Abolboda americana (Aubl.) Lanj.

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1958. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part III. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-156.

  • Family

    Xyridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Abolboda americana (Aubl.) Lanj.

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Specimens examined: BEITISH GUIANA: Kaieteur Savanna: Sand with 1424 (K, NY); Maguire & Fanshawe 23116 (K, NY), 23118 (NY, F), 23188 (NY, F). SURINAME: Zanderij: Stahel 115 (NY); Maguire & Staliel 23666 (NY); Tafelberg, Maguire 24.211 (NY). French Guiana: Aublet s.n. (holotype BM, isotype P, photo NY). BRAZIL: Para: Colares, Poeppig 2093, type of A. poeppigii Kunth (P, F 2 sheets, M); Colares, Bucke 18968, topotype of A. poeppigii Kunth (S, 2 sheets); Campina do Yigia Black 50-8317 (COL) ; Brouvt 2130 (F); Froes 27839 (COL); Fires 4085 (COL). Amazonns, Bella Yista, Yaupes, Baldwin 355S (F, COL, US). VENEZUELA: Amazonas: Esmeralda, Tate 299 (NY); Esmeralda, Stryermark 57831 (F, NY) : 57847 (F, NY) : Yapacana, Maguire, Cowan & Wurdack 30482 (NY); Maguire, Wurdaclc & Bunting 36592 (NY); 36612 (NY); Sabana Yenado, Pimichin, Maguire & Wurdacl. 35566 (NY); Maroa, Maguire & Wurdack 35690 (NY).

  • Discussion

    Xyris americana Aublet, Hist. PI. Gui. Franc,. 1: 140. pl. 14. 1775.

    Xyris coerulea Lam. Tab. Encyc. 1: 621. 1791.

    Chlocrum gramineum Wittel. Herb. n. 1068 (ace. Seubert).

    Abolboda imberbis H.B.K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 1: 256. 1815.

    Abolboda inermis Link ex Steud. Nora. ed. 2. 2. 1840.

    Abolboda ? aubletii Kunth. Enum. PI. 4: 28. 1843 (nee syn. Xyris jupicai Eich.).

    Abolboda poeppigii Kunth, Enum. PL 4: 27. 1843.

    Abolboda americana var. imberbis (H.B.K) Maguire, Bull. Torrey Club 75: 193. 1948.

    Throughout this great range it is variable, very probably, as suggested by Lanjouw (I.e.), responsive to local ecologic conditions.

    On the Kaieteur, the species reaches the most luxuriant development, reaching nearly 15 cm in height. But specimens from Yapacana on the Alto Orinoco are nearly as large. Specimens from Zanderij Savannas, Suriname, somewhat less high, have relatively shorter leaves and coarser scapes with commonly larger heads. Most of the specimens from the interior Rio Negro—Rio Guainia region, and from the Amazon Estuary (Campina Vigia), Para, are more diminutive. Plants of this form became the types of the previously proposed names that fall within the limits of the species, viz., Xyris americana Aubl., Abolboda imberbis H.B.K., and A. poeppigii Kunth. I have now seen Aublet specimens at Paris and the British Museum, and Poeppig specimens at numerous herbaria.

    If infraspecific taxa are to be recognized, they would then have to be derived from variants such as those developed at Kaieteur and Yapacana, at Zanderij, and a minor form with acutish leaves and acute bracts and sepals collected by Baldwin (3558), in the Rio Vaupes.

  • Distribution

    Specimens examined: BEITISH GUIANA: Kaieteur Savanna: Sand with 1424 (K, NY); Maguire & Fanshawe 23116 (K, NY), 23118 (NY, F), 23188 (NY, F). SURINAME: Zanderij: Stahel 115 (NY); Maguire & Staliel 23666 (NY); Tafelberg, Maguire 24.211 (NY). French Guiana: Aublet s.n. (holotype BM, isotype P, photo NY). BRAZIL: Para: Colares, Poeppig 2093, type of A. poeppigii Kunth (P, F 2 sheets, M); Colares, Bucke 18968, topotype of A. poeppigii Kunth (S, 2 sheets); Campina do Yigia Black 50-8317 (COL) ; Brouv

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