Quelchia

• Authority

  Carlquist, Sherwin. 1957. Anatomy of Guayana Mutisieae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 441-476.

• Family

  Asteraceae

• Scientific Name

  Quelchia

• Discussion

  A flower of Quelchia cardonae is seen in fig. 109. The corolla of this species (fig. 109A), like that of Chimantaea rupicola, exhibits a simplicity in structure which equals that found in the majority of Compositae. In the lobes, only lateral veins are found; these fuse beneath the sinuses and at the lobe tips. Thus five bundles and their associated stamen traces, which join with the corolla bundles in the achene top, enter the achene (fig. 109 C). Five other bundles, terminating upwardly at the achene top, are also present as exterior bundles in the achene. The style (fig. 109 B) contains the usual dorsiventral pair of bundles. At lower levels in the style, a pair of lateral bundles also is found, however. These four style bundles enter the achene (fig. 109 C); the dorsiventral pair unites with exterior bundles a short distance below the summit of the achene (fig. 109 E). The lateral pair continue down the achene as interior bundles (fig. 109 E, F). Near the base of the achene, the interior bundles fuse with the ovule trace; this grouping joins at the base of the achene a grouping formed from the exterior bundles. A single vascular strand connects the achene vascular tissue with that of the receptacle. Specimens examined of other species of Quelchia, Q. conferta, Q. eriocaulon, and Q. x grandifolia, were found to have a floral venation identical to that seen in Q. cardonae.