Alibertia surinamensis (Bremek.) Steyerm.

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.

  • Family

    Rubiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Alibertia surinamensis (Bremek.) Steyerm.

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Suriname and Brazil (Para, Amapa). SURINAME, montibus qui dicuntur Nassau, Km 36, 1 Mar 1949, Lanjouw & Lindeman 2338; same locality, Km 6.1, 4 Mar 1949, Lanjouw & Lindeman 2422; Nassau Mountains, Marowijne River, Plateau A, east 1 km from Camp I on Line A, alt 430-520 m, 31 Dec 1954, Cowan & Lindeman 39022. BRAZIL. Pará: Juruty Velho, 29 Jul 1927, Ducke 22916 (type of Alibertia dolichophylla Standi.). Amapá: Rio Araguari, at mouth of Anicahy, above Camp 14, 8 Oct 1961, Pires, Rodrigues & Irvine 51561.

  • Discussion

    Ibetralia surinamensis Brem., Rec. Trav. Bot. Neerl. 31: 266. 1934.

    Alibertia dolichophylla Standi., Field Mus. Publ. Bot. 22: 107. 1940.

    Syntype. Lawa River, Suriname, Versteeg 310, pistillate collection; Litanie River, Suriname, Versteeg 334, staminate collection.

    Ibetralia surinamensis was originally described from Suriname and differentiated on the basis of several characters from Alibertia, Duroia, and Amaioua. After comparing it with the type of Alibertia dolichophylla Standi., described from Pará, Brazil, I can find no outstanding characters to warrant its generic separation from Alibertia. Bremekamp differentiated Ibetralia from Duroia partly on the basis of the hairiness of the inner wall of the corolla tube in Ibetralia, but this distinction falls down in a number of species of Duroia, such as D. kotchubaeoides, D. petiolaris, D. triflora, and D. paruensis, all of which show varying degrees of pubescence of the interior of the corolla tube. The character of persistent stipules, attributed by Bremekamp to distinguish Ibetralia from Duroia and Amaioua, holds true, but fails to distinguish it from Alibertia in this respect, as shown in a number of species of Alibertia, such as A. edulis, A. stenantha, A. triloba, and others in which the stipules are persistent. Although Bremekamp states that the 6-7-merous flowers of Ibetralia distinguish it from Alibertia, some species of the latter genus, such as A. hispida Ducke (Duroia stenophylla Standi.) possess 6 corolla lobes and 6 calyx lobes, although 4 or 5 are the usual number found in Alibertia (A. triloba has 3 corolla lobes).

    Except for the sparsely puberulent calyx in the type of Alibertia dolichophylla as opposed to the glabrous calyx in Ibetralia surinamensis, I can find no significant differences between these two taxa. Therefore, it is necessary to combine Ibetralia surinamensis and Alibertia dolichophylla congenerically. It would appear from a study of the various characters at hand, although in some respects resembling Duroia and Amaioua, there are more similarities with the genus Alibertia, especially the persistent stipules and solitary pistillate flower. In Duroia and Amaioua, on the other hand, the stipules are united in the form of a conical cap and eventually cast off when the next leaves appear, and in Amaioua the pistillate flowers are grouped several or more together.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Suriname and Brazil (Para, Amapa).

    Suriname South America| Brazil South America|