Miconia
Velvet tree (Miconia calvescens)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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]
Synonymy
  • Abrophaes Raf. (1838), nom. superfl.
  • Acidodendron Kuntze (1891), orth. var.
  • Acinodendron Raf. (1838)
  • Acinolis Raf. (1838)
  • Amphitoma Gleason (1925)
  • Anaectocalyx Triana ex Benth. & Hook.f. (1867)
  • Angeja Vand. (1771), nom. rej.
  • Antisola Raf. (1838)
  • Augustinea A.St.-Hil. & Naudin (1844)
  • Auliphas Raf. (1838)
  • Calophysa DC. (1828)
  • Calycogonium DC. (1828)
  • Capitellaria Naudin (1852)
  • Catachaenia Griseb. (1860)
  • Catocoryne Hook.f. (1867)
  • Catonia P.Browne (1756)
  • Chaenanthera Rich. ex DC. (1828)
  • Chaenopleura Rich. ex DC. (1828)
  • Charianthus D.Don (1823)
  • Chiloporus Naudin (1845)
  • Chitonia D.Don (1823)
  • Chrysophora Cham. ex Triana (1871 publ. 1872)
  • Clastilix Raf. (1838)
  • Clidemia D.Don (1823)
  • Clidemiastrum Naudin (1852)
  • Conostegia D.Don (1823)
  • Copedesma Gleason (1925)
  • Cremanium D.Don (1823)
  • Cryptophysa Standl. & J.F.Macbr. (1929)
  • Cyanophyllum Naudin (1852)
  • Cyathanthera Pohl (1831)
  • Dancera Raf. (1838)
  • Decaraphe Miq. (1840)
  • Diplochita DC. (1828)
  • Diplodonta H.Karst. (1857)
  • Ekmaniocharis Urb. (1921)
  • Eurychaenia Griseb. (1860)
  • Eustegia Raf. (1838)
  • Folomfis Raf. (1838)
  • Fothergilla Aubl. (1775), nom. illeg.
  • Gallasia Mart. ex DC. (1828)
  • Glossocentrum Crueg. (1847)
  • Gonema Raf. (1838)
  • Graffenrieda Mart. (1832), nom. illeg.
  • Happia Neck. (1790), not validly publ.
  • Harrera Macfad. (1837)
  • Hartigia Miq. (1845)
  • Heterotrichum DC. (1828), nom. illeg.
  • Hormocalyx Gleason (1935)
  • Hosangia Neck. (1790), not validly publ.
  • Icaria J.F.Macbr. (1929)
  • Jucunda Cham. (1835)
  • Killipia Gleason (1925)
  • Leandra Raddi (1820)
  • Leonicenia Scop. (1777), nom. rej.
  • Lieutautia Buc'hoz (1779), nom. superfl.
  • Lomanthera Raf. (1838)
  • Maieta Aubl. (1775)
  • Mecranium Hook.f. (1867)
  • Menendezia Britton (1925)
  • Miconiastrum Bonpl. ex Naudin (1851)
  • Microphysa Naudin (1851 publ. 1850), nom. illeg.
  • Microphysca Naudin (1852)
  • Mommsenia Urb. & Ekman (1926)
  • Muelleramra Kuntze (1891)
  • Myrmidone Mart. (1832)
  • Naudinia A.Rich. (1846), nom. rej.
  • Necramium Britton (1924)
  • Octella Raf. (1838)
  • Octomeris Naudin (1845), nom. superfl.
  • Octonum Raf. (1838)
  • Oxymeris DC. (1828)
  • Pachyanthus A.Rich. (1846)
  • Pachydesmia Gleason (1948)
  • Platycentrum Naudin (1852)
  • Pleiochiton Naudin ex A.Gray (1853)
  • Pleurochaenia Griseb. (1860)
  • Pogonorhynchus Crueg. (1847)
  • Prosanerpis S.F.Blake (1922)
  • Pterocladon Hook.f. (1867)
  • Rupestrea R.Goldenb., Almeda & Michelang. (2015)
  • Sagraea DC. (1828)
  • Sarcomeris Naudin (1851)
  • Schizanthera Turcz. (1862)
  • Sericola Raf. (1838)
  • Soltmannia Naudin (1851 publ. 1850)
  • Sphaerogyne Naudin (1851)
  • Staphidiastrum Naudin (1852)
  • Staphidium Naudin (1852)
  • Stephanotrichum Naudin (1845)
  • Synodon Raf. (1838)
  • Synoptera Raf. (1838)
  • Terera Naudin (1851 publ. 1850), not validly publ.
  • Tetrazygia Rich. ex DC. (1828)
  • Tetrazygiopsis Borhidi (1977)
  • Tetrazygos Rich. ex DC. (1828)
  • Tococa Aubl. (1775)
  • Trigynia Jacq.-Fél. (1936)
  • Truncaria DC. (1828)
  • Tschudya DC. (1828)
  • Ziegera Raf. (1838)

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

Miconia albicans

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

Miconia fallax
Miconia salicifolia

References

  1. 1 2 3 Miconia Ruiz & Pav. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. Vol. III M-Q A-C. CRC Press. p. 1676. ISBN 978-0-8493-2677-6.
  3. ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Miconia". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  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)". 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". Brittonia. 73: 85–105. doi:10.1007/s12228-020-09633-w. ISSN 1938-436X. S2CID 225290096.
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