Tibouchina fraterna subsp. paruana 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

    Tibouchina fraterna subsp. paruana Wurdack

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - A subsp. fraterna differt pubescentia hypanthii toto longiore, calycis lobis angustioribus. Pili hypanthii (1-) 2-5 mm longi. Calycis lobi vix 1 mm lati longe (ad 1.5 mm) ciliati extus longe (plerumque 1-1.5 mm) squamuloso-strigosi.

  • Discussion

    Type: shrub 1 m, frequent in cumbre along west rim just north of camp eaiio head, elev 2000 m, Serrania Paru, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, Jan 31, 1951, R. S. Cowan & J. J. Wurdack 31060 (NY). Paratype: same locality and date, Cowan & Wurdack 31097.

    In T. fraterna ssp. fraterna, the hypanthial pubescence (except for the sinal setae) is about 1 mm long; the calyx lobes are 1.5—2 mm wide, short-ciliate (the hairs about 0.5 mm long), and outside short-squamose (the squamae about 0.5 mm long). In foliage, the two subspecies seem identical.