Miconia sect. Tetrastemon (DC.) Judd & Majure, 2022

Miconia sect. Tetrastemon (DC.) Judd & Majure , comb. nov. Tetrazygia Rich. ex DC.sect. Tetrastemon DC.Prodr. 3:172. 1828. TYPE: Miconia tetrandra (Sw.) D.Don ex G. Don [= Melastoma tetrandrum Sw. ; Tetrazygia tetrandra (Sw.) DC. ]

Evergreen shrub to medium-sized tree; young stems ± rectangular in cross section, indumentum of dense, matted, globular-stellate or stellate hairs. Leaves opposite and decussate, ± isophyllous, blade ovate to elliptic, rarely oblong, coriaceous, apex usually acuminate to attenuate, base obtuse to rounded or occasionally slightly cordate, margin entire to obscurely toothed; venation acrodromous, secondary veins 2 pairs, tertiary veins percurrent, oriented subperpendicular to midvein, indumentum of adaxial surface initially with dense to moderate globular-stellate to stellate hairs, but these ± quickly deciduous; abaxial surface with dense to moderate, ± ferrugineous, globular-stellate to stellate hairs, the epidermis visible and leaves appearing pale green. Inflorescences obviously terminal, many-flowered, paniculate cymes. Flowers perfect, 4-merous, actinomorphic, shortly pedicellate to sessile, with pseudopedicels of the 2 lateral flowers of dichasium very reduced (to apparently absent). Hypanthium ± cylindrical, not or only very slightly constricted above ovary, often slightly longitudinally ridged externally, the outer surface with dense globular-stellate to stellate hairs. Calyx lobes 4, shallowly triangular to nearly obsolete, with apex rounded to obtuse, the tube not tearing; calyx teeth shorter than the lobes, flattened-triangular and terminating in a short bump. Petals 4, obovate to ovate or oblong, slightly asymmetric, spreading to recurved, white, apex rounded, base narrowed, ± clawed, glabrous, margin entire. Stamens 4, geniculate near apex of filament; staminal filament glabrous, anther obovate, straight, short, opening by 2 broad, gaping pores (as wide as the anther), yellow at anthesis, connective glabrous, not expanded or appendaged. Ovary 4-locular, partially inferior, with a cylindrical collar encircling style, glabrous or with a few branched hairs apically, with axile placentation, the numerous ovules borne on an expanded placenta, style straight to curved, stigma truncate to punctate. Berries subglobose to globose or short-ovoid, blue-black. Seeds angular-obovoid, with flat raphe extending most of seed-length; testa smooth.