Neurolepis glomerata Swallen

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1969. The botany of the Guayana Highland-part VIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 18: 1-290.

  • Family

    Poaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Neurolepis glomerata Swallen

  • Discussion

    Neurolepis nigra Swallen, Mem. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 9: 400. 1957 (holotype US; isotype NY).

    Type. Venezuela. Estado Bolivar, Chimanta Massif, Bonnetia forest, northwestern part of summit of Abacapa-tepui, alt 2125-2300 m, J. A. Steyermark 74925 (holotype U S ; isotype N Y )

    Known only from Venezuela, besides collections from Bonnetia forests on the summit of Abacapa-tepui, Chimanta Massif (2100-2300 m ) , I have seen only one other collection, Steyermark 57199 (US), from swampy meadow in paramito at the base of Paramo de Tama, state of Tachira, at 2500 m. Steyermark states that the leaves reach 10-15 ft in length and flowering stems are up to 20 ft tall. The stiffly ascending, densely-flowered branches of the inflorescence, and prominent pulvini, set this species and Neurolepis angusta apart. I can distinguish the latter from the former only by its fertile lemmas which are awned. I a m aware that this feature difference may be inadequate to separate species and that further collections may disclose that the two are conspecific.