Thibaudia nutans

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Ericaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Thibaudia nutans

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. VENEZUELA. Edo. Bolivar: Chimanta Massif, elfin forest formation on plateau of southeast-facing upper shoulder of Apacara-tepui, 2000 m alt, 19 Jun 1953, Steyermark 75718; east-central portion of summit of Apacaratepui, 2450-2500 m alt, 21-22 Jun 1953, Steyermark 75884; Chimanta Massif, Central Section, large rocks in savanna above Summit Camp, 1940 m alt, 3 Feb 1955, Steyermark & Wurdack 376A; moist face of sandstone along Rio Tirica between Middle Falls of Rio Tirica and Summit Camp, 1925 m alt, 5 Feb 1955, Steyermark & Wurdack 479; rocky edge of escarpment above Middle Falls of Rio Tirica below Summit Camp, 1925 m alt, 5 Feb 1955, Steyermark & Wurdack 500: Cerro uaiquinima, Rio Paragua, in deep narrow quebrada "North Valley," 1600-1700 m alt, 4 Jan 1952, Maguire 32972; Alto Rio Cuyuni, summit of southeriy portion of Cerro Uroi, 1000 m alt, 14 Sep 1962, Maguire et al 53832; Cerro Guanacoco, cumbre northeast portion, 1450 m alt, 3 Mar 1974, Steyermark et al 109757; vicinity of Cerro Uei, vicinity of road campamento 125, between Luepa and Cerro Venamo, 1100 m alt, 20-22 Apr 1960, Steyermark & Nilsson 379; Cerro Venamo, southeast part near the border of Guyana, 1575 m alt, 2 Jan 1964, Steyermark et al 92566; Rio Cuyuni drainage, km 130-131 south of El Dorado, 1290-1300 m alt, 19-26 Dec 1970, Steyermark et al 104507. Territorio de Amazonas: Cerro Yavi, summit, 2200 m alt, 1-3 Mar 1947, Phelps & Hitchcock 62; Cerro Huachamacari, Rio Cunucunuma, southeast escarpment, 2000 m alt, 11 Dec 1950, Maguire et al 30163. Frontier between Territorio do Rio Branco, Brazil and Edo. Bolivar, Venezuela: Serra do Sol, 2250 m alt, 28 Dec 1954, Maguire & Maguire 40422,40438. GUYANA. Valley of the Mahdia River, sandstone summit of east-facing escarpment, Mt. Ebini, 700 m alt, 15 Oct 1951, Maguire 32126; Kamarang River-Wenamu Trail, Samwarakna Creek, 1100 m alt, 11 Nov 1951, Maguire & Fanshawe 32574; Kamarang Station, 500 m alt, 14 Nov 1951, Maguire & Fanshawe 32608; Kaieteur Plateau, forest along trail from Plane-landing to Kaieteur Falls, 1400 ft, Feb-Mar 1962, Cowan & Soderstrom 1710, 2032.

  • Discussion

    9. Thibaudia nutans Mansfeld, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Beriin 9: 438. 1925. Thibaudia ulei (Mansf.) A. C. Smith in Gleason & Killip, Brittonia 3: 186. 1939. Ceratostema ulei Mansfeld, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 9: 438. 1925. A. C. Smith recognized T. ulei as distinct from T. nutans on the basis of leaf size and shape. However, he saw fewer than a dozen coUections. With the accumulation of much additional material from a wider geographical range within the Highland, it becomes obvious that the differences between the taxa (mentioned by Smith) break down completely. Camp (1948) has already made mention of this "Tepuia-complex," but made no formal synonymies. It is also extremely difficult to distinguish between Vaccinium euryanthum, Orthaea thibaudioides, and Thibaudia nutans from vegetative or fruiting material. It is only with the flowers (and especially the stamens) that the differences become obvious.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. VENEZUELA. Edo. Bolivar: Chimanta Massif, elfin forest formation on plateau of southeast-facing upper shoulder of Apacara-tepui, 2000 m alt, 19 Jun 1953, Steyermark 75718; east-central portion of summit of Apacaratepui, 2450-2500 m alt, 21-22 Jun 1953, Steyermark 75884; Chimanta Massif, Central Section, large rocks in savanna above Summit Camp, 1940 m alt, 3 Feb 1955, Steyermark & Wurdack 376A; moist face of sandstone along Rio Tirica between Middle Falls of Rio Tirica and Summit C

    Venezuela South America|