Ledothamnus
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part X. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 29: 1-288.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Discussion
The genus Ledothamnus was based on a single coUection made by Schomburgk in "Guyana anglica." There is the assumption that this specimen (specimens) was obtained on Cerro Roraima, and hence in Venezuela. Schomburgk did, however, attempt to climb Roraima from the Guyana (British Guiana) side, a feat which has never been accomphshed by a botanist. On the Venezuelan side Schomburgk reached an altitude high enough to obtain the original specimens of the genus. The genus includes nine species which are wholly endemic to the mountains of Guayana. Like Befaria (probably its closest ally), Ledothamnus has distinct petals; however, the characters mentioned in the key readily distinguish the two genera.