Psychotria kappleri (Miq.) Müll.Arg.

  • 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 kappleri (Miq.) Müll.Arg.

  • Type

    Type. In sylvis ad flumen Marrowyne, Suriname, Sep, Kappler 1871.

  • Discussion

    Cephaelis kappleri (Miq.) Standi., Field Mus. Publ. Bot. 4: 335. 1929, combination wrongly ascribed to Benoist by Bremekamp (Rubiaceae in Pulle, Fl. Surin. 4(1): 250. 1934).

    Carapichea kappleri Miq., Stirp. Sur. 181. 1850.

    Uragoga kappleri (Miq.) Pulle, Enum. Pl. Surin. 446. 1906.

    Although Bremekamp attributed the combination of Cephaelis kappleri to Benoist, the latter used the specific epithet “kappleri” under the genus Psychotria, as he likewise treated the other species in his list, using Palicourea and Cephaelis in the rank of section, as did Müller-Argoviensis in Martius’s Flora Brasiliensis. Thus “P. (Cephaelis) kappleri Müll. (Carapichea kappleri Miq.)” of Benoist (Bull. Soc. Bot. France 58: 140. 1921) cannot be implied as a new combination under Cephaelis, but rather under Psychotria and Standley in 1929 made the legitimate new combination under Cephaelis proper. The combination made by Benoist as Psychotria kappleri M.-Arg. was based on Carapichea kappleri Miq. and must be cited as Psychotria kappleri (Miq.) M.-Arg. ex Ben.

    The pyrenes of this species are flat on their inner face with a very slightly raised ridge in the middle but without any deep furrow, such as is supposedly characteristic of the generic concept Cephaelis. The outermost two involucral bracts, which are connate at the base, enclose two inner bracts of similar shape. These subtend four flowers. In addition eight other flowers are present within the head, each group of four surrounded by two folded bracts. Two subulate bracteoles enclose each individual flower.