Phoradendron perfurcatum Rizzini

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part X. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 29: 1-288.

  • Family

    Viscaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Phoradendron perfurcatum Rizzini

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Solum P. fanshawei Maguire appropinquat notis essentialibus (figura fohorum, cataphyllorum indole et ramificatione ramorum), recedens foliis pluries minoribus stomatibus ad lentem hand perspicuis, ramis frequenter trifurcatis (nee stricte dichotomis) atque spicis valde divergentibus floribusque quadriseriatis. Fruticulus parviusculus, elegans, dioicus, ramis ramulisque teretibus, ad omnes nodos regulariter 2-3-furcatis, collapso phcatulo-rugosis; internodiis 3-8 cm longis. Vaginae cataphyllares 2(3) ad omnes internodiorum partes basales, usque ad 3.5 cm supra nodos, breviter tubulosae, margine fere integrae vel denticulis subnulhs. Folia elhptico-obovata, basin versus modice angustata, apice late rotundata ibique Integra vel saepius leviter retusa et frequenter brevissime apiculata, crasse coriacea, margine cartilagineo parum incrassato cincta, sub lente utrinque phcato-rugosa lucida et stomatibus hand notata, 2.5-4.5 cm longa, 1.3-2.5 cm lata, omnino nervis carentia; petiolus crassus, parum distinctus, ad 5 mm longus tantum. Spicae 1-2-nae in axillis, nonnullae terminales ad dichotomias ramorum, plerumque axillares, 3-4-articulatae, vulgo circa 2 cm longitudinem metiuntur, omnes quas visi masculas; pedunculus 3-4 mm longus, vaginas steriles 1-3-fert; articuli 3-4 mm longi, foveis profundis ubi flores parum exsertis, 10-18-flori, floribus sexseriatis.

  • Discussion

    Type. Frequent on shrubs, scrub, and low forest (8-10 m) on shoulder of eastern flank, above Thompson Camp, 1418-1525 m. Mount Ayanganna, Upper Mazaruni River Basin, Guyana, 10 Aug 1960, Tillett et al 45087. This species is quite distinct by its small, nerveless leaves associated with branches bifurcate or trifurcate at every node. It is ascribed evidently to the Dichotomae Trel., side by side with P. fanshawei, which it resembles fairly well. The distinction between both species maybe found at the outset of the Latin diagnosis.