Taxonomic studies in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae). XVI. Revision of Miconia sect. Echinatae

ABSTRACT The recently recognized Miconia sect. Echinatae is characterized and revised. It includes 23 species previously recognized within Calycogonium, Clidemia, Leandra, and especially Ossaea. For each species, a detailed description, nomenclatural information, specimen citations, and eco-geographical characterization are presented, along with an identification key for the section. Section Echinatae likely represents a monophyletic group, the Paralima clade, within the Caribbean clade of Miconia s.l. (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) and is restricted to Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica. It reaches its greatest diversity on Cuba, occurring in the western, central, and eastern regions of this island. The section can be diagnosed by a combination of characters—especially the mixture of multicellular, elongate, eglandular, bulla-based hairs and minute, globular-stellate hairs on the outer surface of the hypanthium, along with the 4-merous flowers with clavate-dendritic hairs on the adaxial surface of the calyx tube (and lobes) and strongly acute to acuminate petals. Most species also have bulla-based hairs and globular-stellate hairs on their abaxial leaf surfaces. In addition, these species lack the synapomorphies of the related sections Lima, Calycopteris, Calycodomatia, and Krugiophytum. Finally, Miconia garciabeltranii, M. joseluisii, and M. pseudopauciflora are newly described, and the new name M. cubapinetorum is provided for the species previously known as Ossaea pinetorum.