Guettarda crispiflora subsp. crispiflora var. venezuelensis 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

    Guettarda crispiflora subsp. crispiflora var. venezuelensis Steyerm.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - A subsp crispiflora var crispiflora laminorum pagina inferiore inter venulas tertiarias pilis dense obtecta recedit; petiolis brevioribus 1.2-2(-4.5) cm longis dense vel moderatim hirtello-pubescentibus pilis potius laxis densioribus instructis; stipulis brevioribus 15-20 × 7-9 mm longe acuminatis extus dense strigosis intus superne dense strigosis; rhachidi longiore in anthesi 15-16 mm longa in fructu 23-40 mm longa, ramulis 9—13 -floris; ovario 4-loculare; fructu pilis patentibus hirsutulo praedito, 4-loculare.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Costal Cordillera of north-central Venezuela.

  • Discussion

    Guettarda tovarensis Standl. ex Knuth, Fedde Repert. Beih. 43: 668. 1928, nomen nudum.

    Guettarda discolor apud Standi., Field Mus. Publ. Bot. 7 : 403. 1931, not G. discolor Rusby.

    Type. Colonia Tovar, Aragua, Venezuela, alt 1900-2000 m, 25 Dec 1921, H. Pittier 9967 (holotype VEN).

    As in subsp crispiflora var crispiflora the calyx teeth are well developed and conspicuous (up to 1.5 mm long), and broadly deltoid to ovate-triangular, and the corolla is 15-25 mm long with the tube 11-20 mm long. The var venezuelensis differs from var crispiflora in the dense covering of hairs between the tertiary veinlets of the lower leaf surface, the shorter and more densely pubescent petioles, shorter stipules with longer acuminate-caudate apex, longer rachis of the inflorescence with more numerous flowers (9-13 instead of 5-6 on each branch of the inflorescence), and the hirsutulous fruit with spreading hairs, these normally lacking in subsp crispiflora var crispiflora.

    The following specimens are intermediate between var crispiflora and var venezuelensis: Monagas: SW of Caripe, alt 1300-1350 m, 9 Apr 1945, Steyermark 61972. Anzoategui: Fila Grande, headwaters of Quebrada La Tigra, Cerro San José, between Bergantín and Cerro Peonía (Cerro Los Pajaritos), alt 1800-1850 m, 19 Mar 1945, Steyermark 61537- TRINIDAD: Heights of Aripo, 10-26 Jan 1922, Broadway 9818.

    Standley (Field Mus. Publ. Bot. 7: 403. 1931) placed Pittier 9967 under G. discolor Rusby, a variation of G. crispiflora having less developed calyx teeth, 5-celled ovary and fruit, and dense pubescence on the lower leaf surface.