Psychotria mapourioides var. tobagensis (Urb.) 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
-
Description
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known only from Tobago. TOBAGO. Virgin forest, Great Dog River Valley, 12 Oct 1937, Sandwith 1738; Menna, 23 Mar 1914, Broadway 4738; Mt. St. George, Castara Road, 18 Sep 1927, Williams 11809.
-
Discussion
Psychotria tobagensis Urb., Symb. Ant. 7: 441. 1913.
Type. Lot 42, Tobago, Jan, Broadway 4036.
Domatia are usually present in the axils of the nerves and midrib on the lower side of the leaf blades. The pubescent lower midrib and lateral nerves of the leaf blades are characteristic of this variety, but in all other respects the characters of P. mapourioides are manifest. Although domatia are prominent in var tobagensis, they may be present or absent throughout P. mapourioides and varieties.
It is concluded, after a study of a large series of specimens, that one taxon, Psychotria mapourioides, should be recognized as a variable species, which may be divided at most only into varietal categories, as above treated. These categories are based chiefly on the numbers of lateral nerves of the leaf blades and the numbers of lateral basal axes of the inflorescence. Size of corolla and absence or presence of spurred corolla tip have been found to be unreliable characters in the separation of the various taxa in this group.
-
Distribution
Distribution. Known only from Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago South America|