Biology:Miconia

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Short description: Genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae

Miconia
Starr 031118-0115 Miconia calvescens.jpg
Velvet tree (Miconia calvescens)
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Melastomataceae
Genus: Miconia
Ruiz & Pavón
Species[1]

Around 1,900, see List of Miconia species

Synonyms[1]

Miconia is a genus of flowering plants in the glory bush family, Melastomataceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas. The species are mostly shrubs and small to medium-sized trees up to 15 m tall. The generic name honours Catalan physician and botanist Francesc Micó.[2] Some species are known by the common name johnnyberry.[3]

Many species are threatened by habitat destruction in their native range, and some are feared to be on the brink of extinction. On the other hand, M. calvescens is a contributing factor in the decline and maybe even extinction of other plants: it has become a highly invasive weed on a number of Pacific Islands where it was introduced, including Hawaii and Tahiti. It is often referred to as the "purple plague" or the "green cancer" in reference to its habit of overgrowing native ecosystems, and its leaves which are bright green above and bright purple below.

Miconia fruit are a favorite food of many birds (invasive M. calvescens spreads by this route). The leaves of some species are eaten by caterpillars of the moth-butterflies (Hedylidae).

Species

Main page: Biology:List of Miconia species
Miconia albicans

As of 2023, genus Miconia comprises nearly 1,900 species,[1] with new species occasionally being discovered.[4][5] Among them are:thumb|Miconia fallax

Miconia salicifolia


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Miconia Ruiz & Pav. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. III M-Q A-C. CRC Press. p. 1676. ISBN 978-0-8493-2677-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=kaN-hLL-3qEC. 
  3. ↑ "Miconia". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MICON. 
  4. ↑ GOLDENBERG, RENATO; ALMEDA, FRANK; CADDAH, MAYARA K.; MARTINS, ANGELA B.; MEIRELLES, JULIA; MICHELANGELI, FABIAN A.; WEISS, MARKUS (2013). "Nomenclator botanicus for the neotropical genus Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae)" (in en). Phytotaxa 106 (1): 1. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.106.1.1. ISSN 1179-3163. 
  5. ↑ Michelangeli, Fabián A.; Goldenberg, Renato (2020-09-08). "A revision of the florbella group of Miconia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae) with description of three new species" (in en). Brittonia 73: 85–105. doi:10.1007/s12228-020-09633-w. ISSN 1938-436X. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12228-020-09633-w. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q289879 entry



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