Kotchubaea duckei Steyerm.

• Authority

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

• Family

  Rubiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Kotchubaea duckei Steyerm.

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - Arbor dioica sat magna, ramulis glabris vel subglabris apicibus glutinosis; stipulis persistentibus late ovatis vel suborbiculari-ovatis apice rotundatis vel obtusis basi connatis 5-7 mm longis apice ciliolatis ceterum glabris; foliis petiolatis, petiolis 12-25 mm longis supra concavis longitudine sulcatis glabris vel infra granulari-puberulentibus; laminis subcoriaceis subtus pallidioribus late ellipticis vel obovato-ellipticis apice obtuse acutis vel subobtusis basin versus cuneatim angustatis 12-22 cm longis 3.5-10.5 cm latis supra nitidis glabris subtus glabris vel glabratis, nervis lateralibus utroque latere 7-13 utrinque leviter impressis, nervulis subtus subobsoletis; floribus masculis in cymis corymbosis irregulariter 6-8-floris dispositis, pedicellis 18-30 mm longis'erectis glabris; calyce masculo tubuloso 13-18 mm longo 6.5-7.5 mm lato extus glabro intus dense sericeo apice ciliolato truncato vel irregulariter repando-denticulato dentibus late deltoideis 0.2-0.8 mm longis; corolla mascula hypocrateriformi alba demum lutescenti, tubo 35 mm longo 3-4.5 mm lato superne abrupte ampliato fauce 7-10 mm longo 10 mm lata, tubo extus breviter cano-sericeo in parte basilari glabra 5-8.5 mm excepta intus glabro, fauce extus dense cano-sericea intus dense sericea, lobis 8 lineari-lanceolatis apice obtuse attenuatis 28-34 mm longis 3.5-5 mm latis utrinque cano-tomentellis; staminibus 8, antheris lineari-oblongis 8.5-9 mm longis apice acumine lanceolato acuminate plerumque 1-1.2 mm longo; stylo 28 mm longo parte superiore 18 mm pilosula infra glabra, stigmatibus crassis lineari-oblongis 8 mm longis; flores femineis non visis; bacca non visa.

• Discussion

  This species was originally determined by Dr. Ducke as K. semisericea Ducke, but differs from that species in the shorter corolla-tube of the staminate flower with the glabrous outer surface of the tube occupying a much smaller proportion of the tube than in K. semisericea. The new taxon appears more closely related to K. neblinensis Steyerm., from which it differs in the relatively longer corollalobes in proportion to the corolla-tube of the staminate flowers, the longer calyxtube of the staminate flowers, and the larger leaf-blades with more numerous pairs (10-13) of lateral nerves.