Psychotria bracteocardia (DC.) 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 bracteocardia (DC.) Müll.Arg.

  • Type

    Type. Bahia, Brazil, Salzmann.

  • Discussion

    Cephaelis bracteocardia DC., Prodr. 4: 534. 1830.

    Cephaelis pubescens Hoffmannsegg ex R. & S., Syst. Veg. 5: 213. 1819, not Psychotria pubescens Sw. 1797.

    Uragoga bracteocardia (DC.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. 2: 959. 1891.

    When transferred to Psychotria, Cephaelis pubescens Hoffmanns, ex R. & S. is pre-occupied by Psychotria pubescens Sw. (Prod. Veg. Ind. Occ. 44. 1797) and P. pubescens Bartl. ex DC. (Prodr. 4: 513. 1830), neither of which are conspecific with Cephaelis pubescens. Müller-Argoviensis adopted the next available name, i e Cephaelis bracteocardia DC., to transfer into Psychotria.

    Although this species can usually be separated from P. ctenophora Steyerm. (Cephaelis sylvatica Brem.) by the glabrous hypanthium and calyx, and by the upper external third only of the corolla pubescent instead of being pubescent externally over most of the surface, occasional intermediate specimens are found. Thus, Cardona 694 from Potrerito, Río Paragua, Edo. Bolívar, Venezuela, is intermediate in having the corolla pubescent only in the upper portion, and in the sparse pubescence of the stem and leaves, as in P. bracteocardia, but has a pubescent hypanthium, pubescent fruit, densely sericeous lower portion of the calyx tube, and ciliate calyx lobes, all characters of P. ctenophora. Bremekamp (Rubiaceae in Pulle, Fl. Surin. 4(1): 257. 1934) describes the interior of the stipular teeth as pubescent within. This is correct, but may vary to glabrous, as occurs in the type collection.