Hamelia xerocarpa var. costaricensis Kuntze

  • Authority

    Elias, Thomas S. 1976. A monograph of the genus Hamelia (Rubiaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 26: 81-144.

  • Family

    Rubiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hamelia xerocarpa var. costaricensis Kuntze

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Specimens examined. COSTA RICA. Cartago: Taus, Valerio 1688 (F). Guanacaste: Carillo, Brenes 19309 (F). PANAMA. Bocas del Toro: Changuinola Valley, Dunlap 325 (F), 326 (F, US); vicinity of Chiriqui Lagoon, Changuinola River, Wedel 2600 (F, GH, MO), Old Bank Island, Wedel 1901 (F), 2143 (MO), Water Vahey, Wedel 914 (F, GH, MO), 1829 (F, GH, MO). Chiriqui: Progreso, Cooper & Slater 295 (F, N Y , US); western Panama, Stork 38 (US). Darien: above Paca, Williams 744 (NY, US); banks above Rib Paca, Stern et al 712 (GH, M O , US). COLOMBIA. Antioquia: near Villa Arteaga, Hodge 6981 (US), Lopez & Sanchez 42 (US); basin of Rib Leon o Bacuba, Cuatrecasas & Willard 26157 (US, VE N).

  • Discussion

    H costaricensis Standi., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 207. 1919 (holotype, Biolley 2656, US!). H. panamensis Standi., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 20: 208. 1919 (holotype, R. S. Williams 744, US!; isotype, NY!). H. Storkii Standi., Jour. Wash. Acad. Sci. 15: 7. 1925 (holotype, Stork 38, US!). Type. Costa Rica. Alajuela: near San Mateo, Aug. 1890, Biolley 2656 (holotype, (US!). Although the segregation of Hamelia costaricensis was based on very scanty material, the evidence supports conspecificity with H. xerocarpa and not close alliance with H. xorullensis as Standley (1919) indicated. In 1934, Standley separated H. panamensis from H. storkii on the basis of oblong-triangular, as opposed to deltoid, calyx lobes. An examination of both type specimens revealed no difference in the lobes, nor could any significant difference between the two taxa be observed at all. Because of the near continuum in the characters supposedly separating H. costaricensis from H. xerocarpa, and their sympatric distribution, I reduce H. costaricensis to varietal status.

  • Distribution

    Specimens examined. COSTA RICA. Cartago: Taus, Valerio 1688 (F). Guanacaste: Carillo, Brenes 19309 (F). PANAMA. Bocas del Toro: Changuinola Valley, Dunlap 325 (F), 326 (F, US); vicinity of Chiriqui Lagoon, Changuinola River, Wedel 2600 (F, GH, MO), Old Bank Island, Wedel 1901 (F), 2143 (MO), Water Vahey, Wedel 914 (F, GH, MO), 1829 (F, GH, MO). Chiriqui: Progreso, Cooper & Slater 295 (F, N Y , US); western Panama, Stork 38 (US). Darien: above Paca, Williams 744 (NY, US); banks above Rib Paca, St

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