A synopsis of Meriania (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) in Peru Author Fernandez-Hilario, Robin 0000-0001-8234-9502 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19031, CEP 81531 - 970, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. & División de Ecología Vegetal - CORBIDI, Calle Santa Rita 105 Of. 2, Urb. Huertos de San Antonio Monterrico, Surco, Lima, Perú. & rfernandez @ corbidi. org; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 8234 - 9502 rfernandez@corbidi.org Author Goldenberg, Renato 0000-0002-7047-6720 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19031, CEP 81531 - 970, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. & renato. goldenberg @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 7047 - 6720 renato.goldenberg@gmail.com Author Michelangeli, Fabián A. 0000-0001-7348-143X Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19031, CEP 81531 - 970, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. & The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 104458 USA. & Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19031, CEP 81531 - 970, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. & fabian @ nybg. org; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 7348 - 143 X Corresponding author: rfernandez @ corbidi. org & Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19031, CEP 81531 - 970, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. fabian@nybg.org text Phytotaxa 2023 2023-07-12 602 1 1 101 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1 journal article 10.11646/phytotaxa.602.1.1 1179-3163 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 !) .