Ophiocaryon chironectes Barneby
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.
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Family
Sabiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Ophiocaryon heterophylla (Benth.) Urb. affine sed floribus paullo majoribus albis pedicello crassiusculo elevatis, staminum fertilium filamentis majusculis (0.7 nec 0.3-0.4 mm longis), foliorumque laminis coriaceis superne laevibus, nervis lateralibus utrinque minus numerosis immersis nec canaliculato-impressis absimilis. Arbores ± 15 m altae, trunco 3-4 dm diam, praeter inflorescentiae axes dense rufopuberulos glaberrimae; folia (parum nota) forsan heteromorpha sed unicum integrum visum imparipinnatum 2-jugum fere 6 dm longum, petiolo 17 cm, petiolulis statu sicco rugulosis ventre canaliculatis 7-9 mm longis; foliolorum lamina coriacea superne sublucida inferne opaca Olivacea, costa cum venis secundariis utroque latere 6-8 intra marginem incurvo-anastomosantibus impressis inferne elevatis, venis tertiariis retic-uloque subtili utraque facie immersis; inflorescentia amplissima paniculata anguste pyramidalis 7 dm longa basin versus fere 4 dm lata, floribus plerisque secus ramulos breves (vix ultra 1 cm longos) quartae ordinis racemose spicatis; pedicelli 0.5-1 mm longi, 0.5-0.6 mm diam, bracteola suffulcranti aequilongi vel paullo longiores; calycis lobuli ovati ± 0.8 mm longi basi brunnei late membranaceo-marginati; petala alba siccata brunnescentia lanceolato-acuminata inaequalia 3-4.3 mm longa, basi 0.7-0.8 mm lata; staminodia obcordata ± 0.5 mm longa; staminum fertilium 0.8-1 mm longorum filamentum rhombicum 0.7 mm longum 0.4 mm latum, antherae (generis) brunneo-aurantiacae; ovarium glabrum brevissime bicorne; fructus ignotus.
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Discussion
This species, geographically remote from its near kindred of the Phoxanthus type, is related both to O. heterophyllum and O. manausense, but different in its somewhat larger, white flowers borne on stout pedicels. The material at hand provides no evidence as to whether the foliage is hetero- or homomorphic, the one complete leaf being imparipinnate but already detached from the panicle. The leaf-blades resemble those of O. heterophyllum in size, but have fewer secondary nerves. The nerves, moreover, are immersed in the leaf-tissue of the upper face and not impressed so as to form a ladder of obliquely ascending grooves. The blades of O. manausense, as I interpret that species, are at once smaller and of thinner texture.