Alomia ballotaefolia Maguire, Steyerm. & Wurdack
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett, et al. 1957. Botany of the Chimanta Massif - I Gran Sabana, Venezuela. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 393-484.
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Family
Asteraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Herbacea annua 3.5-5 dm alta, caulibus vinaceis teretibus erectis substrpplicibus vel pauciramosis dense puberulis, 2-4 mm diam.; foliis plerumque oppositis petiolatis, petiolis 1-2.5 cm longis, dense puberulis; laminis membranaceis ovato-deltoideis vel rhomboideis grosse inaequaliterque dentatis vel parce lobatis, supra molliter puberulis subtus dense molliter strigosis, 1.5-5.5 cm longis 1-3.5 cm latis, apice subacutis vel obtusiusculis basi cuneatis vel subtruncatis, penninerviis nervis lateralibus utroque latere 2-4, dentibus utroque latere 5-8 obtusis vel rotundatis; capitulis 11-14-floris ad apices ramorurr modice numerosis corymbulis confertis dichotome dispositis campanulatis, 4-4.5 mm longis 3-4 mm latis; involucri bracteis 12-14, 3-4-seriatis viridibus infimis lineari-lanceolatis vel anguste lanceolatis acutiusculis, 1.8-2 mm longis, extus dense hirtellis pilis adscendentibus, ceteris lanceolatis vel elliptico-lanceolatis acuminatis vel subacuminatis, 2.5-3 mm longis 0.5-0.8 mm latis, extus dense hirtellis prominenter 3-costatis; receptaculo subhemisphaerico subalveolato glabro paleifero; floribus lilacinis, 2.5 mm longis, in tubum proprium et fauces distinctas paullo differentials, a basi ad limbum sensim ampliatis, tubo extus parce glanduloso-puberulo limbo glabro, lobis ovatis hebeti-acutis 0.5 mm longis glabris; paleis nonnullis tenuibus oblanceolatis vel ligulato-oblanceolatis cuspidato-vel subito acuminatis, 2.2-2.5 mm longis 0.5 mm latis, extus parte superiore puberulis; achaeniis prismaticis nigris, 1.5 mm longis 0.4 mm latis, calvis apice annulo carnoso integerrimo.
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Discussion
TYPE: along base of southeast-facing sandstone bluffs of Chimanta-tepui (Torono-tepui), Chimanta Massif, Bolivar, Venezuela, 1700 m alt., May 21, 1953, Julian A. Steyermark 75520 (holotype F, isotype NY).
This species most closely resembles A. angustata (Gard.) Benth. and A. regnellii Malme, both from Brazil. From the former it differs in the receptacular pales, shorter phyllaries,. opposite leaves, and dense non-glandular pubescence of leaves and involucre. From the latter it may be distinguished by the glandularpuberulent outside of the corolla tube, more or less differentiation of corolla into tube and limb, 11-14- instead of 40-flowered heads, the presence of receptacular pales, and dense, non-glandular pubescence of stems and leaves.