''Medinilla theresae'' is an endemic

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of flowering evergreen shrub or

liana A liana is a long- stemmed, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in search of direct sunlight. The word ''liana'' does not refer to a ta ...

in the family

Melastomataceae Melastomataceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics (two-thirds of the genera are from the New World tropics) comprising c. 175 genera and c. 5115 known species. Melastomes are annual or perennial herbs, sh ...

, occurring on

ultramafic Ultramafic rocks (also referred to as ultrabasic rocks, although the terms are not wholly equivalent) are igneous and meta-igneous rocks with a very low silica content (less than 45%), generally >18% MgO, high FeO, low potassium, and are composed ...

soils on the dwarf forests of Mt. Redondo,

Dinagat Island Dinagat Island is an island located northeast of Mindanao in the Philippines. Until December 2006, it was part of the province of Surigao del Norte. Being its main island, almost all municipalities of the province of Dinagat Islands Dinagat ...

at 700-840 elevation, and at Mt. Hamiguitan,

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

at growing at 900 m elevation on the edges of upper montane forest, which reaches up to the 'mossy-pygmy' forest with elevation ranges of 1160−1200 m and 1460−1600 m elevation, respectively. This terrestrial, cauliflorous shrub can grow erect at 1.5 m high. The species whorled leaves, flowers which are 4-

merous Merosity (from the greek "méros," which means "having parts") refers to the number of component parts in a distinct whorl of a plant structure. The term is most commonly used in the context of a flower where it refers to the number of sepals in a ...

, and the pendulous inflorescences likened the species to '' M. pendula''. However, it differed from the latter on distinct secondary veins on the leaves adaxial surface, the inflorescences which are cauline or axillary, and its straight anthers.

Etymology

The species was named in honor of Theresa Mundita Lim, a wildlife advocate, and a former director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the

Department of Environment and Natural Resources The Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( fil, Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Yaman, DENR or KKLY) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for governing and supervising the exploration, developmen ...

References

theresae Endemic flora of the Philippines Flora of Mindanao Flora of the Philippines {{Melastomataceae-stub