (Fig. 4K), and more than 8.4 cm wide.........................................................................................11 - Leaf blades neither subpeltate nor peltate, less than 8.1 cm wide....................................................................................................12 11. Leaf blades 22.8–28.7 × 13.3–16.7 cm, peltate, abaxial surfaces pubescent to setulose.................................................... M. peltata - Leaf blades 17.2–27.7 × 8.1–15.5 cm, subpeltate, abaxial surfaces puberulent...................................................... M. ninakurorum 12. Leaf abaxial surface densely pubescent, the trichomes evenly covering the entire surface (Fig. 4F); petals fuchsia to light fuchsia; antepetalous stamen connectives without dorsal appendages................................................................................... M. bicentenaria - Leaf abaxial surface sparsely to densely puberulent, the trichomes not covering the entire surface; petals reddish-purple; antepetalous stamen connectives with blunt ascending dorsal appendages..................................................................................... M. franciscana 13. Stamens strongly dimorphic (connectives with different shapes, sizes and colors), antepetalous stamen connectives with apically trilobed (Fig. 6F) or sagittate ascending dorsal appendages............................................................................................................14 - Stamens dimorphic (connectives with different shapes and sizes but with similar colors) or isomorphic, stamen connectives from both cycles without dorsal appendages (Fig. 6A), with dentiform dorsal appendages (Fig. 6E), with blunt ascending dorsal appendages (Fig. 6B) or dorsal appendages as mere humps (Fig. 6C and 6D)................................................................................15 14. Petioles with adaxial and lateral liguliform projections on the apex; corolla white; antepetalous stamen connectives with apically trilobed ascending dorsal appendages (Fig. 6F)............................................................................................................ M. microflora - Petioles without projections; corolla fuchsia; antepetalous stamen connectives with apically sagittate ascending dorsal appendages...................................................................................................................................................................... M. urceolata 15. Corolla campanulate, pink-orange to reddish-orange (except fuchsia in M. vasquezii and red in M. rubriflora) (Fig. 3J).............16 - Corolla spreading, fuchsia to reddish-purple (Fig. 3I).....................................................................................................................22 16. Calyx calyptrate or subcalyptrate, with irregular dehiscence (Fig. 5F)...........................................................................................17 - Calyx neither calyptrate nor subcalyptrate, with regular dehiscence...............................................................................................20 17. Calyx calyptrate, without dorsal projections....................................................................................................................................18 - Calyx subcalyptrate, with dorsal projections 0.5–3 mm long (Fig. 5F)...........................................................................................19 18. Inflorescences with flowers in regular dichasia (3-flowered) in the branchlet ends; petals 20–24 mm long............... M. tomentosa - Inflorescences with flowers in 5–6-flowered umbels in the branchlet ends; petals 9–10 mm long...................................... M. acida 19. Leaf blades 10.8–12.7 × 2.7–3 cm, abaxial surface sparsely to moderately puberulent, trichomes not covering the entire surface................................................................................................................................................................................................ M. juanjil - Leaf blades 16.5–23.5 × 9.3–10.7 cm, abaxial surface densely villose, evenly covering the entire surface.................. M. vasquezii 20. Nodes with robust interpetiolar flaps; inflorescences pendulous; calyces with obsolete dorsal projections................. M. rubriflora - Nodes without interpetiolar flaps; inflorescences erect; calyces with claw-shaped dorsal projections (Fig. 5D)...........................21 21. Abaxial leaf surface tomentose with whitish to cream trichomes when dry; petals 19.5–24 mm long................................ M. dazae - Abaxial leaf surface pubescent with ferrugineous trichomes when dry; petals 13–15.5 mm long.............................. M. bongarana 22. Calyx calyptrate, with circumscissile dehiscence (Fig. 5G)....................................................................................... M. escalerensis - Calyx not calyptrate, with regular dehiscence..................................................................................................................................23 23. Stamens dimorphic; antesepalous stamen connectives with descending dorso-basal appendages laterally expanded (Fig. 6I).....24 - Stamens isomorphic; stamen connectives from both cycles with descending dorso-basal appendages not laterally expanded......28 24. Leaves subsessile (petioles up to 3 mm long), base auriculate.............................................................................. M. amischophylla - Leaves with petioles longer than 8 mm, base acute, attenuate, or obtuse (rarely broadly obtuse in M. weberbaueri)....................25 25. Stamen connectives without dorsal appendages......................................................................................................... M. weberbaueri - Stamen connectives with blunt ascending dorsal appendages (Fig. 6B)..........................................................................................26 26. Hypanthium 10-costate, with longitudinal ridges up to 2.5 mm high (Fig. 5I)............................................................... M. sumatika - Hypanthium terete, without ridges...................................................................................................................................................27 27. Inflorescences, hypanthia, and calyces densely tomentose, the trichomes up to 1.5 mm long......................................... M. vargasii - Inflorescences, hypanthia, and calyces sparsely to densely furfuraceous, the trichomes up to 0.25 mm long (Fig. 4D)................................................................................................................................................................................................... M. vilcabambensis 28. Nodes with robust interpetiolar flaps (sometimes small in M. callosa) (Fig. 3B)...........................................................................29 - Nodes without interpetiolar flaps.....................................................................................................................................................31 29. Internodes quadrangular and 4-winged; stamen connectives with blunt ascending dorsal appendages (Fig. 6B)..... M. megaphylla - Internodes quadrangular, but not winged; stamen connectives with dorsal appendages as mere humps or obsolete......................30 30. Petioles 25–50 mm long, with an adaxial projection (scutum) on the transition zone from the petiole to the midvein (Fig. 3E)............................................................................................................................................................................................. M. zunacensis - Petioles 10–22 mm long, without projections..................................................................................................................... M. callosa 31. Petioles with an apical adaxial projection (Fig. 3F); petals abaxially moderately to densely puberulent........................... M. drakei - Petioles without projections; petals glabrous...................................................................................................................................32 32. Leaf blades with entire margins, and the adaxial surfaces flat.........................................................................................................33 - Leaf blades with denticulate margins, and the adaxial surfaces flat to bullate................................................................................34 33. Flowers 6-merous; calyx without dorsal projections (Fig. 5A)............................................................................................. M. neillii - Flowers 5-merous; calyx with thick, callose dorsal projections........................................................................................... M. rigida 34. Leaf venation with 1 pair of secondary veins (lateral nerves) and an additional pair of faint submarginal veins.............. M. rugosa - Leaf venation with 2 pairs of secondary veins (lateral nerves) and an additional pair of faint submarginal veins.........................35 35. Internodes quadrangular and 4-winged, wings 1–3.5 mm high (Fig. 3C); calyx with callose dorsal projections, whitish and much lighter than the rest of the calyx and hypanthium when dry (Fig. 5C)...................................................................... M. penningtonii - Internodes quadrangular, without wings; calyx with small conic dorsal projections, of the same color as the rest of the calyx and hypanthium when dry................................................................................................................................................... M. tetraquetra, Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 12-13, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984

13. Meriania megaphylla Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., Willdenowia 52(1): 61 (2022). Type:— PERU. La Libertad: Prov. Pataz, Dist. Ongón, valle del río Mixiollo, 2000–2100 m, 04 Aug 1914 (fl.), A. Weberbauer 7048 (holotype: MOL! [barcode 00003237]; isotypes: MOL!-fragment [barcode 00003236], F!-fragment [accession no. 628681]). (Figure 32). Comments:— The distinctive characters of M. megaphylla include its quadrangular and 4-winged internodes, nodes with interpetiolar flaps, large leaf blades (21–29.4 × 14.8–22 cm) (Fig. 32B), adaxial projections (scutum) on the transition zone from the petiole to the midvein (Fig. 32D), spreading, reddish-purple corollas, isomorphic stamens, and stamen connectives with two appendages (Fig. 32F), one triangular descending dorso-basal appendage, and the other blunt ascending dorsal appendage. Among Peruvian species, M. megaphylla most closely resembles M. zunacensis but differs by the adaxial leaf surfaces (bullate vs. flat), petal length (20.5–22.5 mm vs. 40–50 mm), and the dorsal appendages of the stamen connectives (blunt ascending vs. absent). A detailed comparison of M. megaphylla with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2022). Distribution and phenology:— Known only from the type specimen, Meriania megaphylla is endemic to northern Peru (Department of La Libertad) and grows in montane forests at 2000–2100 m (Fig. 16). It has been collected in flower in August., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 39-40, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Fernandez-Hilario, R., Rojas, R., Lajo, L., Pillaca-Huacre, L., Wong, A. A., Paredes-Burneo, D., Villanueva-Espinoza, R., Michelangeli, F. A. & Goldenberg, R. (2022) Nine new species and new country recorded for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia 52: 39 - 74. https: // doi. org / 10.3372 / wi. 52.52103"]}

1. Meriania acida (Markgr.) Wurdack, Phytologia 35(1): 5 (1976). Basionym: Graffenrieda acida Markg., Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 13(119): 462 (1937). Type:— PERU. Cajamarca: Prov. Cutervo, Tambillo, 26 Aug 1878 (fl.), A. Raimondi 3341 (lectotype, designated here: USM! [accession no. 1629g]; isolectotypes: USM! [accession nos. 1629a, 1629b, 1629c, 1629d, 1629e, 1629f, 1629h], US!-fragment [barcode 001201396]). Remaining syntypes:— PERU. Cajamarca: Prov. Cutervo, Tambillo, 26 Aug 1878 (fl.), A. Raimondi 3695 (fl.) (USM! [accession no. 1629l]), A. Raimondi 3813 (USM! [accession nos. 1629m, 1629n, 1629ñ]), same locality and date (ster.), A. Raimondi 4844 (USM! [accession no. 1629j]), same locality and date (fl.), A. Raimondi 6126 (USM! [accession no. 1629m]). COLOMBIA. Antioquia: S. Augusto, 25 Dec 1879, Kalbreyer 1293 (not located). (Figure 8). Comments:— Meriania acida is only known in Peru from the original material collected by A. Raimondi in 1878. It is characterized by its calyptrate calyces without dorsal projections (Fig. 8E) and campanulate, reddish-orange corollas. In Peru there are three other species with calyptrate calyces (M. escalerensis, M. sessilifolia and M. tomentosa). However, M. escalerensis and M. sessilifolia have spreading, deep pink to reddish-purple corollas. In addition, M. escalerensis has calyces with circumscissile dehiscence (vs. irregular in M. acida, Fig. 8E) and stamen connectives with blunt ascending dorsal appendages (vs. absent). On the other hand, M. sessilifolia shares with M. acida the calyces with irregular dehiscence but the former is clearly distinguishable by its sessile leaves [vs. clearly petiolate, (1.5–) 2.2–3.4 cm long]. The Peruvian species most similar to M. acida is M. tomentosa, but they can be differentiated by the petal length (9–10 mm long vs. 20–24 mm long) and the shape of the descending dorso-basal appendages of the stamen connectives (acute vs. blunt). Based on a collection made in Amazonas (Wurdack 1054), Wurdack (1964, 1976) considered M. acida to be closely related to M. denticulata (Gleason) Wurdack, from Ecuador, because both share subcalyptrate calyces and small dorsal projections on the calyx. However, after a detailed analysis we recognized Wurdack 1054 to be an undescribed species, and proposed M. juanjil (Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2022). Meriania acida is easily distinguishable from M. juanjil by its calyptrate calyx without dorsal projections (vs. subcalyptrate with acute dorsal projections), leaf blades 5–8 cm wide (vs. 2.7–3 cm wide) and petals 9–10 mm long (vs. 11–13.5 mm long). Nomenclatural notes:— Markgraf (1937) cited in the protologue five Peruvian specimens (Raimondi 3341, 3695, 3813, 4844 and 6126) and one Colombian specimen (Kalbreyer 1293), so these specimens must be considered as syntypes conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). The A. Raimondi collection housed in USM corresponds to the specimens that were sent on loan to Berlin in 1926 (Anonymous 1939, 1942), so they may have been seen by F. Markgraf. According to Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we chose Raimondi 3341 for lectotypification, because this specimen has the highest number of fertile sheets (duplicates). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania acida is apparently restricted to northern Peru and only present in the department of Cajamarca (Fig. 9). Markgraf (1937) cited one Colombian specimen in the protologue of M. acida. However, none of the species currently recognized for Colombia (see Mendoza-Cifuentes 2021) matches the concept we used here for M. acida. Although the original material collected by A. Raimondi does not give details of its habitat, Meriania acida probably grows in montane forest relicts. It has been collected in flower in August. Specimens examined:— PERU. Cajamarca: Prov. Cutervo, Tambillo, 26 Aug 1878 (ster.), A . Raimondi 3536 (USM!), same localty and date (ster.), A . Raimondi 6240 (USM!), same localty and date (ster.), A . Raimondi 6319 (USM!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 14-15, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Wurdack, J. J. (1964) Certamen Melastomataceis VIII. Phytologia 9: 409 - 426.","Wurdack, J. J. (1976) Certamen Melastomataceis XXV. Phytologia 35: 1 - 13. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 2606","Fernandez-Hilario, R., Rojas, R., Lajo, L., Pillaca-Huacre, L., Wong, A. A., Paredes-Burneo, D., Villanueva-Espinoza, R., Michelangeli, F. A. & Goldenberg, R. (2022) Nine new species and new country recorded for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia 52: 39 - 74. https: // doi. org / 10.3372 / wi. 52.52103","Markgraf, F. (1937) Neue andine Melastomataceae II. Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem 13: 459 - 464. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 3994830","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. H., Li, D. Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashutten. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018","Anonymous (1939) El Herbario Raimondi. Boletin del Museo de Historia Natural Javier Prado 3 (10): 27 - 46.","Anonymous (1942) El Herbario Raimondi. Boletin del Museo de Historia Natural Javier Prado 6 (21): 154 - 171.","Mendoza-Cifuentes, H. (2021) Revision taxonomica del genero Meriania (Melastomataceae) en Colombia. Acta Botanica Mexicana 128 - e 1734: 1 - 137. https: // doi. org / 10.21829 / abm 128.2021.1734"]}

15. Meriania neillii Humberto Mend., Acta Bot. Mex. 128(e1734): 85 (2021). Type:— ECUADOR. Napo: Southern slopes of Volcán Sumaco, Hollin – Loreto road, km 40, 1200 m, 11 Feb 1989 (fl.), D. Neill & M. Asanza 8887 (holotype: CAS [n.s.]; isotypes: MO! [barcode MO-1716563], NY! [barcode 02500066]). (Figures 36–37). Comments:— Meriania hexamera Sprague has been traditionally considered a widely distributed species from Colombia to Peru. However, Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021) considers that M. hexamera is restricted to Colombia, and that the populations in Ecuador, Peru and southern Colombia correspond to a different species (M. neillii). According to him, the main differences between them would be the thickness of the stems (2.2–4 mm in diameter in M. neillii vs. 4–9 mm in diameter in M. hexamera) and petioles (1–1.6 mm in diameter vs. 2–3.5 mm in diameter), and the pattern of venation (one pair of secondary veins vs. two pairs of secondary veins). However, some specimens cited under M. hexamera (e.g., Lawrence 420) by Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021) have thin stems and petioles. Likewise, Cuatrecasas 9139 and Franco 5312 have leaf blades with one pair of secondary veins and one pair of faint submarginal veins but were cited under M. hexamera. The only notable difference provided by Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021) is the apex of the ovaries (with lobes 0.3–1 mm long in M. neillii vs. with a ring 2–4 mm long in M. hexamera). Because the delimitation between M. hexamera and M. nielli is unclear, we choose for the moment to refer to the Peruvian populations as M. neillii with reservations. Meriania neillii is the most widely distributed Meriania species in Peru, and it is easily recognisable by its glabrous vegetative structures (rarely sparsely puberulent), leaf blades with entire margins and clearly parallel tertiary venation (Fig. 36B–C), and 6-merous flowers with spreading, reddish-purple corollas (Fig. 37D). It can be confused with M. franciscana, but this has adaxial projections (scutum) on the insertion of the petiole with the leaf blade (vs. absent in M. neillii), 5-merous flowers (vs. 6-merous), and strongly dimorphic stamens (vs. isomorphic). Meriania neillii could be related to M. cuzcoana which also has 6-merous flowers and with similar corollas but see comments under M. cuzcoana for differences. Peruvian populations of M. neillii usually have constant characteristics; the calyces do not have dorsal projections (Fig. 36E) and the leaf blades have slightly suprabasal venation. The leaf blades have obtuse to slightly rounded bases, however in many specimens the bases are slightly revolute giving the appearance of acute or cuneate bases. Nevertheless, there are some atypical specimens; Núñez & Alanya 13322 (fr.) has slightly narrowly cordate bases and Graham 6143 (fl.) has flowers smaller than usual (hypanthium plus calyx 6–6.5 mm long vs. 7.5–10 mm long). The venation in M. neillii usually consists of a main vein, one pair of secondary veins (lateral veins) and one pair of faint submarginal veins (e.g., Baldeón et al. 3069, Graham 6143, Núñez 13322). Nevertheless, in some specimens the submarginal veins are more evident, and there is a larger space between the submarginal veins and the margin of the leaf blades, where an additional third pair of faint veins can be observed (e.g., Campos & Corrales 3608, Campos & Díaz 4386, Monteagudo 15855). This latter pattern of venation can also be observed in the type of M. neillii. For this reason, we could consider that M. neillii may have up to two pairs of secondary veins. Distribution and phenology:— Meriania neillii is widely distributed from southern Colombia to southern Peru, and occurs in almost all Peruvian Andean departments (from Amazonas to Cusco) in montane forest and rarely in premontane forest at (700–) 1400–2700 m (Fig. 38). It has been collected in flower from February to December, and in fruit from March to November. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: path from Chachapoyas to Moyobamba, 2700–3300 m, Jan 1930 (ster.), L . Williams 7598 (F!); near the border with Dept. San Martín, 2000 m, 03 Apr 2001 (fl.), H . van der Werff et al. 16639 (NY!). Prov. Bongará, montane rainforest along Yambrasbamba Trail between Yambrasbamba and Yanayacu, 2200–2300 m, 05°41’S, 77°48’W, 26 Jun 1962 (fl., fr.), J . Wurdack 1050 (F!, NY!, USM!, US!); Shillac, norte del camino de Pedro Ruíz, 2300 m, 05°49’S, 78°01’W, 31 Aug-02 Sep 1983 (fl.), D. Smith & S . Vásquez 4868 (USM!); Dist. Shipasbamba, Shilla, 1850–1900 m, 06 May 1981 (fr.), K . Young & M. Eisenberg 381 (NY!); Dist.Yambrasbamba, alrededores de CP Miraflores, 2100, 05°42’05”S, 77°55’35”W, 03 Jul 2022 (fl., fr.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2227 (MOLF!), Buenos Aires, 1860–2000 m, 02–26 Mar 1967 (fl.), S . Tillet 673–310 (US!, USM!), Centro de Investigación de la ONG Neotropical Primate Conservation y bosque “El Toro”, 2000 m, 05°39’17.05”S, 77°54’51.30”W, 22–28 Jul 2018 (fr.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1431 (MOLF!), ruta desde CP Santa Rosa hacia bosque El Toro, 2160 m, 05°40’41.13”S, 77°55’12.72”W, 11 Nov 2020 (fl. bud), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2057 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!). Prov. Luya, Dist. Camporedondo, Tullanya, 1700–2000 m, 06°09’07”S, 78°21’05”W, 27 Nov 1996 (fl.), R . Vásquez et al. 211859 (HUT!, MOLF!, USM!). Ayacucho: Prov. La Mar, Machete, 1100 m, 26 Oct 2000 (ster.), L . Vargas 03 (USM!). Cajamarca: Prov. Jaén, Dist. Chirinos, Las Pírias, 14 Jul 2005 (fr.), J . L. Marcelo-Peña & A. Castillo 1709 (MOLF!); Dist. Jaén, San José de la Alianza y Nueva Jerusalén, 25 May 2012 (fl.), L . Dávila 2409 (UNC!). Prov. San Ignacio, camino arriba de Nuevo Trujillo cerca de Santa Fé, 1182–1600 m, 05°01’09”S, 78°52’11”W, 16 Mar 2012 (fl.), F . A. Michelangeli et al. 1756 (NY!); Dist. Huarango, Poblado Selva Andina, trocha comunal, 1613 m, 05°03’02”S, 78°45’14”W, 25 Apr 2007 (fl., fr.), J . Perea & J. Mateo 3085 (NY!), Poblado Selva Andina, trocha de captación de agua, 1798 m, 05°03’37”S, 78°45’13”W, 18 Apr 2007 (fl.), J . Perea & J. Mateo 2969 (NY!); Dist. San José de Lourdes, 1650 m, 05°00’43”S, 78°54’09”W, 14 Feb 2000 (fl. bud), J . Campos & R. Vásquez 6382 (MOLF!, NY!, USM!), alrededores de Camaná, 1850 m, 05°01’00”S, 78°54’00”W, 22 Mar 1997 (fl., fr.), J . Campos & S. Corrales 3608 (MOLF!, NY!, USM!), localidad Estrella del Oriente, 1600–1700 m, 04°57’00”S, 78°59’00”W, 04 Sep 1997 (fr.), J . Campos & P. Díaz 4386 (HUT!, MOLF!, NY!, USM!). Prov. San Ignacio, 12.67 km SW de San Ignacio, 2.88 km de Alto Ihuamaca, 2151 m, 05°12’48.1”S, 79°05’44.9”W, 07 Jun 2011 (ster.), M . Samain et al. 2011- 131 (USM!). Cusco: Prov. La Convención, Dist. Echarati, Llactahuaman, 1650 m, 12°51’55”S, 73°30’40”W, 14 Jul 1998 (ster.), S . Baldeón et al. 3069 (USM!), San Antonio, pie de carretera, 1744 m, 12°25’S, 72°32’W, 23 Aug 2005 (fl.), G . Calatayud et al. 3470 (NY!). Prov. Paucartambo, Kosñipata, San Pedro, 900 m, 13°05’S, 71°10’W, 28 Mar 1991 (fr.), P . Núñez & N. Alanya 13322 (CUZ!, NY!, USM!), Santa Isabel - San Pedro, 1250 m, 25 Nov 1965 (fl.), C . Vargas 16965 (CUZ!), same locality and date (fl.), 16995 (US!); Dist. Kosñipata, road from Pillawata to Patria, 1190 m, 05 Feb 1975 (fl.), T . Plowman & W. Davis 4995 (US!). Huánuco: Prov. Leoncio Prado, Dist. Pucayacu, PN Cordillera Azul, 1604 m, 08°29’24.42”S, 76°06’14.48”W, 26 Feb 2022 (fr.), R . Rojas et al. 11171 (HOXA!). Prov. Puerto Inca, Dist. Yuyapichis, CCNN Tahuantinsuyo, Reserva Comunal El Sira, 1568 m, 09°25’20.1”S, 74°44’05”W, 02 May 2014 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 27578 (HOXA!). Junín: Prov. Satipo, Dist. Llaylla, 1430 m, Feb 2005 (ster.), E . Castro 35 (MOLF!), Donato, 1635 m, 11°27’39”S; 74°38’07”W, 25 Oct 2019 (fl., fr.), I . Revilla 3484 (HSP!). Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Huancabamba, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, parte alta de la trocha Tunqui-Cajonpata, 1940 m, 10°16’21”S, 75°30’26”W, 02 Nov 2007 (fl., fr.), A . Monteagudo et al. 15855 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, USM!); Dist. Palcazú, Alto Lagarto, 700 m, 10°11’57”S, 75°21’23”W, 03 Dec 2007 (fl.), R . Rojas et al. 4817 (HOXA!, USM!), Palcazú, 2100 m, 10°32’S, 73°23’W, 28 Sep 1984 (fr.), D. Smith 8556 (US!, USM!). Piura: Prov. Huancabamba, Dist. El Carmen de la Frontera, Rosario bajo, entre el Tambo y Pan de Azúcar, 1935–2250 m, 04°56’23.99”S, 79°18’57.45”W, 25 Apr 2006 (fl.), A . Cano et al. 16342 (USM!). Ucayali: Prov. Coronel Portillo, Dist. Iparia, falda al cerro Aríapo, Reserva Comunal El Sira, 1800 m, 09°28’16”S, 74°34’54”W, 23 Sep 2011 (fl.), J . Graham 6143 (MOLF!, NY!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 43-45, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Mendoza-Cifuentes, H. (2021) Revision taxonomica del genero Meriania (Melastomataceae) en Colombia. Acta Botanica Mexicana 128 - e 1734: 1 - 137. https: // doi. org / 10.21829 / abm 128.2021.1734"]}

22. Meriania rubriflora Michelang. & R.Goldenb., Phytotaxa 374(3): 190 (2018). Type:— PERU. Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Huancabamba, Sector Oso Playa, caminho a la parcela Oso Playa, 2565 m, 10°19’05”S, 75°36’28”W, 25 Jun 2006 (fl.), L. Cárdenas, A. Monteagudo, A. Peña, J. Mateo & R. Francis 458 (holotype: USM!; isotypes: CUZ!, HOXA! [accession no. 26984], MO!, MOLF! [barcode 000023], P! [barcode P04801621], USM!). (Figure 50). Comments:— Among Peruvian species of Meriania, this species is unusual by the combination of developed interpetiolar flaps (Fig. 50D), large pendulous inflorescences (27–34 cm long) (Fig. 50A), 4-merous flowers with red corollas. Although some Andean (M. arizae, M. mexiae, M. sararensis Humberto Mend. & Fern.Alonso and M. selvaflorensis) and Brazilian (M. baumgratziana R.Goldenb. & Michelang., M. glazioviana Cong., M. longipes Triana and M. tetramera Wurdack) species of Meriania exhibit pendulous inflorescences, this characteristic is more common in Axinaea. Many species of Axinaea have pseudo-lateral inflorescences, which can be interpreted as somewhat pendulous (see Cotton et al. 2014), but there are species that have evident and large pendulous inflorescences. Peruvian species with this characteristic are A. crassinoda Triana, A. dependens Ruiz & Pav. Ex D.Don, A. fernando-cabiesii Bussmann, J.A.Gruhn & A.Glenn, A. mertensioides Wurdack, A. oblongifolia (Cogn.) Wurdack, A. pendula E.Cotton, A. reginae Bussmann, J.A.Gruhn & A.Glenn and A. sessilifolia Triana. Within this group only A. crassinoda, A. dependens and A. pendula have developed interpetiolar flaps, 4-merous flowers and red corollas. Meriania rubriflora (Department of Pasco) is morphologically close to A. dependens (Departments of Huánuco and Pasco) by sharing leaf blades and inflorescences similar in size and shape. However, the former can be differentiated by its branches sparsely to moderately covered with glandular projections (vs. moderately to densely furfuraceous in A. dependes) and petals 11.7–12.3 mm long (vs 8–10 mm long). Although Michelangeli & Goldenberg (2018) considered M. rubriflora as a species of Meriania based on its stamens without evident inflated (bulbous) connectives (Fig. 50E), Cotton et al. (2014) in their revision of Axinaea indicated that species with 4-merous flowers have stamen connectives with elliptical appendages instead of the inflated (bulbous) dorso-basal appendages characteristic of Axinaea. Even the illustrations of A. crassinoda (see drawing on Mathews 3212 in K) or A. pendula (see Fig. 58 in Cotton et al. 2014) show stamen connectives like those of M. rubriflora. The species of Axinaea with 4-merous flowers can be considered intermediate forms between Axinaea and Meriania, which would also be the case of the Meriania macrophylla complex by their antepetalous stamens with inflated (bulbous) connectives. Recent phylogenetic studies have placed Axinaea species within Meriania (Dellinger et al. 2018, 2019; Michelangeli et al. 2022), and further studies are needed to resolve whether Meriania and Axinaea should be considered separate genera. Distribution and habitat:— Meriania rubriflora is endemic to central Peru (Department of Pasco) and occurs in montane forests at 2480–2560 m (Fig. 11). It has been collected in flower in June. Specimens examined:— PERU. Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Huancabamba, Sector Oso Playa, margen izquierda del rio, 2497 m, 10°19’28”S, 75°36’07”W, 20 Jun 2006 (fl.), L . Cárdenas 407 (CUZ!, HOXA!, MOLF!), remanente de bosque, 2480 m, 10°19’21”S, 75°34’11”W, 26 Jun 2004 (fl.), R . Rojas & J. Perea 3073 (HOXA!, NY!), de amortiguamiento del PN Yanachaga Chemillén, 2567 m, 10°19’05”S, 75°36’28”W, 25 Jun 2008 (fl. bud), A . Monteagudo et al. 16516 (HOXA!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 60-61, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Cotton, E., Borchsenius, F. & Balslev, H. (2014) A revision of \" Axinaea \" (Melastomataceae). Scientia Danica Series B, Biologica 4: 1 - 120.","Michelangeli, F. A., & Goldenberg, R. (2018) New and noteworthy Melastomataceae from the Yanachaga-Chemillen National Park and surrounding areas in Oxapampa, Pasco, Peru. Phytotaxa 374: 185 - 210. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 374.3.1","Dellinger, A. S., Chartier, M., Fernandez-Fernandez, D., Penneys, D. S., Alvear, M., Almeda, F., Michelangeli, F. A., Staedler, Y., Armbruster, W. S. & Schonenberger, J. (2018) Beyond buzz-pollination - departures from an adaptive plateau lead to new pollination syndromes. New Phytologist 221 (2): 1136 - 1149. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / nph. 15468","Dellinger, A. S., Artuso, S., Pamperl, S., Michelangeli, F. A., Penneys, D. S., Fernandez-Fernandez, D. M., Alvear, M., Almeda, F., Armbruster, S., Staeder, Y. & Schonenberger, J. (2019) Modularity increases rate of floral evolution and adaptive success for functionally specialized pollination systems. Communications Biology 2: 453. https: // doi. org / 10.1038 / s 42003 - 019 - 0697 - 7","Michelangeli, F. A., Dellinger, A. S., Goldenberg, R., Almeda, F., Mendoza-Cifuentes, H., Fernandez-Fernandez, D., Ulloa Ulloa, C. & Penneys, D. S. (2022) Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of the Tribe Merianieae. In: Goldenberg, R., Michelangeli, F. A., Almeda, F. (Eds.) Systematics, Evolution, and Ecology of Melastomataceae. Springer, Cham, pp. 255 - 273. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / 978 - 3 - 030 - 99742 - 7 _ 11"]}

6. Meriania cuzcoana Wurdack, Phytologia 13(2): 71 (1966). Type:— PERU. Cusco: Prov. Paucartambo, laderas boscosas de Pillahuata, 2000 m, 9–10 May 1945 (fl.), C. Vargas 5107 (holotype: US! [barcode 00120364]; isotypes: CUZ! [2 sheets]). (Figures 19–20). Comments:— Meriania cuzcoana can be easily recognized as the only Peruvian species of Meriania with revolute auricles at the base of the leaf blades (Fig. 19D). This feature is present in other Andean Meriania species (e.g., M. ardyae D.Fernández & Dellinger and M. selvaflorensis Humberto Mend.), but none have auricles with dentate-undulate margins such as in M. cuzcoana. The presence of revolute auricles is a common feature in Axinaea species, and within that genus four species (A. floribunda Triana, A , grandifolia Triana, A. macrophylla Triana and A. quitensis Benoist) have auricles similar to the ones in M. cuzcoana. However, M. cuzcoana is clearly distinguished from Axinaea by the lack of inflated (bulbous) dorso-basal appendages of the stamen connectives (Cotton et al. 2014, Dellinger et al. 2014). The dorsal appendages of the stamen connectives in M. cuzcoana are variable in size (Fig. 19G–H); they can be inconspicuous as in Michelangeli et al. 1908 or evident as in Vargas 5107 (up to 0.5 mm long). Likewise, the margin of the leaf blades can be variable; it is usually entire, but it is seldom slightly denticulate. Among the Peruvian species, the most likely closest relative to M. cuzcoana is M. neillii, because both species share glabrous leaves and spreading, reddish-purple corollas. However, M. cuzcoana is distinguished by its punctiform abaxial leaf blades (Fig. 19B) (vs. without dots in M. neillii), 5-merous flowers (vs. 6-merous), and stamen connectives with white descending dorso-basal appendages (vs. yellow). The specimen Chambi & Chambi s.n. (fl. bud) has cuneate leaf bases and suprabasal venation, with the secondary veins sometimes asymmetrical, but it retains the revolute auricles with dentate-undulate margins. Although the tertiary venation pattern, inflorescence structure and flower buds are similar to those observed in M. cuzcoana, we placed this specimen with reservation here. Distribution and phenology:— Meriania cuzcoana is endemic to southern Peru and recorded in La Convención and Paucartambo provinces (Department of Cusco), and grows in montane forests at 2000–3000 m (Fig. 21). It has been collected in flower from March to August and in fruit in June. Specimens examined:— PERU. Cusco: Prov. La Convención, Dist. Maranura, Mesapelada, 2450 m, 12°54’33”S, 72°37’06”W, 19 Apr 2004 (fl.), W . Galiano et al. 6136 (NY!); Dist. Ocobamba, Mesa pelada, 2613 m, 12°54’13”S, 72°37’06”W, 23 Mar 2004 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 3147 (NY!); Dist. Quellouno, Lacco, 2741 m, 12°36’44”S, 72°14’37”W, 16 Jun 2006 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 6904 (NY!, USM!), same locality, 2650 m, 12°37’31”S, 72°14’03”W, 18 Jun 2006 (fr.), L . Valenzuela et al. 6939 (CUZ!, NY!). Prov. Paucartambo, Dist. Challabamba, carretera Paucartambo-Pillcopata, Pacchayoc, 2395 m, 13°09’25.92”S, 71°35’54.24”W, 14 Jun 2012 (fl.), F . A. Michelangeli et al. 1908 (NY!, USM!); Dist. Kosñipata, PN Manu, km 8 de la trocha unión, 2500 m, 13°05’18.60”S, 71°34’28.56”W, 29 Jul 2003 (fl.), M . Raurau et al. 71 (ABERG!), same locality, 2500 m, 13°05’18.82”S, 71°34’28.56”W, 03 Aug 2003 (fl.), W . Farfán et al. 976 (ABERG!, USM!), same locality, 2500 m, 13°05’38”S, 71°34’26”W, 21 Jul 2017 (fl.), F . Sinca et al. 1627 (ABERG!), EB Wayquecha, 3000 m, 13°10’S, 71°35’W, Jul 2010 (fl. bud), P . Chambi & J. Chambi s.n. (USM!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 26-28, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Cotton, E., Borchsenius, F. & Balslev, H. (2014) A revision of \" Axinaea \" (Melastomataceae). Scientia Danica Series B, Biologica 4: 1 - 120.","Dellinger, A. S., Penneys, D., Staedler, Y. M., Fragner, L., Weckwerth, W. & Schonenberger, J. (2014) A specialized bird pollination system with a bellows mechanism for pollen transfer and staminal food body rewards. Current Biology 24 (14): 1615 - 1619. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. cub. 2014.05.056"]}

27. Meriania sumatika Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., Willdenowia 52(1): 63 (2022). Type:— PERU. Cusco: Prov. Urubamba, Dist. Machupichu, Santuario Histórico de Machupicchu y en Camino Inca, 2060 m, 13°09’10”S, 72°31’00”W, 14–22 Oct 1987 (fl., fr.), P. Núñez & J. Arque 8369 (holotype: CUZ! [accession no. 15097]; isotypes: F! [accession no. 2028864], US! [barcode 02925646]). (Figure 58). Comments:— This species differs from other Peruvian species of Meriania by the combination of 10-costate hypanthium (ridges up to 4.5 mm high in fruit, Fig. 58D), calyx with large falcate dorsal projections (14.5–15.5 mm long) (Fig. 58G), spreading, reddish-purple corollas, large petals (46–55 mm long), dimorphic stamens, stamen connectives with two appendages, one descending dorso-basal appendage (laterally expanded in the antesepalous stamens, Fig. 58F), and the other blunt ascending appendage. Among Peruvian species, M. sumatika most closely resembles M. vargasii but differs by the hypanthia shape (10-costate vs. terete), petal length (46–55 mm vs. 20–24 mm), and anther length (14–16 mm vs. 9–12 mm).A detailed comparison of M. sumatika with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2022). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania sumatika is endemic to southern Peru and grows in montane forests at 1800–2950 m (Fig. 21). It has been collected in flower in February, May and October, and in fruit in May, June and October. Specimens examined:— PERU. Cusco: Prov. Urubamba, Dist. Machupichu, Intipata, Santuario Histórico de Machu Picchu, 2950 m, 10 Feb 1990 (fl.), A . Cano et al. 2874 (HUT!), Wiñay-Wayna, Machupichu, 2850–2900 m, 21 May 1991 (fr.), H . Dueñas 27 (CUZ!), Microcuenca Wiñaywayna, Wiñaywayna-Intipunku, 2700 m, 13°10’23.04”S, 72°32’03.44”W, 24 Jun 2001 (fr.), R . Tupayachi et al. 4926 (CUZ!), camino Inca, entre Wiñay Wayna e Intipunku, quebrada Wacraytambo, 2737 m, 13°10’42”S, 72°32’02”W, 24 May 2004 (fl., fr.), W . Galiano et al. 6410 (CUZ!, NY!); Prov. La Convención, Dist. Santa Ana, Potrero, 1800 m, 13°53’56”S, 72°43’50”W, 27 May 2002 (fl. bud), I . Huamantupa et al. 2060 (MO!, USM!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 72-73, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Fernandez-Hilario, R., Rojas, R., Lajo, L., Pillaca-Huacre, L., Wong, A. A., Paredes-Burneo, D., Villanueva-Espinoza, R., Michelangeli, F. A. & Goldenberg, R. (2022) Nine new species and new country recorded for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia 52: 39 - 74. https: // doi. org / 10.3372 / wi. 52.52103"]}

10. Meriania franciscana C.Ulloa & Homeier, Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 65(2): 383 (2008). Meriania macrophylla subsp. franciscana (C.Ulloa &Homeier) Humberto Mend.,Acta Bot. Mex.128(e1734): 72(2021). Type:— ECUADOR. Zamora-Chinchipe: Reserva San Francisco, road Loja-Zamora, ca 35 km from Loja, 1890 m, 03°58’S, 79°04’W, 28 Jul 2007 (fl.), J. Homeier 2625 (holotype: QCNE! [barcode QCNE225593]; isotypes: GOET! [barcode GOET011446], LOJA! [barcode 213337], M! [barcode M-0274973], MO! [barcode MO-2161006], NY! [barcode 01287741], QCA! [barcode 144072]). (Figure 28). Comments:— Meriania franciscana belongs to the M. macrophylla complex (Wurdack 1978, Ulloa Ulloa & Homeier 2008, Bussmann & Paniagua 2012, Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2022), characterized by campanulate corollas, strongly dimorphic stamens and antepetalous stamens with inflated (bulbous) connectives. Meriania bicentenaria, M. franciscana, M. ninakurorum and M. peltata are the only species of this complex occurring in Peru. Within this group M. franciscana can be distinguished by its adaxial appendages (scutum) on the insertion of the petiole with the leaf blade (Fig. 28D), glabrous to densely puberulent abaxial leaf blades (Fig. 28B–C), lobed calyces, reddish-purple petals, antepetalous stamen connectives with blunt ascending dorsal appendages (Fig. 28E) and antesepalous stamen connectives with dorsal appendages as a mere hump (Fig. 28F). The specimen Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2034 collected in Amazonas shares the same morphological characteristics of leaves and inflorescences as the population recorded in Cajamarca. However, it has truncate calyces and antepetalous stamen connectives without dorsal appendages. This difference suggests that the Amazonas population probably corresponds to a different species. Therefore, more material needs to be collected and reviewed before a conclusion can be drawn. In his review of Meriania for Colombia, Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021) considered that all the species from the M. macrophylla complex (except M. ninakurorum, which was not treated by him) should be recognized as subspecies of a broadly defined M. macrophylla. However, M. franciscana differs from the Colombian taxa from that group, because it does not have bifid descending dorso-basal appendages. Although this feature may be variable within the same inflorescence in some species of the complex (Mendoza-Cifuentes 2021), none of the Colombian species of the M. macrophylla complex have antepetalous stamen connectives with ascending dorsal appendages, or antesepalous stamen connectives with dorsal appendages as a mere hump, as is the case in M. franciscana. For this reason, we do not consider M. franciscana to be a subspecies of M. macrophylla and recognized it as a separate species. Distribution and phenology:— Meriania franciscana occurs from southern Ecuador (Zamora-Chinchipe province) to northern Peru (Departments of Amazonas and Cajamarca in montane forests at 1750–2370 m) (Fig. 9). It has been collected in flower in March, November and December, and in fruit in August and November. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bongará, Dist. Yambrasbamba, inmediaciones de CP Miraflores, 1980 m, 05°42’13.19”S, 77°55’47.64”W, 10 Nov 2020 (fl., fr.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2034 (HOXA!, MOLF!, UPCB!). Cajamarca: Prov. San Ignacio, Dist. Huarango, CP Selva Andina, camino hacia la captación de agua, 2378 m, 05°03’50”S, 78°43’19”W, 25 Aug 2007 (fr.), J . Perea et al. 2775 (NY!), Dist. San José de Lourdes, CP Camana, 1750–1900 m, 05°01’S, 78°54’W, 04 Mar 1997 (fl.), J . Campos & S. Corrales 3393 (MOLF!, NY!, USM!), bottom of cerro Picorana, 2100 m, 04°59’25”S, 78°54’05”W, 01 Dec 1998 (fl.), C . Díaz & S. Fernández 10150 (HUT!, MOLF!, NY!, USM!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 33-35, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Wurdack, J. J. (1978) Suplemento a las Melastomataceas de Venezuela. Acta Botanica Venezuelica 13: 125 - 172.","Ulloa Ulloa, C. & Homeier, J. (2008) Meriania franciscana (Melastomataceae), una especie nueva de los Andes de Ecuador. Anales del Jardin Botanico de Madrid 65: 383 - 387. https: // doi. org / 10.3989 / ajbm. 2008. v 65. i 2.300","Bussmann, R. & Paniagua, N. Y. (2012) Axinaea ninakurorum (Melastomataceae) - a new species from the northern Peruvian Merianieae hotspot. Arnaldoa 19: 23 - 27.","Fernandez-Hilario, R., Rojas, R., Lajo, L., Pillaca-Huacre, L., Wong, A. A., Paredes-Burneo, D., Villanueva-Espinoza, R., Michelangeli, F. A. & Goldenberg, R. (2022) Nine new species and new country recorded for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia 52: 39 - 74. https: // doi. org / 10.3372 / wi. 52.52103","Mendoza-Cifuentes, H. (2021) Revision taxonomica del genero Meriania (Melastomataceae) en Colombia. Acta Botanica Mexicana 128 - e 1734: 1 - 137. https: // doi. org / 10.21829 / abm 128.2021.1734"]}

21. Meriania rigida (Benth.) Triana, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28(1): 66 (1871) [1872]. Chastenaea rigida (Benth.) Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., ser. 3, 18: 123 (1852). Basionym: Pachymeria rigida Benth., Pl. Hartw. [Bentham] 130 (1844). Type:— ECUADOR. Loja: in montibus prope Loja, 1842 (fl.), Hartweg 735 (lectotype, first step designated by Wurdack 1980, second step designated here: K! [barcode K000329439]; isolectotypes: BM! [barcode BM000939007], BR!-fragment [barcode 000005313341], F!-fragment [accession no. 1026704], G-probably destroyed [negative at F], K! [specimen from the right-hand side of sheet, barcode K000329440], LD! [barcode 1403377], S! [accession no. S05-3270]). Possible remaining syntype:— ECUADOR: Eastern Andes, 900 ft., (fl.), no collector 355 (K! [barcode K 000329438]). (Figures 48–49). Comments:— This species can be recognized by the combination of elliptic to oblong leaf blades, glabrous to sparsely puberulent abaxial leaf blades, with thick, callose dorsal projections (Fig. 48E), 5-merous flowers with isomorphic stamens, stamen connectives with triangular descending dorso-basal appendages, and dentiform to inconspicuous dorsal appendages (Fig. 48I–J). Due to the shape of the leaf blades and appendages of the stamen connectives, M. rigida can be confused with M. neillii. However, the latter can be differentiated by its 6-merous flowers and calyces without dorsal projections. Paredes-Burneo et al. (2018) first recorded the presence of M. rigida in Peru based on material collected in Huancabamba (Department of Piura). But there are other populations in Peru that can also be attributed to M. rigida and there is variability among them all. The populations in Piura (Michelangeli et al. 2635 and Paredes et al. 526) have elliptic to broadly elliptic leaf blades 7–15.5 × 2.6–5.2 cm and slightly lobed calyces, while the population in Amazonas (Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1931, 1934 and Revilla et al. 3210) has moderately puberulent leaves (Fig. 48F), oblong leaf blades 5.2–9 × 4.7–6.5 cm and calyces with conspicuous lobes. On the other hand, the specimens Tarazona et al. P8-49 and Tarazona et al. P1-23 (both in fl. bud) collected in the Amazonas-San Martín border have small leaf blades (3.2–5 × 1.4–2.5 cm) with revolute bases and smaller flowers (hypanthium plus calyx 6.5–7.5 mm long). The Peruvian populations that best match with the typical population of M. rigida in Loja (Ecuador) are in the Department of Cajamarca (Campos et al. 5892 and Díaz & Fernández 10217), these specimens have glabrous leaves, leaf blades 5.6–9.3 × 2.5–3.8 cm with revolute bases (Fig. 48B–D) and hypanthium plus calyx 10–11 mm long. Despite the variability in the populations, all the specimens have the same inflorescence structure; it is a terminal panicle with short basal paraclades, main axis with three nodes and flowers on branchlet ends arranged in regular dichasia. Additionally, within each specimen examined, the stamen connectives have dorsal appendages that can be dentiform, truncate or inconspicuous. For the moment, we include with reservations all the Peruvian populations mentioned under the name M. rigida. Nomenclatural notes:— According to Art. 9.10 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we have to consider that Wurdack (1980) made an inadvertent lectotypification (first-step) of M. rigida when he wrote “ Hartweg 735 (K, holotype) ” in his treatment of Melastomataceae for the Flora of Ecuador. However, there are two sheets of Hartweg 735 housed in K. Therefore, we designate the sheet K000329439 as the lectotype (second-step), conforming with Art. 9.17 (Turland et al. 2018). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania rigida occurs in Ecuador and northern Peru (Departments of Amazonas, Cajamarca, Piura and San Martín in montane forests at 1920–2800 m) (Fig. 35). It has been collected in flower in February, July, October, and December, and in fruit in September. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bagua, Dist. Copallín, camino a refugio Lechuza, Reserva Comunal Copallín, 1920 m, 05°39’25”S, 78°15’22”W, Jul 2022 (fl.), I . Revilla et al. 3210 (MOLF!). Prov. Bongará, Dist. Yambrasbamba, colina cruzando la carretera al lado opuesta de la Estación Biológica Abra Patricia, 2360 m, 05°41’57.08”S, 77°48’33.83”W, 21 Feb 2020 (fl.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1934 (HOXA!, KUELAP!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!), inmediaciones de la Estación Biológica Abra Patricia, trochas cercanas a la estación, 2280 m, 05°41’34.49”S, 77°48’34.94”W, 19–20 Feb 2020 (fl.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1931 (CUZ!, HOXA!, KUELAP!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!), without locality, 05°36’52.69”S, 77°46’16.10”W, 29 Mar 2016 (fl. bud), M . Tarazona et al. P8-49 (MOLF!). Cajamarca: Prov. San Ignacio, Dist. San José de Lourdes, base del cerro Picorana, 2050–2160 m, 04°59’25”S, 78°54’05”W, 04 Dec 1998 (fl.), C . Díaz & S. Fernández 10217 (HUT!, NY!, USM!), Picorana, 2250–2300 m, 04°58’00”S, 78°53’01”W, 02 Dec 1998 (fl. bud), J . Campos et al. 5892 (MOLF!, USM!). Piura: Prov. Huancabamba, Dist. El Carmen de la Frontera, Carretera Sapalache-Cerro Chingelas, 6.5 despues de Sapalache, catarata de Chorro Blanco, 2780 m, 05°08’09.7”S, 79°24’12.7”W, 03 Set 2016 (fr.), F. A . Michelangeli et al. 2635 (NY!, USM!), Cerro Chinguela, catarata Chorro Blanco, 2803 m, 05°07’48.72”S, 79°24’10.08”W, 25 Oct 2015 (fl.), D. Paredes et al. 526 (NY!, USM!), SOJO, Proyecto Minero Río Blanco, 2540 m, 04°53’58.88”S, 79°22’03.51”W, 20–21 Jun 2005 (ster.), A . Cano et al. 15729 (USM!). San Martín: Prov. Rioja, Dist. Pardo Miguel, without locality, 05°38’58.36”S, 79°44’26.81”W, 03 Apr 2016 (fl. bud), M . Tarazona et al. P1-23 (MOLF!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 57-60, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Wurdack, J. J. (1980) Melastomataceae. In: Harling, G. & Sparre, B. (Eds.) Flora of Ecuador. No. 13. Univ. Goteborg & Riksmuseum, Stockholm, pp. 1 - 406.","Paredes-Burneo, D., Michelangeli, F. & Cano, A. (2018) Twelve new records of Melastomataceae from northern Peru. Phytotaxa 349: 237 - 246. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 349.3.4","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. H., Li, D. Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashutten. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018"]}

24. Meriania sanguinea Wurdack, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 16: 4 (1967). Type:— ECUADOR. Azuay: The eastern cordillera, 1–8 km north of the village of Sevilla de Oro, 2400–2700 m, 12 Jul - 12 Aug 1945 (fl.), W. Camp E-4620 (holotype: US! [barcode 00120387]; isotypes: COL! [barcode COL000003291], GH! [barcode 00072677], NY! [barcode 00228976], U! [barcode U0004073]). (Figures 53–54). Comments;— Meriania sanguinea belongs to the M. radula complex (see comments under M. radula for diagnostic characteristics) along with M. almedae, M. hirsuta, M. radula and M. tetragona. Although specimens of this species are usually misidentified as M. radula or M. tetragona; M. sanguinea can be recognized from the other Peruvian species in the complex by its abaxial liguliform projections on the transition zone from the petiole to the midvein (Fig. 53E), while M. hirsuta has no projections, M. radula has small abaxial tuberculate projections and M. tetragona has abaxial tuberculate (rarely horn-shaped) projections. In addition, only M. sanguinea and M. tetragona have nodes with interpetiolar flaps (Fig. 54A) and both can be differentiated by their internodes (terete-quadrangular in M. sanguinea vs. quadrangular and winged in M. tetragona). Some Peruvian species of Axinaea (A. crassinoda, A. dependens and A. pendula) are usually confused with M. sanguinea for sharing large inflorescences and campanulate, red corollas. However, these species of Axinaea can be differentiated by their pendulous inflorescences and 4-merous flowers (vs. erect inflorescences and 5-merous flowers in M. sanguinea¸ Fig. 54C–D). In addition, no Peruvian species of Axinaea have abaxial projections on the transition zone from the petiole to the midvein (vs. liguliform projections in M. sanguinea) and usually have pseudo-lateral inflorescences (vs. terminal). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania sanguinea is distributed from Colombia to Peru, and occurs from the department of Piura to Pasco in montane forests and elfin forests at 1900–3300 m (Fig. 30). It has been collected in flower in almost every month except April, May, July, and September, and in fruit in January, February, March, May, and September. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Chachapoyas, Dist. Leymebamba, Cordillera Yasgolga, east of peak, close to Refugio “Laurel”, 2789 m, 06°41’44”S, 77°41’24”W, 18 Jun 2009 (fl.), R . Bussmann et al. 15624 (HUT!, MO!). Prov. Bongará, Dist. Florida, desde toma de agua en San Lorenzo hacia CP Vista Alegre, 2480 m, 05°48’42.83”S, 78°01’36.70”W, 17–18 Feb 2020 (fl., fr.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1896 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!); Dist. Yambrasbamba, Colina cruzando la carretera al lado opuesto de la Estación Biológica Abra Patricia, 2360 m, 05°41’57.08”S, 77°48’33.83”W, 21 Feb 2020 (fl.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1933 (MOLF!, UPCB!). Cajamarca: Prov. Jaén, alrededores laguna Corazón de San Miguel, Tabaconas, 3300 m, 02 Dec 2011 (fl.), L . García & Y. Tenorio 8361 (HUT!). Prov. San Ignacio, Cerro Coyona, SN Tabaconas Namballe, 2700–2857 m, 05°16’31”S, 79°16’06”W, 21 Nov 1998 (fl.), J . Campos et al. 5816 (NY!). Huánuco: Prov. Huánuco, Dist. Chinchao, Caserio San Pedro de Carpish. Alrededor del túnel de Carpish, 3011 m, 09°43’09”S, 76°05’43”W, 04 Feb 2002 (fl.), H . Beltrán & I. Salinas 5052 (USM!), San Pedro de Carpish, 2770–2820 m, 09°43’14”S, 76°06’53”W, 01 May 2005 (fr.), I . Salinas 1003 (USM!), San Pablo de Carpish y alrededores del túnel, 2660 m, 09°42’05.58”S, 76°04’56.28”W, 17– 18 Jan 2020 (fl., fr.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1847 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!). Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Huancabamba, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Sector San Daniel, entre la laguna San Daniel y pajonal al oeste de la laguna, 2375 m, 10°26’03.27”S, 75°27’26”W, 18 Feb 2018 (ster.), F. A . Michelangeli & S. Riva 2952 (HOXA!, NY!, USM!), Dist. Oxapampa, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Estación Biológica San Alberto, Abra Esperanza, 2903 m, 10°31’43”S, 75°21’17”W, 17 Feb 2012 (fl., fr.), R . Vásquez & L. Valenzuela 37768 (HOXA!), Abra Esperanza, camino a la laguna, 2828 m, 10°32’52”S, 75°21’04”W, 10 Dec 2010 (fl.), E . Briceño & R. Rivera 494 (NY!), Sector San Alberto. Camino hacia el ojo de agua, a 30 min del refugio, 2877 m, 10°31’45”S, 75°21’08”W, 13 Oct 2006 (fl.), L . Cárdenas & R. Francis 855 (CUZ!, HOXA!, MO!, USM!), Sector San Alberto, en el Abra Esperanza y alrededores, 2780 m, 10°31’55”S, 75°20’59”W, 02 Oct 2007 (fl.), L . Hernani & A. Peña 355 (HOXA!, NY!, USM!), Sector San Alberto, sendero entre Abra Esperanza y bosque esclerófilo, 2825 m, 10°31’51.3”S, 75°21’04.4”W, 21 Mar 2016 (fr.), F. A . Michelangeli et al. 2743 (NY!, USM!). Piura: Prov. Huancabamba, Dist. El Carmen de la Frontera, Carretera Sapalache-Cerro Chingelas, 9.5 km despues de Sapalache, 3055 m, 05°08’23.6”S, 79°23’45.4”W, 03 Sep 2016 (fr.), F. A . Michelangeli et al. 2618 (NY!, USM!); Dist. Rosario Alto, Cordillera de los Andes, 2125 m, 04°55.9’S, 79°18.7’W, 02 Aug 2004 (fl.), J . Campos et al. 10243 (USM!). San Martín: Prov. Rioja, along road Rioja-Pedro Ruiz, El Mirador, 1900 m, 26 Mar 1998 (fl. bud), H . van der Werff et al. 15745 (MO!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 65-67, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984

18. Meriania penningtonii Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., Nordic J. Bot. 39(3)-e02669: 2 (2021). Type:— PERU. San Martin [Amazonas]: Rioja to Pedro Ruíz, border with Amazonas [near to CP Buenos Aires], 1800 m, 05°45’S, 77°40’W, 04 Dec 2003 (fl.), T.D. Pennington, R.T. Pennington & A. Daza 17639 (holotype: MOLF! [barcode 000003]; isotypes: E! [barcode E00177820], K! [barcode K000544378], MOLF! [barcodes 000004, 000005]). (Figures 42–43). Comments:— Meriania penningtonii is clearly distinguished by its quadrate and 4-winged internodes (the wings projections up to 3.5 mm high) (Fig. 43B), the nodes without interpetiolar flaps, callose dorsal projections on the calyces, spreading, reddish-purple corollas, and stamen connectives with dorsal appendages as mere humps (Fig. 42E). Other species such as M. tetragona (Ecuador and Peru) and M. nobilis Triana (Colombia) have quadrangular-winged internodes, but none of these species have evident winged projections like M. penningtonii. Additionally, the dorsal projections on the calyx are whitish and much lighter than the rest of the calyx and hypanthium when dry (Fig. 42G), which makes M. penningtonii easily recognisable. Meriania callosa, M. fantastica Alvear, Humberto Mend. & Almeda, M. rigida and M. sessilifolia have spreading corollas and calyces with callose dorsal projections, but in these species the projections are never whitish when dry. A detailed comparison of M. penningtonii with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2021). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania penningtonii is endemic to northern Peru (Department of Amazonas) and occurs in montane forests at 1800–2180 m (Fig. 44). It has been collected in flower in July and December. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bongará, Dist. Yambrasbamba, bosque “El Toro” de la Comunidad Campesina de Yambrasbamba, 2088 m, 05°39’16.9”S, 77°54’36.9”W, 23 Jul 2015 (fl. bud), S . Almeyda & C. Castillo 18 (MOLF!, UPCB!), Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva Private Conservation Area, Abra Patricia, from the highway to the mountain top, 2180 m, 05°40’03.67”S, 77°46’14.56”W, 20 Jul 2014 (fl.), Y .F. Deng et al. 1660 (USM!), inmediaciones del CP Miraflores, 1960 m, 05°42’16.44”S, 77°55’54.18”W, 10 Nov 2020 (fl. bud), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2030 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!), ruta desde CP Santa Rosa hacia bosque El Toro, 2000 m, 05°40’15.03”S, 77°55’26.60”W, 11 Nov 2020 (fl.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2058 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!), ruta desde CP La Florida hacia finca de Don Ilario, 2100 m, 05°40’21.68”S, 77°57’16.02”W, 12 Nov 2020 (fl.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2072 (HOXA!, MOLF!, UPCB!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on page 50, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Fernandez-Hilario, R., Goldenberg, R. & Michelangeli, F. A. (2021) Two new species and two new country records for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from northern Peru. Nordic Journal of Botany e 02969: 1 - 16. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / njb. 02969"]}

29. Meriania tetraquetra Triana, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28(1): 66 (1871) [1872]. Type:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Chachapoyas, without locality, no date (fl.), M. Mathews s.n. (holotype: K! [barcode K000329445]; isotypes: BR! [barcode 000005201983], F!-fragment [accession no. 1026686], G-probably destroyed [negative at F]). (Figures 61–62). Comments:— In the protologue of this species, J. J. Triana described it as glabrous (“ glaberrimus ”) but it is sparsely to densely puberulent (Fig. 61C). Meriania tetraquetra is characterized by its quadrangular internodes, nodes without interpetiolar flaps, ovate to oblong and slightly bullate leaf blades (9.3–)13–35 × (4.7–) 9.1–19.7 cm, venation with two pairs of secondary veins and an additional pair of faint submarginal veins (Fig. 61D), calyces with small conic dorsal projections (Fig. 61E–F), spreading, reddish-purple corollas, isomorphic stamens, and stamen connectives with one triangular descending dorso-basal appendages (Fig. 61H). The most closely related Peruvian species is M. rugosa, but it is distinguished by its elliptic leaf blades 10.3–25.4 × 4.2–10.6 cm and venation with one pair of secondary veins. Macbride (1941), in his treatment of Meriania for Peru, placed Weberbauer 7048 (which we have published as M. megaphylla) under M. tetraquetra. However, this specimen has quadrangular and winged internodes, and nodes with interpetiolar flaps. Probably because of this misidentification he considered M. tetraquetra related to M. radula (“ nearly the same as M. radula and perhaps not specifically separable ”). Nevertheless, M. tetraquetra and M. megaphylla are not related to the M. radula complex, because of their flowers with spreading, reddish-purple corollas (vs. campanulate, deep red) and stamen connectives with descending dorso-basal appendages (vs. perpendicular to the thecae). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania tetraquetra is endemic to northern Peru (Departments of Amazonas and San Martín) and grows in montane forests at 2240–3000 m (Fig. 44). It has been collected in flower in May, August and September, and in fruit in September. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Chachapoyas, Dist. Leymebamba, alrededores de la Fila de la Culebra, 2246 m, 06°43’03.18”S, 77°37’26.76”W, 05 Sep 2004 (fl.), V . Quipuscoa et al. 3268 (HUT!). Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Vista Alegre, Área de Conservación Regional Vista Alegre, camino hacia Cedrushco, a una hora del campamento Quebrada Salas, 2403 m, 06°06’24.01”S, 77°25’04.36”W, 17 Aug 2012 (fl.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 251 (MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!), a media hora del campamento Cedrushco, quebrada Salas, 2361 m, 06°06’23.66”S, 77°24’41.22”W, 21 Aug 2012 (fl.), J. L . Marcelo-Peña et al. 7103 (MOLF!). Cajamarca: Prov. Celendín, Dist. Pallán, La Succha, 2878 m, 06°37’58.23”S, 78°22’02.90”W, 02 Jun 2017 (ster.), L . Dávila 3309 (UNC!). Prov. Chota, Dist. Chadín, La Unión – Bosque la Playa y alrededores, 2688–2720 m, 06°26’07.11”S, 78°23’38.79”W, 22 Jul 2010 (ster.), L . Dávila et al. 1309 (UNC!); Dist. Paccha, CP Quidén y Rejopampa, 2500 m, 06°30’20.28”S, 78°24’09.31”W, 19 May 2012 (fl.), L . Dávila 2368 (UNC!). Prov. Cutervo, Dist. Cutervo, CP San Cristóbal del Nudillo, sector el Mirador y propiedad de Darwin Horna, 2690 m, 06°18’33.68”S, 78°51’40.71”W, 01–03 Nov 2012 (ster.), L . Dávila 2502 (UNC!). San Martín: Prov. Mariscal Cáceres, PN Río Abiseo, across river from La Playa camp, 2600 m, 01 Sep 1985 (fr.), K . Young 1531 (MOLF!). Prov. Huallaga, Dist. Bolivar, Surrounding “Pampa Hermosa” around old Chacha and Inca settlement, 3000 m, 07°02’07”S, 77°40’29”W, 24 May 2011 (fl.), R . Bussmann et al. 17071 (F!, HAO!, MO!, NY!, US!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on page 76, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Macbride, J. F. (1941) Melastomataceae, Flora of Peru. Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series 13: 249 - 521. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 2350"]}

25. Meriania sessilifolia (Cogn.) Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., comb. nov. Basionym: Centronia sessilifolia Cogn., in A.DC. & C.DC., Monogr. Phan. 7: 459 (1891). Type:— PERU. Piura: Huancabamba, 02 Dec 1881 (ster.), Poortmann 223 (lectotype, designated here: P! [barcode P00228659]; isolectotypes: BR!-fragment [barcode 000005628971], F!-fragment [accession no. 935561], P! [barcode P00228660]). Remaining syntype:— PERU. Piura: Huancabamba, 19 Jan 1883 (fl.), Poortmann 484 (P! [barcode P 00228661]). (Figures 55–56). Comments:— Centronia was traditionally characterized by the presence of large flowers, calyptrate calyces with circumscissile dehiscence, and stamen connectives with dorsal appendages (Wurdack 1973). However, the first and third character are notoriously absent in the type of the genus (C. laurifolia D.Don). For this reason and other inconsistent characters within Centronia many species have recently been transferred to Meriania (Almeda 1993, Mendoza-Cifuentes & Fernández-Alonso 2012). Also, phylogenetic analyses of the tribe Merianieae have shown that C. laurifolia is placed within Graffenrieda (Dellinger et al. 2018, Caetano et al. 2020, Michelangeli et al. 2022; see additional comments in the introduction). On the other hand, Centronia sessilifolia has large flowers, calyptrate calyces with irregular dehiscence and spreading, reddish-purple corollas. These characteristics are present in other Meriania species and, therefore, we transfer C. sessilifolia to Meriania here as previously suggested by Mendoza-Cifuentes & Fernández-Alonso (2012). Available specimens of M. sessilifolia (Department of Piura) consist of the original material, three sterile sheets (Poortmann 223) with leaf blades 5.3–6.8 × 1.8–2.3 cm, and another one (Poortmann 484) with only one flower without stamens, and recent collections from Cajamarca. The specimens from the Department of Cajamarca have notably larger leaf blades 11.8–20.8 × 4.8–7.5 cm. However, all specimens share sessile leaves, leaf blades with auriculate bases and suprabasal venation (Fig. 55B), and calyptrate calyces (Fig. 55D). Although the Cajamarca population may correspond to an undescribed species, for the moment we consider it with reservations as M. sessilifolia. The only other Peruvian species with sessile leaves is M. amischophylla, but it is easily differentiated from M. sessilifolia by its lobed calyces with claw-shaped dorsal projections (vs. calyptrate calyces with callose dorsal projections, Fig. 56B). Meriania maguirei Wurdack (endemic to Ecuador) is probably the species most closely related to M. sessilifolia by sharing calyptrate calyxes with irregular dehiscence and spreading, reddish purple corollas. However, M. maguirei can be easily differentiated by petiolate leaves (vs. sessile in M. sessilifolia), leaf blades with acute bases (vs. auriculate), and glabrescent to glabrous hypanthia and calyces (vs. furfuraceous). Nomenclatural notes:— Cogniaux (1891) cited as type “ Poortmann in hb. Drake ” in the protologue of Centronia sessilifolia. At Paris (P), three sheets, P00228659, P00228660 (both from Poortmann 223) and P00228661 (Poortmann 484) have labels indicating that they belonged to E. Drake´s herbarium, so these specimens must be considered as syntypes conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). Therefore, according to Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we chose Poortmann 223 for lectotypification, because it allows to observe the sessile leaves with auriculate bases that characterize M. sessilifolia. Distribution and phenology:— Meriania sessilifolia is endemic to northern Peru (Departments of Piura and Cajamarca) and grows in montane forests at 2250–2690 m (Fig. 35). It has been collected in flower in January and October, and in fruit in October and November. Specimens examined:— PERU. Cajamarca: Prov. Cutervo, Dist. Cutervo, CP San Cristobal del Nudillo, sector el Mirador y propiedad de Darwin Horna, 2690 m, 06°18’33.68”S, 78°51’40.71”W, 01–03 Oct 2012 (ster.), L. Dávila 2479 (UNC!); Dist. San Andrés, Las Grutas, 2350 m, 13 Oct 1987 (fl., fr.), J. G. Sánchez 302 (CPUN!, F!, US!); Dist. Santo Tomás, ceca al lugar Playa Grande, 2300 m, 14 Oct 1987 (fl.), I. Sánchez-Vega 4531 (CPUN!, F!, US!), PN Cutervo, rumbo hacia Playa Grande, 2250 m, 06°11’25.35”S, 78°44’40.74”W, 27 Nov 2020 (fr.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2097 (CUZ!, HOXA!, KUELAP!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!), same locality, 14 Nov 2022 (fl. bud, fr.), R. Fernandez-Hilario 2424 (MOLF!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 67-70, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Wurdack, J. J. (1973) Melastomataceae (Memecyleae by Morley, T.). In: Lasser, T. (Ed.) Flora de Venezuela. No. 8. Instituto Botanico, Ministerio de Agricultura y Cria, Caracas, pp. 819.","Almeda, F. (1993) An evaluation of the Mesoamerican species of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 48: 141 - 152.","Mendoza-Cifuentes, H. & Fernandez-Alonso, J. L. (2012) Novedades en Centronia y Meriania (Merianieae, Melastomataceae) y revision taxonomica de Meriania grupo brachycera. Anales del Jardin Botanico de Madrid 69: 259 - 293. https: // doi. org / 10.3989 / ajbm. 2317","Dellinger, A. S., Chartier, M., Fernandez-Fernandez, D., Penneys, D. S., Alvear, M., Almeda, F., Michelangeli, F. A., Staedler, Y., Armbruster, W. S. & Schonenberger, J. (2018) Beyond buzz-pollination - departures from an adaptive plateau lead to new pollination syndromes. New Phytologist 221 (2): 1136 - 1149. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / nph. 15468","Caetano, A. P., Reginato, M., Goldenberg, R., Cortez, P., Basso-Alves, J. P., Michelangeli, F. A., Carmello-Guerreiro, S. M. & Teixeira, S. (2020) Structure and evolution of polysporangiate anthers in Melastomataceae. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 46: 125556. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. ppees. 2020.125556","Michelangeli, F. A., Dellinger, A. S., Goldenberg, R., Almeda, F., Mendoza-Cifuentes, H., Fernandez-Fernandez, D., Ulloa Ulloa, C. & Penneys, D. S. (2022) Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of the Tribe Merianieae. In: Goldenberg, R., Michelangeli, F. A., Almeda, F. (Eds.) Systematics, Evolution, and Ecology of Melastomataceae. Springer, Cham, pp. 255 - 273. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / 978 - 3 - 030 - 99742 - 7 _ 11","Cogniaux, C. A. (1891) Melastomaceae. In: De Candolle, A. L. P. P. & De Candolle, A. C. P. (Eds.) Monographiae Phanerogamarum 7. G. Masson, Paris, pp. 1 - 1256.","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. H., Li, D. Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashutten. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018"]}

36. Meriania zunacensis D.Fernández & Dellinger, Phytotaxa 458(1): 7 (2020). Type:— ECUADOR. Tungurahua: Cantón Baños, Parroquia Río Negro, Sector El Topo, Estación Cientifica Río Zuñac, Fundación EcoMinga, 1568 m, 01°22.593’S, 78°09.213’W, 26 May 2018 (fl., fr.), L. Jost, F. Recalde & S. Recalde 10600 (holotype: QCNE! [barcodes 243978 – 1/2, 243977 – 2/2]; isotype: QCNE! [barcode 243976]). (Figures 72–73). Comments:— Among Peruvian species of Meriania, it is distinguishable by combination of quadrangular and ribbed internodes, nodes with interpetiolar flaps (Fig. 72D), an adaxial projection (scutum) on the transition zone from the petiole to the midvein (Fig. 73A), leaf blades with flat adaxial surfaces, spreading, reddish-purple corollas, isomorphic stamens, and pyriform mature ovaries (Fig. 73D). Among Peruvian species, M. zunacensis most closely resembles M. callosa and M. megaphylla (see comments under these species for differences).A detailed comparison of M. zunacensis with other related species can be found in Fernández-Fernández et al. (2020) and Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2022). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania zunacensis occurs in Ecuador and northern Peru (Department of Amazonas in montane forests at 1500–2280 m) (Fig. 35). It has been collected in flower in February, June and July, and in fruit in February and July. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov.Amazonas, Dist. Vista Alegre, entre Vista Alegre y La Ventana a Naciento del Río Negro, 1500–1640 m, 06°08’S, 77°18’W, 02 Jul 1998 (fl., fr.), I. Sánchez et al. 9610 (CPUN!, F!); Prov. Bagua, La Peca, 1850–1900 m, 14 Jun 1978 (fl. bud), A. Gentry et al. 23012 (USM!, US!); Prov. Bongará, Dist. Yambrasbamba, inmediaciones de la Estación Biológica Abra Patricia, trochas cercanas a la estación, 2280 m, 05°41’43.40”S, 77°48’47.91”W, 19–20 Feb 2020 (fl., fr.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1920 (HOXA!, KUELAP!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!), trocha Lechuza en la Estación Biológica Abra Patricia, 2123 m, 05°41’18.89”S, 77°48’23.68”W, 21 Feb 2020 (fl.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1938 (HOXA!, MOLF!, UPCB!).

23. Meriania rugosa Markgr., Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 13(119): 460 (1937). Type:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, valle de Huayabamba, Mar 1869 (fl.), A. Raimondi 1866 (lectoype, designated here: USM! [accession no. 1670a]. Remaining syntype:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, entre Cochamal y Sta. Rosa, valle de Huayabamba, Apr 1869 (ster.), A. Raimondi 1796 (USM! [accession no. 1670b]). (Figures 51– 52). Comments:— We have placed a group of specimens collected in the south of the department of Amazonas under M. rugosa s.l. All specimens of M. rugosa share elliptic leaf blades, suprabasal venation, one pair of secondary nerves (Fig. 51B), 5-merous flowers with spreading, reddish purple corollas, and isomorphic stamens. However, there is a high amount of variability across localities, sometimes in very close populations; Boeke 2052 and Bussmann et al 16614 are located across the Lajasbamba mountain range (Chachapoyas province), and have densely puberulent stems, bullate leaf blades and stamen connectives with dentiform dorsal appendages. The type of M. rugosa (Rodríguez de Mendoza province) and van der Werff et al. 17006 (Chachapoyas province) show slightly bullate leaf blades, calyces with blunt dorsal projections 2–3 mm long (Fig. 51F and H), anthers 9–9.5 mm long, and stamen connectives without dorsal appendages (Fig. 51G). The northern specimens Michelangeli et al. 1704 and van der Werff et al. 24958 (Bongará province) have flat leaf blades, calyces with obsolete dorsal projections (Fig. 51E), anthers 9.5–10 mm long, and stamen connectives with dentiform dorsal appendages (Fig. 51D). Although there are clearly distinguishable forms that could be recognized as distinct entities (species or subspecies), in the central distribution of M. rugosa s.l. there are specimens that could be considered intermediate forms. For example, Michelangeli et al. 1725 (Chachapoyas Province) has flat leaf blades, calyces with small conic dorsal projections ca. 0.5 mm (Fig. 51J), stamen connectives with dorsal appendages as a mere hump to dentiform (Fig. 51I), and connectives prolonged below the thecae ca. 0.5 mm. Also, Pennington et al. 17862 (Rodríguez de Mendoza Province) has puberulent stems and abaxial leaf blades, calyces with blunt dorsal projections ca. 2 mm long, anthers 5–6 mm, and stamen connectives without dorsal projections. For this reason, we place all forms mentioned here under our concept of M. rugosa s.l. Based on all of this, perhaps the best option is to consider M. rugosa as a highly variable species, but united by elliptic leaf blades, suprabasal venation, one pair of secondary nerves, 5-merous flowers with spreading, reddish purple corollas, and isomorphic stamens. The Peruvian species likely closely related to M. rugosa s.l. are M. penningtonii and M. tetraquetra (see comments under this species for difference). Meriania penningtonii is clearly differentiated by its ovate leaf blades (vs. elliptic in M. rugosa), basal venation (vs. suprabasal), quadrangular and 4-winged internodes (vs. quadrangular) and callose dorsal projections on the calyx (vs. absent, small conic or blunt). Nomenclatural notes:— Markgraf (1937) cited in the protologue of M. rugosa, two specimens, Raimondi 1796 and 1866 as types, both of which we have located in the A. Raimondi collection housed at USM. The A. Raimondi collection housed in USM corresponds to the specimens that were sent on loan to Berlin in 1926 (Anonymous 1939, 1942), so they may have been seen by F. Markgraf. These specimens must be considered as syntypes conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). According to Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we chose as lectotype the only sheet with flowers (Raimondi 1866). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania rugosa is endemic to northern Peru (Department of Amazonas) and occurs in montane forests at 1880–3300 m (Fig. 44). It has been collected in flower in February, March, April, May, July, August, and November, and in fruit in June and July. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Partly along main road Jumbilla-Pedro Ruiz, partly along road to Tialango, 2080 m, 05°52’31”S, 76°46’36”W, 03 Nov 2012 (fl.), H . van der Werff et al. 24958 (HOXA!, NY!); Road E of Chachapoyas between Pipos and Molinopampa, 1980–2340 m, 06°15’S, 77°40’W, 14 Feb 1985 (fl.), J . Luteyn & E. Cotton 11402 (NY!, USM!); Izuchaca, 1880 m, 06°19’40”S, 77°31’05”W, 11 Apr 2001 (fl. bud), H . van der Werff et al. 16943 (NY!). Prov. Bongará, 0.5–2 km al sur de Nuevo Gualulo, 2400– 2108 m, 05°51’11.6”S, 77°54’19.5”W, 11 Mar 2012 (fl.), F. A . Michelangeli et al. 1704 (NY!, USM!); Dist. Florida, trocha rumbo a CP Perlamayo, 05°47’10”S, 77°54’49”W, 30 Aug 2022 (fl.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2275 (MOLF!). Prov. Chachapoyas, moist scrub forest on south side of Molinopampa-Diosan pass, 2700–3100 m, 08 Aug 1962 (fl.), J . Wurdack 1617 (F!, NY!, US!, USM!); remnants of forest a few km past Molinopampa, 2450 m, 06°12’S, 77°40’W, 13 Apr 2001 (fl.), H . van der Werff et al. 17006 (MOLF!, NY!, USM!); scrub forest along Río Ventilla 1–2 km, west of Molinopampa, 2350–2400 m, 23–25 Jul 1962 (fr.), J . Wurdack 1483 (F!, NY!, US!, USM!); Dist. Leymebamba, camino rumbo hacia la ACP Los Chilchos, 3300 m, 06°47’25”S, 77°45’40”W, 26–29 Jun 2022 (fl. bud), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2350 (MOLF!), Leimebamba-Lajasbamba trail, 28 Jun 1977 (fr), J . Boeke 2052 (NY!, US!, USM!), trail from Atalaya to Leymebambaa, 2800 m, 06°44’39”S, 77°47’18”W, 04 Jul 2010 (fl.), R . Bussmann et al. 16614 (NY!); Dist. Molinopampa, 2–3 km al oeste del pueblo, 38 km de Chachapoyas, a lo largo del Río Ventilla, 2400 m, 06°12’36.8”S, 77°40’49”W, 12 Mar 2012 (fl.), F. A . Michelangeli et al. 1725 (NY!, USM!). Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. San Nicolás, carretera R. de Mendoza Rioja, Laguna Huamanpata, 2000 m, 06–09 May 2005 (fl.), T . Pennington et al. 17862 (MOLF!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 62-64, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Markgraf, F. (1937) Neue andine Melastomataceae II. Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem 13: 459 - 464. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 3994830","Anonymous (1939) El Herbario Raimondi. Boletin del Museo de Historia Natural Javier Prado 3 (10): 27 - 46.","Anonymous (1942) El Herbario Raimondi. Boletin del Museo de Historia Natural Javier Prado 6 (21): 154 - 171.","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. H., Li, D. Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashutten. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018"]}

12. Meriania juanjil Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb.& Michelang., Willdenowia 52(1): 58 (2022). Type:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bongará, Montane rainforest along Yambrasbamba-Pomacocha trail between Yambrasbamba and Yanayacu, 2200–2300 m, 26 Jun 1962 (fl.), J. Wurdack 1054 (holotype: USM! [accession no. 27403]; isotypes: F! [accession no. 1601214], NY! [barcode 02499960], P! [barcode 05225706], US! [barcode 02925052]). (Figure 31). Comments:— Meriania juanjil differs from the other Peruvian species of Meriania by the combination of elliptic leaf blades (10.8–12.7 × 2.7–3 cm) with moderate puberulent indumentum on the abaxial surface (Fig. 31B–C), subcalyptrate calyx with small conic dorsal projections (ca. 0.5 mm long) (Fig. 31D) and irregular dehiscence (Fig. 31G), campanulate, pink-orange corollas, isomorphic stamens and stamen connectives prolonged below the thecae. Among Peruvian species, M. juanjil most closely resembles M. acida but differs by the width of leaf blades (2.7–3 cm vs. 5–8 cm), calyx shape (subcalyptrate vs. calyptrate), and dorsal projections on the calyces (small conic, ca. 0.5 mm long vs. absent). A detailed comparison of M. juanjil with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2022). Distribution and phenology:— Known only from the type specimen, Meriania juanjil is endemic to northern Peru (Department of Amazonas) and grows in montane forests at 2200–2300 m (Fig. 9). It has been collected in flower in June., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 37-38, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Fernandez-Hilario, R., Rojas, R., Lajo, L., Pillaca-Huacre, L., Wong, A. A., Paredes-Burneo, D., Villanueva-Espinoza, R., Michelangeli, F. A. & Goldenberg, R. (2022) Nine new species and new country recorded for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia 52: 39 - 74. https: // doi. org / 10.3372 / wi. 52.52103"]}

33. Meriania vasquezii Rob.Fern., R.Villanueva & Michelang., Willdenowia 52(1): 66 (2022). Type:— PERU. Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Chontabamba, Ulcumano Lodge, 2244 m, 10°38’08”S, 75°25’39”W, 23 Feb 2021 (fl.), R. Vásquez, L. Valenzuela, E. Pinche & C. Rojas 45480 (holotype: HOXA! [accession no. 077441]; isotypes: MO!, MOLF! [barcode 000009], UPCB! [accession no. 99426]). (Figures 67–68). Comments:— Meriania vasquezii differs from other Peruvian species of Meriania by the combination of leaf blades with dense tomentose indumentum on the abaxial surfaces, evenly covering the entire surfaces (Fig. 67B–C), inflorescences with flowers in regular dichasia in the branchlet ends, subcalyptrate calyces with small claw-shaped dorsal projections (3 mm long) and irregular dehiscence (Fig. 67D and G), campanulate, fuchsia corollas, dimorphic stamens, and antesepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded descending dorso-basal appendages (Fig. 67E). Meriania juanjil is the only Peruvian species shares subcalyptrate calyces with M. vasquezii but differs by the leaf blades size (10.8–12.7 × 2.7–3 cm vs. 16.5–23.5 × 9.3–10.7 cm), arrangement of flowers in branchlet ends (5–7- flowered umbels vs. regular dichasia), and length and color of the petals (11–13.5 mm long and pink-orange vs. 25–31 mm long and fuchsia). A detailed comparison of M. vasquezii with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2022). Distribution and phenology:— Known only from two specimens, Meriania vasquezii is endemic to central Peru (Department of Pasco) and grows in montane forests at 2200–2244 m (Fig. 11). It has been collected in flower in February and March. Specimen examined:— PERU. Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Chontabamba, margen de la carretera a Ulcumano Ecolodge, 2200 m, 09 Mar 2022 (fl.), B . García 210 (MOLF!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on page 86, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Fernandez-Hilario, R., Rojas, R., Lajo, L., Pillaca-Huacre, L., Wong, A. A., Paredes-Burneo, D., Villanueva-Espinoza, R., Michelangeli, F. A. & Goldenberg, R. (2022) Nine new species and new country recorded for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia 52: 39 - 74. https: // doi. org / 10.3372 / wi. 52.52103"]}

8. Meriania drakei (Cogn.) Wurdack, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 16: 3 (1967). Basionym: Axinaea drakei Cogn. in A.DC. & C.DC., Monogr. Phan. 7: 447 (1891). Type: ECUADOR: Quebrada near Loja, 09 Nov 1881 (fl.), Poortman 149 (lectotype, first step designated by Wurdack 1980, second step designated by Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2021: P! [barcode P00228665]; isolectotypes: BR!-fragment [barcode BR0000005628759], F!-fragment [accession no. 935562], P! [barcode P0228664]). (Figures 24–25). Comments:— Meriania drakei can be easily recognized by its externally puberulent petals (Fig. 24F), and it is also the only Peruvian species with a swollen adaxial projection on the apex of the petiole (Fig. 24D). Although Mendoza-Cifuentes (2021) mentions that this character is not constant in the Colombian populations, it is constant in the petioles of the Peruvian specimens examined. Other species such as M. bicentenaria, M. franciscana, M. megaphylla and M. zunacensis have an adaxial projection (scutum) on the insertion of the petiole with the leaf blade, but in M. bicentenaria and M. franciscana sometimes those can be obscured by trichomes. However, M. drakei is easily distinguishable from all of them by the indumentum on the petals (externally puberulent vs. glabrous). A detailed comparison of M. drakei with related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2021). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania drakei occurs from southern Colombia to northern Peru (Department of Amazonas in montane forests at 2010–2280 m) (Fig. 9). It has been collected in flower in November and December, and in fruit in February. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bagua, Dist. Imaza, Reserva Comunal Chayu Nain, rumbo hacia el campamento Yumi Awai, 2010 m, 05°26’54”S, 78°18’50”W, 08–10 Nov 2022 (fl.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2386 (MOLF!). Prov. Utcubamba, Dist. Cajaruro, Buffer Zone of the Cordillera del Colán National Sanctuary, 2280 m, 05°38’32.22”S, 78°15’13.32”W, 19-22 Dec 2019 (fl.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1775 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!, USM!). Prov. Bongará, Dist. Yambrasbamba, Lechuza pathway of the Abra Patricia Biological Station, 2120 m, 05°41’18.89”S, 77°48’23.68”W, 21 Feb 2020 (fr.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 1937 (HOXA!, MOLF!, UPCB!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 31-33, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Wurdack, J. J. (1980) Melastomataceae. In: Harling, G. & Sparre, B. (Eds.) Flora of Ecuador. No. 13. Univ. Goteborg & Riksmuseum, Stockholm, pp. 1 - 406.","Fernandez-Hilario, R., Goldenberg, R. & Michelangeli, F. A. (2021) Two new species and two new country records for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from northern Peru. Nordic Journal of Botany e 02969: 1 - 16. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / njb. 02969","Mendoza-Cifuentes, H. (2021) Revision taxonomica del genero Meriania (Melastomataceae) en Colombia. Acta Botanica Mexicana 128 - e 1734: 1 - 137. https: // doi. org / 10.21829 / abm 128.2021.1734"]}

35. Meriania weberbaueri J.F.Macbr., Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 4(7): 176 (1929). Type:— PERU. Junín: Prov. Jauja, Valley of the Rio Masamerich, tributary of the Rio Pangao, abajo del tambo Calabaza, 1700–1800 m, 07 May 1913 (fl.), A. Weberbauer 6659 (holotype: F! [accession no. 548841]; isotypes: CAS! [barcode 0003308], GH! [barcode 00443873], MICH! [barcode 1111855], MOL! [accession nos. 00441, 00442, 00443, 00444], NY! [barcode 00228985], S! [accession nos. S05-3272, S09-12904], US! [barcodes 00120394, 00946246, 02925664]). (Figures 70–71). Comments:— Meriania weberbauerii is related to M. amischophylla and M. sumatika by sharing densely tomentose to villose hypanthia and calyces, calyces with claw-shaped dorsal projections (Fig. 71C), spreading, fuchsia to reddish-purple corollas, and antesepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded descending dorso-basal appendages (Fig. 70F). However, M. weberbaueri differs from M. amischophylla by its 1.3–5.1 cm long petiolate leaves (Fig. 70B) (vs. subsessile) and antesepalous stamen connectives without dorsal appendages (vs. a mere hump), and M. weberbaueri differs from M. sumatika by its terete hypanthia (vs. 10-costate) and petals 20–25 mm long (vs. 46–55 mm long). Meriania weberbauerii inhabits montane forests on the central Peruvian Andes (Huánuco, Pasco and Junín). In this region there are two other species (M. tomentosa and M. vasquezii) that can be confused with M. weberbarueri. In sterile or fruiting specimens, it is almost impossible to differentiate these three species. Meriania tomentosa and M. vasquezii have calyptrate and subcalyptrate calyces, respectively, and both with irregular dehiscence, while M. weberbaueri has lobed calyces with regular dehiscence. However, in all three species the fruits have deciduous calyces. On the other hand, M. weberbaueri has inflorescences with flowers in (3–)4–6(–7)-flowered umbels in the branchlet ends ( vs. in regular dichasia in M. tomentosa and M. vasquezii) and spreading corollas (vs. campanulate in M. tomentosa and M. vasquezii). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania weberbaueri is endemic to central Peru (Department of Huánuco, Junín and Pasco) and grows in montane forests at (910–) 1700–2780 m (Fig. 11). It has been collected in flower almost all year round except in January, April, July and November, and in fruit in March, April, July, August and September. Specimens examined:— PERU. Huánuco: Carpish, entre Acomayo y Chinchao, 2600–2700 m, 11 Feb 1950 (fl.), R . Ferreyra 6847 (MOL!, US!, USM!). Junín: Prov. Chanchamayo, Dist. San Ramón, Alto Pichita Fundo “Vista Alegre” - APRODES, 2200 m, 11°05’42”S, 75°25’57”W, 27–30 Mar 2002 (fl.), A . Daza & A. Reyna 2249 (MOLF!), same locality and date (fl.), 2252 (MOLF!), same locality and date (fl.), 2257 (MOLF!), 08–10 Dec 2002 (fl.), A . Daza et al. 2056 (MOLF!), Puyu Sacha, 2240 m, 11°05’41.77”S, 75°26’44.89”W, 13 Mar 2018 (fl.), A . Daza 6522 (MOLF!), 2230 m, 11°05’39.33”S, 75°26’43.44”W, 10–14 Mar 2020 (fl.), S . Terreros & R. Villanueva-Espinoza 191 (MOLF!, UPCB!), 2230 m, 11°05’26”S; 75°26’45”W, 14 Mar 2020 (fl.), R . Villanueva-Espinoza & S. Terreros 470 (MOLF!), 2100 m, 11°05’25”S; 75°26’00”W, 28 May to 04 Jun 2021 (fl.), R . Villanueva-Espinoza 610 (MOLF!). Prov. Satipo, Dist. Río Tambo, Parque Nacional Otishi, Comunidad Nativa Pichiquia, 2060 m, 11°22’28”S, 73°59’28”W, 11 Jul 2013 (fr.), L . Valenzuela et al. 24853 (HOXA!, MO!). Prov. Tarma, Agua Dulce, 1800 m, 08 Mar 1948 (fl.), F . Woytkowski 35430 (F!, MO!). Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, 913 m, 10°19’48”S, 73°23’17.16”W, 18 Aug 2010 (fl.), X. Ge et al. 361 (USM!); Dist. Chontabamba, Uclumano Ecolodge, camino a la parcela OXA3, 2200 m, 07 Dec 2022 (fl.), B . García 29 (MOLF!); Dist. Huancabamba, PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Quebrada Yanachaga, 2380 m, 10°23’36.6”S, 75°28’28.9”W, 20 Feb 2018 (fl. bud), F. A . Michelangeli & S. Riva 2976 (HOXA!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, sector Quebrada Yanachaga, 2265 m, 10°23’45”S, 75°28’55”W, 19 Aug 2004 (fl., fr.), R . Vásquez et al. 30433 (HOXA!, NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Sector Tunqui (Quebrada Muchuymayo), 1923 m, 10°17’53”S, 75°30’54”W, 11 Feb 2009 (fl. bud), R . Vásquez et al. 35159 (HOXA!, MO!, USM!), de amortiguamiento del PN Yanachaga Chemillén (Quebrada Yanachaga), 2347 m, 10°23’49”S, 75°28’36”W, 16 Sep 2004 (fl., fr.), J . Perea & J. Mateo 1769 (HOXA!, NY!); Dist. Oxapampa, Carretera al sector San Alberto del PN Yanachaga Chemillén, cerca de la planta hidroeléctrica, ca. 5 km de Oxapampa, 2150 m, 10°32’57”S, 75°22’27”W, 20 Mar 2016 (fl., fr.), F. A . Michelangeli et al. 2714 (NY!, USM!), Localidad La Suiza Neva, 2200 m, 10°45’01”S, 75°30’01”W, 17 Apr 2010 (fr.), R . Vásquez et al. 36471 (HOXA!, NY!, USM!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, quebrada Yanachaga, 2370 m, 10°23’S, 75°28’W, 10 Jun 2003 (fl.), R . Vásquez et al. 28104 (HOXA!, NY!), Sector Llamaquizú - La Colina, 2109 m, 10°35’56.4”S, 75°21’49.9”W, 02 Dec 2015 (fl.), L . Valenzuela et al. 29236 (HOXA!), PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Sector San Alberto, en el Abra Esperanza y alrededores, 2780 m, 10°31’55”S, 75°20’59”W, 02 Oct 2007 (fl.), C . Arias et al. 335 (HOXA!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 89-92, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984

4. Meriania bongarana Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., Willdenowia 52(1): 45 (2022). Type:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bongará, Dist. Yambrasbamba, Inmediaciones de la Estación Biológica Abra Patricia, 2320 m, 05°41’32.91”S, 77°48’41.1”W, 19–20 Feb 2020 (fl., fr.), R. Fernandez-Hilario, R. Villanueva-Espinoza & L. Pillaca 1930 (holotype: MOLF! [barcode 000006]; isotypes: CUZ!, HOXA! [accession no. 077852], NY! [barcode 04239398], UPCB! [accession no. 99400]). (Figures 14–15). Comments:— Meriania bongarana is distinguishable by the combination of ferrugineous indumentum evenly covering the adaxial surface of leaves (Fig. 14B–C), calyces with claw-shaped dorsal projections (1.5–2.5 mm long) (Fig. 14G), campanulate, pink-orange corollas, petals 13–15.5 mm long, isomorphic stamens, connectives prolonged below the thecae and stamen connectives with slightly crown-shaped descending dorso-basal appendages (Fig. 14E). Among Peruvian species, M. bongarana most closely resembles M. dazae but differs by the indument on the abaxial leaf blades (ferrugineous pubescent vs. whitish to cream tomentose), petal length (14–15.5 mm long vs. 19.5–24 mm long), and the dorsal appendages of the stamen connectives (absent vs. a mere hump). A detailed comparison of M. bongarana with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2022). Distribution and phenology:— Known only from three localities, Meriania bongarana is endemic to northern Peru (Department of Amazonas) and grows in montane forest at 2000–2320 m (Fig. 16). It has been collected in flower in February and July, and in fruit in February, July and November. Specimen examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bagua, Dist. Copallin, camino a refugio Lechuza, Reserva Comunal Copallin, 2000 m, 05°39’13”S, 78°15’14”W, Jul 2022 (fl., fr.), I . Revilla et al. 3211 (MOLF!); Dist. Imaza, Reserva Comunal Chayu Nain, alrededores de campamento Yumi Atsawai, 2160 m, 05°26’51”S, 78°18’58”W, 04–07 Nov 2022 (fr.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2352 (HOXA!, MOLF!).

16. Meriania ninakurorum (Bussmann & Paniagua) E.Cotton & Balslev, Sci. Danic. Biol. 4: 108 (2014). Basionym: Axinaea ninakurorum Bussmann & Paniagua, Arnaldoa 19(1): 23 (2012). Type: PERU. San Martín: Prov. Huallaga, Dist. Bolivar, cloud forest surrounding “ Pampa Hermosa ” around old Chacha and Inca settlement, with high amount of old Cedrela, 2400 m, 06°59’32”S, 77°39’16”W, 24 May 2011 (fl.), R.W. Bussmann, N. Paniagua, C. Vega & L. Cotrina 17067 (holotype: HAO! [accession no. 20106]; isotypes: CAS! [barcode 474651], M! [barcode M-0274715], MO! [barcodes MO-2695409, MO-2822726, MO-2822727, MO-2822728], NY! [barcode 02059485]). (Figure 39). Comments:— Meriania ninakurorum in one of the four Peruvian species (along with M. bicentenaria, M. franciscana and M. peltata) that form part of the M. macrophylla complex. These species (except M. peltata, typical form) differ from the other species of the complex by the stamen connectives lacking bifid descending dorso-basal appendages. Also, M. ninakurorum can be recognized by its subpeltate leaves (Fig. 39A), lanceolate to ovate leaf blades 17.2–27.7 × 8.1–15.5 cm, puberulent abaxial leaf surfaces, petioles without projections, truncate or repand calyces, 5-merous flowers, pink petals (Fig. 39B), stamen connectives without dorsal appendages, and antepetalous stamen connectives with falcate descending dorso-basal appendage. Meriania ninakurorum could be confused with M. franciscana and M. peltata (Peruvian population, see additional comments below this species). However, floral and vegetative characters distinguish them, M. franciscana has elliptic to broadly elliptic leaf blades, antepetalous stamen connectives with blunt ascending dorsal appendages, antesepalous stamen connectives with dorsal appendages as a mere hump and leaves with an adaxial projections (scutum) on the insertion of the petiole with the leaf blade, and M. peltata differs by its large ovate leaf blades (22.8–28.7 × 13.3–16.7 cm) and pubescent to setulose abaxial leaf surfaces. Meriania ninakurorum was described as a species with isomorphic stamens, although even the illustration and photos (see Fig. 1 and 2 in Bussmann & Paniagua 2012) show strongly dimorphic stamens. Probably due to this misinterpretation this species was originally described as Axinaea. Nevertheless, M. ninakurorum has only antepetalous stamens with inflated (bulbous) connectives from almost the middle of the thecae, which is a diagnostic characteristic for species of the M. macrophylla complex. All species in Axinaea have both antepetalous and antesepalous stamen connectives with inflated (bulbous) dorso-basal appendages (except some species with 4-merous flowers) (Cotton et al. 2014). Distribution and phenology:— Known only from the type specimen, Meriania ninakurorum is endemic to northern Peru (Department of San Martín) and occurs in montane forests at 2400 m (Fig. 16). It has been collected in flower in May., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 46-47, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Bussmann, R. & Paniagua, N. Y. (2012) Axinaea ninakurorum (Melastomataceae) - a new species from the northern Peruvian Merianieae hotspot. Arnaldoa 19: 23 - 27.","Cotton, E., Borchsenius, F. & Balslev, H. (2014) A revision of \" Axinaea \" (Melastomataceae). Scientia Danica Series B, Biologica 4: 1 - 120."]}

14. Meriania microflora Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., Phytotaxa 456(1): 87 (2020). Type:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Condorcanqui, Dist. Santiago, Cerros Kampankis, serranía entre los rios Santiago y Morona, desde Río Marañón hasta frontera com Ecuador, Campamento 2, Qda. Katerpisa, 710 m, 04°02’17.35”S, 77°33’45.50”W, 09 Aug 2011 (fl.), I. Huamantupa, D. Neill, N. Pitman & C. Kajekai 15552 (holotype: USM! [accession no. 360020]; isotypes: F! [accession no. 2307857], NY! [barcode 03240851]). (Figures 33–34). Comments:— This species has the smallest flowers in Meriania (petals 4–4.5 mm long), and it is readily recognizable among Peruvian species by the combination of nodes without interpetiolar flaps, abaxial and lateral liguliform projections on the apex of the petioles (Fig. 33D), spreading, white corollas (Fig. 33G), stamen connectives with multilobed descending dorso-basal appendages and antepetalous stamen connectives with apically trilobed ascending dorsal appendages (Fig. 33E). White corollas and lobed ascending dorsal appendages are features more common among Brazilian species of Meriania, but none of these species have stamen connectives with descending dorso-basal appendages, or projections on the petioles. A detailed comparison of M. microflora with related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2020). Distribution and phenology:— Known only from the type specimen, Meriania microflora is endemic to Peru and has been recorded only in the Cordillera Kampankis in the Amazonas-Loreto border in sub-Andean forests at 710 m (Fig. 35). It has been collected in flower in August., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 40-41, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Fernandez-Hilario, R., Goldenberg, R. & Michelangeli, F. A. (2020) A new species of Meriania (Melastomataceae) with remarkably small flowers from northern Peru. Phytotaxa 456: 86 - 94. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 456.1.6"]}

19. Meriania prunifolia D.Don, Mem. Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc. 4: 323 (1823). Type:— PERU: without locality, no date (fr.), H. Ruiz & J. Pavón s.n. (lectotype, designated here: MA! [barcode MA813829]; isolectotypes: BR! [barcode 00000562904], F!-fragment [accession nos. 843473, 1026676], FI! [barcode FI004715], G-probably destroyed [negative at F], G!-fragment [barcode G00219817], K! [barcode K000329450]). (Figure 45). Comments:— This species is easily recognisable by the combination of the smallest leaf blades recorded within the genus (2.3–8.2 × 1.4–3.2 cm) (Fig. 45B), pseudo-lateral (initially terminal but overtopped by developing axillary buds) or terminal solitary flowers, and calyces with long acicular dorsal projections (Fig. 45D). To date, the flowers of M. prunifolia are unknown, because the few known specimens have been collected in fruit. However, the fruits have calyces with acicular dorsal projections and ribbed hypanthia, which are also present in other Meriania species. Acicular dorsal projections are remarkably present in Meriania species from the Greater Antilles (see Michelangeli et al. 2015). Because the complete morphology of the flowers is not known, it is not possible to establish affinities of M. prunifolia with other species of the genus. Nomenclatural notes:— Don (1823) cited in the protologue “ Pavón h. (v. s. in Herb. Lamb.) ”. However, none of the sheets seen by us have any label or annotation indicating that it corresponds to the Ruiz & Pavón specimen purchased by A. B. Lambert (see Miller 1970). Therefore, Ruiz & Pavón s.n. must be considered as a syntype conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). According to Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we chose as lectotype the only sheet housed in MA. Distribution and phenology:— Meriania prunifolia is endemic to northern Peru (Department of San Martín) and occurs in premontane forests at 350–750 m (Fig. 16). It has been collected in fruit in March, May, July and December. Specimens examined:— PERU. San Martín: Prov. Mariscal Cáceres [Tocache], Dist. Pólvora, desembocadura del río Mishollo (margen derecha del Río Huallaga), 350–380 m, 25 Jul 1973 (fr.), J . Schunke V. 6426 (US!); Dist. Shunté, Camino a Shunté, cerca de Yacu Sisa, al borde de la quebrada, 550–600, 07 Mar 1981 (fr.), J . Schunke-Vigo 12567 (MO!); Dist. Tocache, Palo Blanco, al oeste del Puente, a orilla de la quebrada en bosque alto, 600–700 m, 04 Dec 1972 (fr.), J . Schunke V. 5667 (F!, NY!, U!, US!), Cerro de Palo Blanco, al borde de la quebrada con mucha sombra, 700–750 m, 26 May 1980 (fr.), J . Schunke-Vigo 11712 (AMAZ!, NY!, US!, USM!). Without locality: no date (fr), A . Raimondi 1987 (USM!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 50-53, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Michelangeli, F. A, Carmenate Reyes, W. & Sosa, K. (2015) A revision of Meriania (Melastomataceae) in the Greater Antilles with emphasis on the status of the Cuban species. Brittonia 67: 118 - 137. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 12228 - 015 - 9366 - 4","Don, D. (1823) An Illustration of the natural family of plants called Melastomataceae. Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society 4: 276 - 329.","Miller, H. S. (1970) The herbarium of Aylmer Bourke Lambert notes on its acquisition, dispersal, and present whereabouts. Taxon 19: 489 - 553. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 1218947","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. H., Li, D. Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashutten. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018"]}

5. Meriania callosa Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb.& Michelang., Willdenowia52(1): 49 (2022). Type:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bongará, Dist. Yambrasbamba, ruta desde CP Santa Rosa hacia bosque El Toro, 1950 m, 05°40’07.98”S, 77°55’30.04”W, 11 Nov 2020 (fl.), R. Fernandez-Hilario, W. Chuquitucto & A. Wong 2055 (holotype: MOLF! [barcode 000007]; isotypes: HOXA! [accession no. 077833], KUELAP! [accession no. 971], MOLF! [barcode 000008], NY! [barcode 04239399], UPCB! [accession no. 99412]). (Figures 17–18). Comments:— This species is distinguishable by the combination of nodes with interpetiolar flaps (0.5–3 mm long) (Fig. 17D), glabrous hypanthia and calyces, calyces with callose dorsal projections (Fig. 17H)), spreading, fuchsia corollas, isomorphic stamens, stamen connectives with two appendages (Fig. 17E), one triangular descending dorso-basal appendage, and other dorsal appendage as a mere hump (rarely inconspicuous). Among Peruvian species, M. callosa most closely resembles M. zunacensis but differs by the projections on the insertion of the petioles with the leaf blades [absent vs. present (scutum)], petiole length (10–22 mm vs. 25–50 mm), and the dorsal projections on calyces (callose vs. absent). A detailed comparison of M. callosa with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2022). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania callosa is endemic to northern Peru (Department of Amazonas) and grows in montane forests at 1880–1970 m (Fig. 9). It has been collected in flower in April and November, and fruit in August and November. Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Bongará, Dist. Yambrasbamba, ruta desde CP Santa Rosa hacia bosque El Toro, 1970 m, 05°40’09.22”S, 77°55’30.05”W, 11 Nov 2020 (fl. bud, fr.), R . Fernandez-Hilario et al. 2056 (HOXA!, MOLF!, NY!, UPCB!); Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Mariscal Benavides, CP Izcuchaca, 1880 m, 06°19’40”S; 77°31’05”W, 30 Aug 1998 (fr.), R . Vásquez & J. Campos 25339 (NY!), same locality, 11 Apr 2001 (fl.), H . van der Werff et al. 16941 (NY!, USM!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on page 23, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Fernandez-Hilario, R., Rojas, R., Lajo, L., Pillaca-Huacre, L., Wong, A. A., Paredes-Burneo, D., Villanueva-Espinoza, R., Michelangeli, F. A. & Goldenberg, R. (2022) Nine new species and new country recorded for Meriania (Melastomataceae) from Peru. Willdenowia 52: 39 - 74. https: // doi. org / 10.3372 / wi. 52.52103"]}

31. Meriania urceolata Triana, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 28(1): 67 (1871) [1872]. Type:— PERU. San Martín: Prope Tarapoto, Peruvia orientalis, 1855–1856 (fl., fr.), R. Spruce 4439 (lectotype, designated by Chiavegato & Baumgratz 2011: K! [barcode K000006311]; isolectotypes: B-probably destroyed [negative at F], BR! [barcode 00000641173], E! [barcode E00504628], G! [barcodes G00074119, G00074120], GH! [barcode 00072680], K! [barcode K000006309], NY! [barcode 00228981], P! [barcode P00539048], W! [accession no. 1889-0012092]). Remaining syntypes:— BRAZIL: Prope Panuré ad Rio Vaupés, Oct 1852 - Jan 1853 (fl.), R. Spruce 2757 (BR! [barcode 00000641172], C! [barcode C10014730], K! [barcode K000006310], NY! [barcodes 00228982, 00228983], P! [barcodes P00539049, P00539050] W! [accession nos. 1889-0012082, 1889-0111908]. GUYANA: without locality, no date (fr.), Parker s.n. (K! [barcode K 000329423]). (Figure 65). Meriania paraensis Ducke, Arch. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 3: 224 (1922). Type:— BRAZIL. Pará: Campos do Ariramba, 150 m, 23 Set 1913 (fl.), A. Ducke 14854 (lectotype, designated by Wurdack 1993: RB! [barcode 00541448]; isolectotypes: MB [n.s.], MG [n.s.], US! [barcode 00120382]). Comments:— This species is easily recognisable by the combination of ferrugineous indumentum (Fig. 65C–D), ovate leaf blades with flat surfaces, spreading, fuchsia corollas, strongly dimorphic stamens, and stamen connectives with developed ascending dorsal appendages (Fig. 65E–F). The only Peruvian species of Meriania with similar appendages in the stamen connectives is M. microflora. However, it can be differentiated by its liguliform projections on the apex of the petioles (vs. absent in M. urceolata), white petals 4–4.5 mm long (vs. fuchsia and 14–20 mm long in M. urceolata) and antepetalous stamen connectives with apically trilobed ascending dorsal appendages (vs. sagittate, Fig. 65F). Distribution and phenology:— Meriania urceolata is widely distributed from Venezuela to northern Peru and western Brazil. In Peru it occurs in the department of San Martín in premontane forests at 800–1600 m (Fig. 16). It has been collected in flower in January, November and December. Nomenclatural notes:— Triana (1871) [1872] cited as types the specimens Spruce 2757 and 4439 in the protologue of M. urceolata, so both specimens were considered as syntypes conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). For this reason, M. urceolata was lectotypified by Chiavegato & Baumgratz (2011). Ducke (1922) cited Ducke 14854 as type in the protologue of M. paraensis but without indicating any herbarium, so it must also be considered as a syntype conforming with Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018). According to Art. 9.10 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), we must consider that Wurdack (1993) made an inadvertent lectotypification of M. paraensis when he wrote “ Ducke 14854 (holotype RB) ” in his treatment of Melastomataceae for the Flora of the Guianas. Specimens examined:— PERU. San Martín: Prov. Moyobamba, Habana, cerca de Moyobamba, 800–900 m, no date (fl.), A . Weberbauer 4570 (MOL!), Habana, campo experimental INRENA, 820 m, 16 Nov 1996 (fl.), I . Sánchez 8694 (F!, US!), Río Negro, 1400 m, 18 Jan 1961 (fl.), F . Woytkowski 6222 (US!), Zepelacio, near Moyobamba, 1200– 1600 m, Dec 1933 (fl.), G . Klug 3451 (F!, NY!, US!)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on page 83, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Wurdack, J. J. (1993) Meriania (Melastomataceae: Melastomatoideae). In: Gorts-van Rijn, A. R. A. (Ed.) Flora of the Guianas. Series A. Phanerogams 99, Issue 13. Koeltz Scientific Books, Konigstein, pp. 157 - 160.","Triana, J. J. (1871) [1872] Les Melastomacees. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 28: 1 - 188. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.1871. tb 00222. x","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. H., Li, D. Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Regnum Vegetabile 159. Koeltz Botanical Books, Glashutten. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018","Ducke, A. (1922) Plantes nouvelles ou peu connues de la region amazonienne (II Partie). Archivos do Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro 3: 3 - 269."]}

Meriania Sw., nom. cons., Fl. Ind. Occ. 2: 823, t. 15. 1798. (Figures 3–7). Type species: Rhexia leucantha Sw., type cons. [= Meriania leucantha (Sw.) Sw.]. Trees or shrubs, rarely climbers, distal branchlets glabrous or with various indument types. Young branches terete, quadrangular, or 4-winged; nodes with interpetiolar lines, flaps or without modifications. Leaves opposite, isophyllous to slightly anisophyllous. Petioles with projections or without modifications. Leaf blades petiolate or sessile, sometimes subpeltate or peltate; venation acrodromous basal or suprabasal; glabrous or covered with various indument types. Inflorescences terminal or pseudo-lateral (initially terminal but overtopped by the developing axillary bud) panicles, rarely dichasia, or solitary flowers. Flowers (4–)5–6-merous; diplostemonous; with spreading to campanulate corollas. Hypanthium terete to costate; glabrous or covered with various indument types. Calyx lobed, repand, truncate, subcalyptrate or calyptrate; dehiscence regular, irregular or circumscissile; with dorsal projections, acicular, claw-shaped, conic, callose, blunt or obsolete; glabrous or covered with various indument types. Petals oblong, obovate, slightly obovate, or strongly asymmetrically obovate; glabrous, rarely puberulent or slightly ciliate. Stamens isomorphic to strongly dimorphic, all bent to one side of the flower at anthesis giving the flower a zygomorphic appearance; filaments flat to semiterete; connectives sometimes prolonged below the thecae or abruptly inflated (bulbous), with two appendages, one dorso-basal and the other dorsal, the former descending or almost perpendicular to the thecae, sometimes laterally expanded, the latter obsolete to ascending; anthers usually opening by one dorsally inclined pore, thecae with smooth to corrugated surfaces. Ovary superior, sometimes ½ inferior, usually glabrous; style incurved at the apex and opposite to the anthers at anthesis, glabrous. Fruits capsular (velatidia), with persistent hypanthium, calyx persistent or caducous; mature ovary exceeding the hypanthium length or completely concealed by the hypanthium. Seeds triangular-linear, numerous. Distribution and habitat:— Peru presents 36 species of Meriania, of which 25 are endemic. Twenty-four species were found in northern Peru within the Amotape-Huancabamba Zone (see Weigend 2002, Tejedor & Calatayud 2022) (Table 1), which holds the highest species richness in Peru. The departments with the highest number of species are Amazonas (18 species), Cajamarca (11 species) and San Martín (9 species) (Figure 7). Most species have restricted distributions, and only four species (M. neilli, M. radula, M. sanguinea and M. tomentosa) occur in more than five departments. The Peruvian species of Meriania grow mainly in the eastern flanks of the Andes in premontane forests, montane forests, elfin forests and subparamos at 350–3500 m, but two species (M. escalerensis and M. microflora) grow in the sub-Andean cordilleras (Andean Tepuis sensu Neill et al. 2014)., Published as part of Fernandez-Hilario, Robin, Goldenberg, Renato & Michelangeli, Fabián A., 2023, A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru, pp. 1-101 in Phytotaxa 602 (1) on pages 7-8, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8141984, {"references":["Weigend, M. (2002) Observations on the biogeography of the Amotape-Huancabamba Zone in northern Peru. The Botanical Reviews 68: 38 - 54. https: // doi. org / 10.1663 / 0006 - 8101 (2002) 068 [0038: OOTBOT] 2.0. CO; 2","Tejedor, A. & Calatayud, G. (2022) Tree ferns from northern Peru: confirmation of the Amotape-Huancabamba Zone as a unique biotic hotspot in the tropical Andes. Brittonia 74: 1 - 17. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 12228 - 021 - 09687 - 4","Neill, D. A., Rios, M., Torres, L., Mori, T. J. & Vriesendop, C. (2014) Vegetation and Flora. In: Pitman, N., Vriesendorp, C., Alvira, D., Markel, J. A., Johnston, M., Ruelas, E., Lancha, A, Sarmiento, G., Alvarez-Loayza, P., Homan, J., Wachter, T., del Campo, A., Stotz, D. F. & Heilpern, S. (Eds.) Peru: Cerros de Kampankis. Rapid Biological and Social Inventories Report no. 24, Chicago, pp. 292 - 311."]}

We describe two new species of Meriania (Melastomataceae), Meriania ardyae from Llanganates National Park and Meriania zunacensis from the Río Zuñac Reserve in Ecuador. Meriania ardyae is characterized by dark crimson petals, hypanthium and calyx with a dark purple coloration, young branches and internodes covered with a dense pubescence of violet-black hirsute trichomes and slightly dimorphic stamens. Meriania zunacensis is distinguished by conspicuous interpetiolar flaps, inflorescences with glomerulate flower clusters, large flowers with magenta petals, isomorphic stamens, and a fleshy, strongly curved style.

Meriania microflora (Merianieae, Melastomataceae), a new species en­demic to the Amazonas-Loreto border, in the Peruvian Amazon, is described and illustrated here. The new spe­cies presents the smallest flowers recorded within the genus, and also differs from other species of Meriania by the combination of appendages on the petioles, white petals, strongly dimorphic stamens and connectives with developed ascending appendages and multilobed descending appendages.

We present a new species, a new synonym, the resurrection of a species that has been synonymized before, updates on the distribution of three species, and lectotypifications for two species of Meriania from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Meriania baumgratziana is a new species apparently restricted to montane areas in the western portion of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It can be recognized by the sessile to subsessile leaves, these lanceolate, elliptic lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, with cordate to cordulate, amplexicaul bases (seldom narrowly round), the abaxial surface in young leaves with the union of the primary and the inner pair of secondary veins with a membrane forming pocket domatia, these with trichomes emerging from the inside, then in older leaves the membranes frequently enlarged, globular, these hypertrophied structures sometimes caducous, or easily removed by friction, and by the pendulous inflorescences with 4-merous flowers. Meriania paratyensis Chiavegatto & Baumgratz is synonymized under M. sanchezii R.Goldenb., which in turn is resurrected from what we understand as a mistaken synonymy under M. paniculata DC. We present a discussion and illustrations of leaves and fruits, in order to explain these changes and compare all these three species, plus a fourth similar species, M. glabra (DC.) Naudin. The distributions of Meriania calyptrata (Naudin) Triana and M. sanchezii are updated, the former with the inclusion of specimens collected in the western tip of the state of Rio de Janeiro (it was previously recorded only for eastern São Paulo), and the latter in the exactly opposite way, with new records from Rio de Janeiro added to the previously known specimens from São Paulo. Finally, lectotypes are designated for Meriania calyptrata and M. glabra (DC.) Naudin (this superseding a previous, unnecessary designation of a neotype).

Meriania juan-canoi, a new species endemic to the northern Andes in Colombia is described and illustrated. This new species belongs to the Brachycera group and can be distinguished from the other species by its apically rounded calyptra, completely free ovary and dimorphic stamens. The description of this new species from a relatively well collected area near a major road in southeastern of Medellín, Colombia, confirms our lack of knowledge on the vegetation of several Neotropical regions. Due to the intense agricultural activity in the area where this species grows and the small area where it occurs, we recommend a conservation classification of Critical Risk (CR).

INTRODUCCIÓN: Meriania sanguinea es una especie poco conocida en el Ecuador, su hábitat secircunscribe a bosques montanos de la cordillera oriental de los Andes.OBJETIVO: Reportar la presencia de M. sanguinea en la provincia de Tungurahua ampliando el área dedistribución de la especie en Ecuador.METODOLOGÍA: El registro se fundamenta en la observación de tres individuos de M. sanguinea, en lascoordenadas 01°11’24,4” S y 78°28’46,6” W. La identificación de las características morfológicas de laespecie se la realizó mediante registro fotográfico, colecta de muestras, análisis en herbario y uso de fuentesbibliográficas.RESULTADOS: Se localizaron tres individuos entre uno y cinco metros de altura en un bosquefragmentado por la presión antrópica. El de mayor altura presentaba estructuras reproductivas quefacilitaron la identificación de la especie.CONCLUSIONES: Se amplía el rango de distribución geográfico de M. sanguinea a la provincia deTungurahua. Este constituye el primer registro de la especie en la zona central del Ecuador.

Los géneros Axinaea, Brachyotum, Meriania y Miconia, de la familia Melastomataceae, forman parte de la diversidad florística de los bosques montanos de Cajamarca. El propósito del presente trabajo consiste en el estudio de la taxonomía, fitogeografía y el estado poblacional de las especies de los cuatro géneros en la zona andina del departamento de Cajamarca. Para ello, se realizaron colecciones de plantas de estos taxones y revisiones de especímenes en herbarios. Se tomaron datos de especies, lugar de colecta, año, fecha, coordenadas, altitud, nombre y número de colector, de los especímenes ya identificados; además, se revisó bibliografía especializada como catálogos florísticos, monografías, revistas científicas, herbarios virtuales y libros. Con la información obtenida se identificaron las nuevas colectas, se elaboraron mapas de distribución geográfica y cuadros para el análisis del estado poblacional de cada especie. Se registraron 54 especies, distribuido en 5 del género Axinaea, 6 de Meriania, 12 de Brachyotum y 31 de Miconia; 23 endémicas. Su rango altitudinal comprende desde los 1400 hasta los 3700 msnm. El estado poblacional varió entre las categorías L2 a LI, siendo la L3 o especies raras o localizadas la que incluyó el 31.91% del total. Los resultados de esta investigación constituyen un punto de partida para seguir con los registros de nuevas colectas en zonas aun no prospeccionadas y conocer la gran diversidad de Melastomataceae del Norte del Perú. The Axinaea, Brachyotum, Meriania and Miconia generes, the Melastomataceae family, part of the floristic diversity of the montane forests of Cajamarca. The purpose of this work is to study their taxonomy, plant geography and population status of the species of these genres in the Andean region of Cajamarca. To do this, collections of plants from these groups were conducted and revisions were made in herbaria specimens. Data species, collection site, year, date, coordinates, altitude, collector's name and number of the identified specimens were taken; moreover we reviewed bibliography specialized like floristic catalogs, monographs, journals, virtual herbarium and books, with the information obtained we identified new collections, we made distribution maps and charts for analysis of population status of each species. 54 species, distributed in 5 species of Axinaea, 6 Meriania 12 Brachyotum and 31 of Miconia were recorded; of which 23 were found to be endemic. Its altitudinal range is from 1400 up to 3700 meters. State population ranged between categories LI L2, L3 being localized or rare species or which included 31.91% of the total. The results of this research provide a starting point to continue with records of new collections in areas not yet studied and know more about the great diversity of Melastomataceae North of Peru.