Psychotria amita f. canaguensis (Standl. & Steyerm.) 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

    Psychotria amita f. canaguensis (Standl. & Steyerm.) Steyerm.

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Andes of Venezuela. VENEZUELA. Merida: bosque nublado de El Cinaral, al N de la Capilla de San Benito, entre San Eusebio y La Azulita, Municipio Zerpa, distrito Campo Elias, alt 1850 m, 12 Jul 1967, Ruiz-Teran 4183; Ruiz-Teran & Lopez Figueres 66; Herb. U. Andes 1127.

  • Discussion

    Psychotria canaguensis Standi. & Steyerm., Fieldiana Bot. 28: 597. 1953.

    Type. Moist rich forest, Quebrada de Los Salichales, tributary of Río Canaguá, southwest of Canagua, Estado Merida, Venezuela, alt 1950-2135 m, 9 May 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 56441.

    At the time of publication of this taxon, it was stated that it showed relationship with P. ottonis of Bolivia. It is now apparent that P. canaguensis is merely a densely pubescent form of P. amita Standi., originally described from Colombia, but now known from many sectors of the Venezuelan Andes.

    The type collection of P. amita from Colombia has glabrous stems, petioles, and stipules. Most of the specimens from other parts of Colombia and Venezuela have the stipules varying from glabrous to puberulous towards the base, petioles usually glabrous, and stems glabrous to partly puberulous. Some of the Colombian collections cited by Standley under P. amita (Field Mus. Publ. Bot. 7: 85. 1930) approach f canaguensis. Such specimens are Killip & Smith 18124 and 18342 from the vicinity of La Baja, and Killip & Smith 19282 from Mount Pena Blanca, near Charta, both from the Dept. Santander.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Andes of Venezuela.

    Venezuela South America|