Siphanthera cowanii Wurdack

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Siphanthera cowanii Wurdack

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - A congeneribus antherarum rostris brevibus insignibus differ! staminibus minoribus quasi perfectis cum rostris evolutis. Herba supra ramosa ad 35 cm alta glabra (nodis et sinibus intercalycinis exceptis) ; nodi interfoliares pauco-setosi, setis ca. 1 mm longis. Folia 10-30 X 0.5-2 mm linearia acuta apiculata sessilia margine integra (raro apicem versus paucidenticulata). Inflorescentia laxe paniculata; flores ad 1 em pedicellati 4-ineri. Hypanthium 1.2-1.4 mm longum (fructiferum mains). Sepala 2.5-3.0 X 1.3-1.6 mm, ovato-deltoidea apice acuminata apiculata, sinibus intercalycinis unisetosis seta 0.4-0.5 mm longa. Petala 2.5-2.7 X 2.2-2.5 mm, asymmetriee obovata vel subrotundata, apice minute apieulata rotundata vel subtruncata. Stamina antesepala: filamenta 2.4-2.5 mm longa; thecae (rostro connectivoque exeeptis) 0.8-1.2 mm longae, oblongae, rostro 0.3-0.7 mm longo, minute (0.1 mm) uniporoso, connectivo sub theca 0.2 mm producto basi truncato vix incrassato. Stamina alternisepala: filamenta 2-2.1 mm longa; theeae (rostro connectivoque exceptis) 0.7-0.8 mm longae, ovato-oblongae, rostro 0.3-0.5 mm longo, connectivo sub theca 0.3-0.4 mm producto, basi truncato incrassato 0.3 mm lato. Stylus 3-4.5 X 0.1mm apice non incrassatus; stigma truncatum. Ovarium biloculare; semina 0.4-0.5 X 0.2 mm elliptica laxe elongato-aerolata areolis minutissime punctatis.

  • Discussion

    Type: flowers purplish pink, frequent in sabanita at northwest base of Cerro Moriehe, Rio Ventuari, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, elev. 150 m, Jan 17, 1951, Bassctt Maguire, Richard S. Cowan, and John J. Wurdack. 30993 (NY). Paratypes: locally frequent in Savanna No. 3, northwest base of Cerro Yapacana, elev. 125 m, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela Jan 1, 1951. Maguire, Cowan, and Wurdack 30531; same locality, Xov 20, 1953, Maguire, Wurdack, and Bunting 36588.

    The vegetative aspect, except for the lack of glandular pubescence, is like that of N. foliosa. The stamens, however, are very different