bolivianos. ABSTRACT . A new species, Meriania horrida C. Ulloa & Acha ´ (Melastomataceae), from the department of La Paz, Bolivia, is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by the stems, petioles, and axes of the inflorescences covered by a dense indumentum consisting of bristly dendritic trichomes, and by the ovary that presents apical fleshy colorful lobes. Some leaves present acarodomatia at the base of the blades. It is only known from the Yungas forests in the Bolivian Andes.