Blakea P. Browne
EOL Text
Blakea is a sun-loving genus that grows in various levels in the canopy (Almeda, 2000). Species in this genus are often found growing on fallen logs or tree stumps in light gaps caused by tree falls or human clearing (Almeda, 2000).
- Almeda, F. 2000. A Synopsis of the Genus Blakea (Melastomataceae) in Mexico and Central America. Novon. 10.4: 299-319.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | in the manner specified by the author or licensor |
| Source | No source database. |
Blakea is mainly dispersed by birds (Almeda, 2000). The birds do not eat the entire fruit but rather just pecks at it. The seeds and inner part of the fruit sticks to the beak of the dispersing bird. After the bird is done eating the fruit, it will fly away and land on a tree. Then from there, the bird will clean off it’s beak by rubbing it against a branch on the tree and the seeds will be dispersed (Almeda, 2000).
- Almeda, F. 2000. A Synopsis of the Genus Blakea (Melastomataceae) in Mexico and Central America. Novon. 10.4: 299-319.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | in the manner specified by the author or licensor |
| Source | No source database. |
The fruits of this species are fleshy and have a red coloration (Almeda, 2000). Each fruit contains approximately one thousand seeds (Almeda, 2000). The inner part of the fruit possesses a sticky characteristic (Almeda, 2000).
- Almeda, F. 2000. A Synopsis of the Genus Blakea (Melastomataceae) in Mexico and Central America. Novon. 10.4: 299-319.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | in the manner specified by the author or licensor |
| Source | No source database. |
The main pollinator of Blakea species are bees (Almeda, 2000). There are many different species of bees that pollinate these trees including Xylocopa.sp., Epicharis sp., Melipona fasciata, two species of Bombus, two species of Trigona, and three species of Eulaema (Almeda, 2000). Bees pollinate the plants by bending over and aligning on the anthers while vibrating their indirect flight muscles (Almeda, 2000). The vibration of their muscles causes pollen to be released from the anther pores (Lumer, 1983). Pollen is released through minute pores at the tips of the anthers and it is released directly onto the front of the bee, allowing the transfer of pollen to the next flower (Lumer, 2000). There are some species that does not fit all of these descriptions such as Blakea chlorantha. B. pendulifora, and B. austin-smithii (Lumer & Schoer 1986). These few species of Blakea have nectar, small green bell shaped flowers, and are pollinated by rodents that visit the flowers at night for nectar (Lumer, 1983). The anthers of these rodent pollinated flowers are purple (Lumer 1980). The flowers of B. chlorantha release pollen when the rodent applies pressure with their tongue to the anthers or the petals (Lumer, 1983). Rodent pollinators regularly visit the plants, beginning their visits at dusk and continuing through the night during the entire flowering period (Lumer 1980).
- Almeda, F. 2000. A Synopsis of the Genus Blakea (Melastomataceae) in Mexico and Central America. Novon. 10.4: 299-319.
- Lumer, C. Blakea (San Miguel). In Costa Rican Natural History. Daniel H. Janzen (ed). Chicago: U of Chicago Press, 1983. 194-95. Print.
- Lumer, Cecile, and Richard D. Schoer. “Pollination of Blakea austin-smithii and B. penduliflora (Melastomataceae) by Small Rodents in Costa Rica”. Biotropica 18.4 (1986): 363–364
- Lumer, Cecile. “Rodent Pollination of Blakea (melastomataceae) in a Costa Rican Cloud Forest”. Brittonia 32.4 (1980): 512–517.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | in the manner specified by the author or licensor |
| Source | No source database. |
Some species of Blakea have flowering period of 6-8 months (Almeda, 2000). The start and finish of a flowering season will vary between species as much as two months from plant to plant within a species (Almeda, 2000). However, B. grandiflora and B. tuberculata have short blooming periods during the wet season (Almeda, 2000). B. grandiflora blooms from August to October while B. tuberculata blooms from June-July (Lumer, 2000). The flowers have a sweet scent during the day but lack nectar (Lumer, 2000).
- Almeda, F. 2000. A Synopsis of the Genus Blakea (Melastomataceae) in Mexico and Central America. Novon. 10.4: 299-319.
- Lumer, Cecile. "The Reproductive Biology of Blakea and Tobobea (Melastomataceae)." Monteverde: Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest. New York: Oxford University, 2000. 273-76. Print.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | in the manner specified by the author or licensor |
| Source | No source database. |
Syntype for Blakea anomala Donn. Sm.
Catalog Number: US 1363682
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Original publication and alleged type specimen examined
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): H. Pittier
Year Collected: 1898
Locality: La Palma., San José, Costa Rica, Central America
Elevation (m): 1450 to 1550
- Syntype: Donnell Smith, J. 1906. Bot. Gaz. 42: 297.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
| Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/botany/?irn=2124286 |
Syntype for Blakea anomala Donn. Sm.
Catalog Number: US 1363683
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Verification Degree: Original publication and alleged type specimen examined
Preparation: Pressed specimen
Collector(s): A. Tonduz
Year Collected: 1898
Locality: Sur les vieux frond dans les paturages de La Palma, Costa Rica, Central America
Elevation (m): 1449 to 1449
- Syntype: Donnell Smith, J. 1906. Bot. Gaz. 42: 297.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
| Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/botany/?irn=2100754 |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:10
Specimens with Sequences:4
Specimens with Barcodes:4
Species:5
Species With Barcodes:4
Public Records:4
Public Species:4
Public BINs:0
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2007) |
Blakea is a genus of plant in family Melastomataceae.
Species include:
- Blakea acostae, Wurdack
- Blakea attenboroughi, named after the naturalist and television presenter, David Attenborough
- Blakea brunnea, Gleason
- Blakea campii, Wurdack
- Blakea eriocalyx, Wurdack
- Blakea formicaria, Wurdack
- Blakea glandulosa, Gleason
- Blakea granatensis, Naudin
- Blakea harlingii, Wurdack
- Blakea hispida, Markgr.
- Blakea incompta, Markgr.
- Blakea involvens, Markgr.
- Blakea jativae, Wurdack
- Blakea languinosa, Wurdack
- Blakea madisonii, Wurdack
- Blakea oldemanii, Wurdack
- Blakea pichinchensis, Wurdack
- Blakea rotundifolia, D.Don
- Blakea subvaginata, Wurdack
 |
This Melastomataceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
| Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blakea&oldid=619469846 |