Centronia neblinae Wurdack

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Centronia neblinae Wurdack

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 6-12 m; ramuli foliis inflorescentiisque primum dense ferrugineo-furfuracei mox glabrati. Petioli 3.5-8 cm; lamina 15—40 X 6-16 cm obovato-oblonga vel oblonga apice plerumque breviter (1 cm) abrupteque hebeti-acuminata basim versus attenuata (basi ipsa rotundata) rigida, trinervata nervis primariis lateralibus ca. 2 mm inframarginalibus nervulis supra subprominenter denseque elevato-reticulatis subtus creberrime densissimeque elevato-reticulatis. Panicula 10-15 cm longa ramis lateralibus 0.5-2 cm longis dichasia singula vel cymas contractas ferentibus; flores 5-meri cum pedicellis robustis 5-8 mm longis. Gemmae maturae 2.3-2.7 cm longae; calyptra rigida 9-14 mm longa apice per 3-5 mm graditer vel abrupte attenuato-apiculata ad anthesim dehiscens; hypanthium (ad torum) 6.5-8 X 8 mm; calycis tubus supra torum 1.5-2 mm altus. Petala 17-20 X 11-12 mm obovata apice obtusa. Stamina isomorphica; filamenta 10 mm longa glabra; antherarum thecae 8-8.5 mm longae curvatae subulatae, connectivo 0.1-0.3 mm prolongato, appendice dorsali 1.5 mm longa acuta. Stylus 11.5 X 0.7-0.3 mm; stigma punctiforme; ovarium 5-loculare glabrum apice per 1 mm in collum protractum, collo apice brevissime denticulato.

  • Discussion

    C. reticulatae Triana affinis sed hypanthio primum granuloso-furfuraceo mox glabrato.

    Type. Petals white, frequent along Canon Grande south-southwest of Cumbre Camp, Cerro de la Neblina, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, alt. 1050-1100 m, 25 Dec 1957, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdack, & Celia K. Maguire 42507 (holotype US 2342618). Paratype. Same locality data, Maguire, Wurdack & Maguire 42195.

    Both C. reticulata and the more distantly related C. vaupesana Wurdack have hypanthia and calyptras setose. The leaf blades of C. neblinae (as also C. reticulata) are strikingly similar to those of Graffenrieda rupestris Ducke; vegetatively G. rupestris may be distinguished by the strigose or appressed-setose vegetative buds and immature petiole apices.