32. Meriania vargasii Wurdack, Phytologia 13(2): 72 (1966).

Type:— PERU. Cusco: Prov. La Convención, Hacienda Guayanay, 1800 m, 15 May 1960 (fl.), C. Vargas 13240 (holotype: US! [barcode 00120390]; isotype: CUZ!). (Figure 66).

Comments:— Meriania vargasii is related to a group of Peruvian species (M. amischophylla, M. sumatika and M. weberbaueri) that share densely tomentose to villose hypanthia and calyces, calyces with claw-shaped dorsal projections (Fig. 66E), spreading, fuchsia to reddish-purple corollas, and antesepalous stamen connectives with laterally expanded descending dorso-basal appendages (Fig. 66F). However, M. amischophylla has subsessile leaves (vs. petiolate in M. vargasii) and M. weberbaueri has inflorescences with flowers in (3–)4–6(–7)-flowered umbels in the branchlet ends (vs. in regular dichasia in M. vargasii). On the other hand, some specimens of M. sumatika have been erroneously identified as M. vargasii, but the former differs by its 10-costate hypanthia (vs. terete in M. vargasii), petals 46–55 mm long (vs. 20–24 mm long) and anthers 14–16 mm long (vs. 9–12 mm long).

Meriania boliviensis Cogn., endemic to Bolivia, is related to M. vargasii by sharing similar indumentum, dorsal projections on the calyces, and petal length. Nevertheless, M. vargasii is easily differentiated by its petioles 0.8–1.5 cm long (vs. 1.1–4.4 cm long in M. boliviensis) and venation with the innermost pair of secondary veins distant 0.6–1.7 cm from the base of the leaf blades (vs. 0.9–3.9 cm).

All examined specimens have conspicuous claw-shaped dorsal projections on the calyces, except Vargas 10644 which has small projections that do not exceed the length of the calyx lobes (Fig. 66D). Wurdack (1966) considered that this specimen might be a different variety because of its smaller flowers. For this reason, we include Vargas 10644 under M. vargasii with reservations.

Distribution and phenology:— Meriania vargasii is endemic to southern Peru (Department of Cusco) and grows in montane forests at 1400–2800 m (Fig. 21). It has been collected in flower from March to June, and in fruit in March, May and June.

Specimens examined:— PERU. Cusco: Prov. La Convención, Dist. Echarate, alturas de Papelpata, 2082 m, 12°45’06”S, 72°36’37”W, 21 May 2007 (fr.), G. Calatayud et al. 3979 (NY!); Dist. Huayopata, localidad Amaybamba, Qda. Quinsapuncuyoc, 1690 m, 12°35’S, 72°18’W, 18 May 2005 (fl.), G. Calatayud et al. 3181 (CUZ!, NY!), Balconpata, 2200 m, 12°51’01”S, 72°32’46”W, 16 Apr 2004 (fl.), G. Calatayud et al. 2255 (CUZ!, NY!), San Cristóbal, 2120 m, 12°58’51”S, 72°32’58”W, 06 May 2006 (fl.), H. van der Werff et al. 21425 (CUZ!, NY!); Dist. Maranura, Mesa pelada, 2536 m, 12°33’S, 72°22’W, 21 Apr 2005 (fl.), L. Valenzuela et al. 5600 (NY!), Mesapelada, 2400 m, 12°54’39”S, 72°37’25”W, 19 Apr 2004 (fl.), W. Galiano et al. 6156 (CUZ!, NY!); Dist. Ocobamba, Mesa pelada, 1451 m, 12°57’06”S, 72°38’29”W, 25 Mar 2004 (fl., fr.), L. Valenzuela et al. 3243 (CUZ!, NY!); Dist. Santa Ana, alrededores de Tunquimayo, 1800 m, 21 Apr 1952 (fl.), C. Vargas 10644 (CUZ!, US!), Tunquimayo, 2800 m, 13°03’S, 72°56’W, 15 Jun 2003 (fr.), E. Suclli & V. Chama 1015 (NY!); Dist. Vilcabamba, Paltaybamba, quebrada Fuentes Mayo, 1400 m, 13°01’38”S, 72°44’16”W, 08 Jun 2002 (fl.), L. Valenzuela et al. 152 (CUZ!, NY!).