Stegolepis membranacea Maguire
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1965. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 12 (3): 1-285.
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Family
Rapateaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Flowers yellow, frequent. North Escarpment at alt. 1800 m, Cerro Huachamacari, Rio Cunucunuma, Rio Orinoco, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, 18 Dec 1950, Bassett Maguire, Richard S. Cowan d John J. Wurdctck 30324 (holotype NY).
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Herbae perennes ad 1.5 m altae; vaginis papyraceis, evidentur nervosis baud induratis; auriculis rotundatis, submembranaceis sed non-scariosis; laminis lineari-lanceolatis, ad 8 dm longis, 2.5-3.5 cm latis; costa fere prominenta; venis primariis prominentibus 0.5-1.0 mm apartis; pedunculis vulgo 5-8, aliquantum compressis vel angulosis, nervatis, ad 5 dm longis; floribus 1-2; spieulis, sepalis inclusis, 16-18 mm longis; bracteolis 18-20, anguste triangulari-lanceolatis, gradatis, 4-7 mm longis, obtusiusculis, anguste marginatis; petalis 3, laminis obcordatis, flabellatis, dichotomate venis; staminibus 6, lanceolatis, rugosis; ovario 3-loeulare, pluri-ovulato; seminibus mihi ignotis.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known only from Cerro Huachamacari and the adjacent floristically similar Cerro Duida.
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Discussion
On Cerro Duida, the two members of the sect. Pauciflora present seem to be areally separate, S. pauciflora confined to the southern part of the mountain, and S. membranacea to the northern escarpment. Morphologically they are quite distinct, the former with much larger spikelets, indurated leaf-sheaths, broader coriaceous leaves, and much broader enervate peduncles.