Leandra sanguinea subsp. tepuiensis 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

    Leandra sanguinea subsp. tepuiensis Wurdack

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Calycis dentes exteriores ad anthesim 0.6-0.7 mm longi. Ovarii apex fere glaber cum setulis paucis glanduliferis 0.1 mm longis coronatus.

  • Discussion

    Type: Shrub 1.5-3 m, inflorescence branches red-tinged, flowers white, fruit reddish, frequent on escarpment slopes above Camp 3, Cerro de la Neblina, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, elev. 1600-1700 m, 17 Nov 1957, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdack, & Celia K. Maguire 42030 (holotype U S 2342601). Paratypes. VENEZUELA, Edo. Bolivar. Cerro La Danta: flla between kms 125 and 127, alt. 1200 m, Steyermark & Nilsson 184. Sororopan-tepui: summit, alt. 1800 m, Maguire & Wurdack 33953. Chimanta Massif: waterfall course between northwestern part of Abacapa-tepui and Apacara-tepui, alt. 1200-1600 m, Steyermark 75145; base of escarpment, Torono-tepui, alt. 1700 m, Steyermark 75488; slope forest of main section between Apacara-tepui and Torono-tepui, alt. 1400-1700 m, Steyermark 76000, Steyermark & Wurdack 1243; escarpment base, Amuri-tepui, Steyermark d; Wurdack 1335. Cerro Guaiquinima: slope forest near Intermediate Camp, alt. 1200 m, Maguire 33106.

    The typical subspecies, known only from the Kaieteur Gorge, has subulate external calyx teeth 1.8 mm long and the ovary apex with a lobulate corona tipped with numerous glandular hairs 0.3-0.5 mm long. A n isotype of the Potaro endemic (Sandwith 1268, NY) shows some gland-tipped hairs on the external calyx teeth, as well as incurved-setose stem and inflorescence pubescence; however the topotypical Maguire & Fanshawe 23075 lacks glandular calyx hairs and has appressed stem and inflorescence indument. In subsp. tepuiensis, there is similar variability in the degree of hair appression; there also is variability in the density of the lower leaf surface hairs, some of the paratypes being sericeous-strigose but with no concomitant floral differentiation.