Meriania dazae Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., Nordic J. Bot.

7. Meriania dazae Rob.Fern., R.Goldenb. & Michelang., Nordic J. Bot. View in CoL 39(3)-e02669: 6 (2021). Type   GoogleMaps :— PERU. Amazonas   GoogleMaps : Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Vista Alegre, subiendo la quebrada Salas, 2750 m, 06°06’50.58”S, 77°26’48.21”W, 06 Aug 2012 (fl.,fr.), J.L. Marcelo-Peña, R. Fernandez-Hilario & J. Santos 6568 ( holotype: MOLF! [barcode 000001]; isotype: MOLF! [barcode 000002]). ( Figures 22–23 View FIGURE 22 View FIGURE 23 ).

Comments:— Meriania dazae belongs to a group of species characterized by campanulate, pink-orange to reddish-orange corollas and lobed calyx, usually with claw-shaped dorsal projections. Within this group, M. dazae can be differentiated by the combination of elongated trichomes with substellate bases, evenly covering the adaxial surface of leaves ( Fig. 22B–C View FIGURE 22 ), calyces with claw-shaped dorsal projections 1–4.5 mm long ( Fig. 22G View FIGURE 22 ), petals 19.5–24 mm long, isomorphic stamens and stamen connectives with two appendages ( Fig. 22E View FIGURE 22 ), one crown-shaped descending dorso-basal appendage and the other dorsal appendage as a mere hump. Among Peruvian species, M. dazae most closely resembles M. bongarana but differs by indument on the abaxial leaf blades (whitish to cream tomentose vs. ferrugineous pubescent), petal length ( 19.5–24 mm long vs. 14–15.5 mm long), and the dorsal appendages of the stamen connectives (a mere hump vs. absent). A detailed comparison of M. dazae with other related species can be found in Fernandez-Hilario et al. (2021).

Distribution and phenology:— Meriania dazae is endemic to northern Peru and known from a single locality in the Vista Alegre Omia Regional Conservation Area in the Department of Amazonas, and grows in montane forests at 2660–2750 m ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 ). It has been collected in flower and fruit in August.

Specimens examined:— PERU. Amazonas: Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Dist. Vista Alegre, Área de Conservación Vista Alegre , inmediaciones de campamento no. 1 y quebrada Salas , 2660 m, 06°06’42.52”S, 77°26’23.28”W, 04 Aug 2012 (fl.), R. Fernandez-Hilario et al. 169 ( MOLF!, UPCB!), GoogleMaps subiendo la quebrada Salas , 2660 m, 06°06’44.20”S, 77°26’27.51”W, 04 Aug 2012 (fl.), J. L. Marcelo-Peña et al. 6528 ( MOLF!), GoogleMaps same locality, 2750 m, 06°06’50.58”S, 77°26’48.21”W, 06 Aug 2012 (fl.), J. L. Marcelo-Peña et al. 6559 ( MOLF!) GoogleMaps .