Malanea ptariensis Steyerm.

• Authority

  Maguire, Bassett. 1965. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 12 (3): 1-285.

• Family

  Rubiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Malanea ptariensis Steyerm.

• Type

  Type. Ligneous vine; leaves subcoriaceous, subrevolute, nerves prominent below; calyx and rachis pale green; fruit ovoid, pointed at tip, dark purplish-black, shining; densely forested, steep, south-facing slopes overlying sandstone, between "Cave Rock" and base of high sandstone bluffs, Ptari-tepui, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela, at alt. 2285-2405 m, 30 Oct 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 59548 (holotype F, isotypes NY, US, VEN).

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - Planta ligneosa volubilis, stipulis ovato-lanceolatis aeutis vel acuminatis 9-16 mm longis extus basi medioque usque ad infra apicem albido-strigillosis, marginibus glabris vel plerumque ciliolatis; foliis petiolatis, petiolis 9-15 mm longis dense strigillosis; laminis elliptico-ovatis vel oblongo-ovatis apice abrupte hebiterque aeutis vel acuminatis basi subacutis vel obtusis raro rotundatis 8-14 cm longis 4-7 cm latis, marginibus revolutis, supra glabris glabratis vel sparse strigillosis ubi sulcatis tenuiter ruguloso-nervatis paullo tenuiter sulcatis, subtus nervis lateralibus elevatis strigillosis pilis brevibus adpressis instructis superficie ipsa sparse vel moderate adpresso-pubescenti striolata pilis brevibus albidis instructis; nervis lateralibus utroque latere 6-8; inflorescentiis 8-12 cm longis 3-6 cm longe pedunculatis, pedunculo rhaehidi dense fulvo-hirtello-strigillosis pilis brevibus adpressis instructis, glomerulis 4-6 duobus infimis cum axibus 5-20 mm longis; pedunculi bracteis infimis lineari-subulatis 7-8 mm longis glabratis ciliolatis; florum bracteis late triangulari-ovatis vel late lanceolatis aeutis 1.5-2 mm longis medio extus strigosis marginibus setosis; calyce hypanthioque profunde campanulato 3 mm longo apice 2 mm lato, hypanthio 1.5 mm longo glabro; calyce 1.5 mm longo manifeste 4-lobato, lobis inaequalibus late triangulari-ovatis rotundatis 0.8-1.1 mm longis 0.7 mm latis extus sparse minute adpresso-strigillosis intus glabris marginibus ciliolatis; corolla cylindrico-infundibuliformi 6 mm longa, tubo 2-2.5 mm longo basi 1.5 mm lato fauce 2.5 mm lato extus breviter dense cinereo-strigilloso intus villosulo, lobis 4 lanceolato-oblongis obtusis 3.5 mm longis 1.5 mm latis extus dense cinereo-strigosis intus villosulis; antheris anguste oblongis 1 mm longis, filamentis 1.8-2 mm longis glabris; stylo (immaturo) 2.3 mm longo glabro; fructu ovoideo 10 mm longo 6 mm lato.

• Discussion

  The relatively well-developed calyx-lobes are characteristic of this species and serve to distinguish it from 31. gabrielensis.