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Miconia calvescens

(Miconia)

Overview

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Tree . Native to tropical America, this small tree forms dense monospecific stands shading out the native vegetation with its large leaves, and suppressing the growth and regeneration of the native species in the understory . Introduced originally as an ornamental plant on Tahiti in 1937, it now dominates the forests of over 2/3's of that island and has spread to other islands in French Polynesia (Raiatea, Moorea, Marquesas). Introduced to Hawai'i in the 1960s, it is spreading rapidly on several islands (Hawai'i Maui, O'ahu), it is now regarded as the worst threat to the rain forest watersheds.

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

Miconia, Bush Currant, Purple Plague, Velvet Tree, Velvet Tree Miconia Calvescens

Common Names in French:

Cancer Vert

Common Names in Informal Latinized N:

Miconia

Description

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Family Melastomataceae

Herbs, shrubs , or trees (to 20 m tall), erect , climbing , or rarely epiphytic. Stipules lacking. Leaves simple , commonly opposite and decussate with one of a pair slightly smaller than other, rarely verticillate or alternate by abortion of one of a pair, usually 1-4(or 5) secondary veins on each side of midvein , originating at or near base and anastomosing apically, tertiary veins numerous, parallel, and connecting secondary veins and midvein but in Memecylon secondary veins pinnate and tertiary veins reticulate . Inflorescences cymose , umbellate , corymbose , in paniculate clusters , or a cincinnus, rarely flowers single, fascicled, or born on a spike; bracts sometimes conspicuous and persistent . Flowers bisexual , actinomorphic but androecium often slightly zygomorphic, usually (3 or) 4- or 5(or 6) -merous, perianth biseriate , perigynous; bracteoles opposite, usually caducous . Hypanthium funnel-shaped, campanulate , cyathiform , or urceolate . Calyx lobes (3-) 5(or 6), valvate (rarely connate , but not in Chinese species) . Petals (3-) 5(or 6), equal to number of sepals, distinct , imbricate. Stamens usually twice as many as petals and in 2 whorls, rarely as many as petals by loss of 1 whorl, isomorphic or dimorphic ; filaments distinct, often geniculate , inflexed in bud; anthers typically 2-celled, introrse , basifixed , dehiscent by 1 or 2 apical pores or by short longitudinal slits (Astronia, Memecylon) ; connective often variously appendaged. Pistil and style 1; stigma minute, capitate or truncate . Ovary commonly inferior or semi-inferior, locules usually (3 or) 4 or 5(or 6) with numerous anatropous ovules , rarely 1-loculed and ovules ca. 9 (Memecylon) ; placentation axillary , parietal (Astronia and, outside China, Pternandra Jack ), or free central (Memecylon) . Fruit a dry or fleshy capsule or a berry, loculicidally dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds (when 3-6-loculed) usually small, curved through half a circle (cochleate) or wedge-shaped (cuneate), in Memecylon seeds large and ovoid ; endosperm absent.

Between 156 and 166 genera (150-160 in Melastomataceae sensu stricto and six in Memecylaceae here considered part of Melastomataceae) and ca. 4500 species (ca. 4050 in Melastomataceae sensu stricto and 450 in Memecylaceae [Olisbeoideae if considered a subfamily of Melastomataceae]) : primarily in tropical and subtropical regions; 21 genera (five endemic) and 114 species (72 endemic) in China.

Chinese genera of economic value include Osbeckia (medicine) and Melastoma (wild fruit and ornamental flowers) .[1]

Physical Description

Species Miconia calvescens

A medium-sized tree up to 15 m in height with opposite large attractive leaves up to 80 cm long, dark green above with three prominent pale green nerves , purple-blue beneath ; with small white flowers, slightly fragrant, arranged in large panicles up to 30 cm long; with fleshy berries ca. 7mm in diameter, purple-black when mature .

Habit: Shrub , Tree

Habitat

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 4,936 meters (0 to 16,194 feet).[2]

Ecology: Forms dense monospecific stands shading out the native vegetation with its large leaves, and suppressing the growth and regeneration of the native species in the understory . Between 40 to 50 rare endemic plant species are directly threatened in Tahiti (Society Is.). The tentacular root system is also suspected to favour soil erosion and landslides.

Biology

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Reproduction

Sexual reproduction, and vegetative propagation (by cuttings). Self-fertilization occurs. Facultative xenogamy .At least three major flowering peaks per year. A single tree can bear up to 220 inflorescences with an average of 1330 flowers/inflorescence, an average of 208 fruits/infrutescences, and 195 seeds/fruit.

Photo-sensitive seeds, but can germinate even in dense shade (0.02% of full sun ). Germination rate up to 90% in 15-20 days. Soil seed bank > 50,000 seeds/m². Longevity of the soils seed bank > 6-8 years. First year of flowering after 4 to 5 years of vegetative growth . Growth rate ca. 1 m/yr for seedling and juvenile plants .

Duration: Perennial

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Miconia

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 21 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

M. affinis (Saquiyac) · M. calvescens (Miconia) · M. foveolata (Puerto Rico Johnnyberry) · M. impetiolaris (Camasey De Costilla) · M. laevigata (Smooth Johnnyberry) · M. lanata (Hairy Johnnyberry) · M. mirabilis (Camasey Cuatrocanales) · M. pachyphylla (Camasey Racimoso) · M. prasina (Granadillo Bobo) · M. pseudonervosa (Lattice Monocle Bream) · M. punctata (Auquey) · M. pycnoneura (Ridge Johnny Berry) · M. racemosa (Camasey Felpa) · M. rubiginosa (Peraleio) · M. serrulata (Jau Jau) · M. sintenisii (Mountain Johnnyberry) · M. splendensc (Giant Bully) · M. subcorymbosa (Forest Johnny Berry) · M. tetrandra (Rajador) · M. tetrastoma (Graceful Johnny Berry) · M. thomasiana (Camasey Tomaso)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal December 06, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Jie Chen & Susanne S. Renner "Melastomataceae". in Flora of China Vol. 13 Page 360. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. Mean = 807.950 meters (2,650.755 feet), Standard Deviation = 912.710 based on 271 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/14/2012