Ferdinandusa goudotiana K.Schum.
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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
Rubiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Discussion
Type. Roraima, “British Guiana,” 1843, Rich. Schomburgk 985.
Schumann cites the above number for Schomburgk’s collection. The only numbers I have seen of this taxon collected by Rich. Schomburgk from Roraima are 621, represented at NY, 955 at US, and 621/955-B at K. These specimens differ somewhat from the original description in characters such as the amount of pubescence shown on the lower surface of the leaves and in the degree of ciliolation of the calyx lobes and pubescence of the hypanthium. Schumann describes the hypanthium (ovario) as “brevissime ferrugineo-vel canescenti-piloso,” the calyx as “ciliolato” at the apex, and the lower surface of the leaves as “plus minus pilosis vel glabratis” in the areoles. The Schomburgk 621 specimen at NY shows the calyx lobes mainly eciliate at the apex, the leaves glabrous beneath, and the hypanthium moderately appressed-puberulous; likewise Schomburgk 955 at US has the calyx lobes without cilia, the leaf surface beneath glabrous, and the hypanthium puberulous in the lower half or nearly puberulous throughout. The photo of the type specimen shows pubescence on the lower leaf surface.
Since there are evident three principal variations, after examination of the available material, the following key encompasses the chief differences between them, although no constancy has been found in the characters employed. This instability of these characters may be due in part to or depend to some extent on the degree of maturity of the plant, the pubescence appearing to be less as the state of maturity is reached.