Chelonanthus chelonoides Gilg

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1989. The Botany of the Guayana Highland- Part XIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 51: 1-127.

  • Family

    Gentianaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Chelonanthus chelonoides Gilg

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Amazon and Rio Negro basin, Colombia and Brazil, to Venezuela, Guyana, and Surinam. A low to medium altitude plant, often weedy, throughout Guayana. GUYANA. High mixed forest, Kamuni Creek, Croete Creek, Essequibo River, infrequent, annual herb, unbranched, single stem, 6-8 ft tall, lower portion of stem sharply winged, square, flower greenish-white, 16 Apr 1944, Maguire & Fanshawe 22853 (NY). BRAZIL, amazonas: Along Rio Cauaburi between Cachoeira Manajos and river camp, corolla pale green, 7 Nov 1965, Maguire, Steyermark & Maguire 60128 (NY).

  • Discussion

    Type. Not indicated.

    Lisianthus chelonoides L. f, Suppl. Pl. 134. 1781

    Specimens examined. VENEZUELA, territorio amazonas: Herb 1 m high, main branch, left-hand fork Cafio Yutaje, 1300-1400 m alt., Serrania Yutaje, middle section, 15 Feb 1953, Maguire & Maguire 35245 (NY); in sabanita 1 km E of Maroa, 125 m alt., 16 Apr 1953, Maguire & Wurdack 35688A (NY); Sanariapo, 100 m alt., 7 Nov 1953, Maguire, Wurdack & Bunting 36200 (NY); sabanita 1 km E of Maroa, 130 m ah., 25 Nov 1953, Maguire, Wurdack & Bunting 36411 (NY); Piedra Catipan, on right bank of Rio Yatua, 2 hours above mouth, infrequent in pockets on rock, 30 Nov 1953, Maguire, Wurdack & Bunting 36483 (NY); Piedra Tururumeri, Rio Yatua, flowers white, on open rock, 100-140 m alt., 4 Feb 1954, Maguire, Wurdack & Bunting 37497 (NY); savanna on right bank of Cafio Cumare, 20 km above San Fernando de Atabapo, Sabana Cumare, 3 Jun 1959, Wurdack & Adderiey 42777 (NY), bolivar: 30 km below La Urbana, Rio Orinoco, 80 m ah., 14-15 Mar 1949, Maguire & Maguire 29039 (NY); occasional on Cerro Bolivar, slopes above Morrison- Knudsen Camp and Pilot Plant, 700-750 m alt., herb 0.7-1.5 m high, flowers greenish-white, 26 Feb 1953, Maguire & Wurdack 34401 (NY).

    It has been shown that the name Lisianthus chelonoides L. f. is illegitimate, and it has been referred to Chelonanthus alatus (Aublet) Pulle (1906). It would ftirther seem that two taxa would be involved in any broad interpretation of Chelonanthus alatus. W e do not propose to oflfer either nomenclatural or taxonomic resolution of this problem.