Palicourea flexiramea Steyerm.
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.
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Family
Rubiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Entre La Azulita y Ejido, Estado Mérida, Venezuela, 2 Apr 1950, flores amarillas, Roberto Velasco & Mauricio Ramia 627 (holotype MAR).
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex vel arbor parva, ramis glabris teretibus; stipulis 2.5 mm longis in vaginam truncatam 1.5 mm longam glabram connatis, vaginis in dentes breves oblongo-lanceolatos obtusos 1 mm longos glabratos desinentibus; foliis oppositis petiolatis, petiolis 8-12 mm longis glabris, laminis oblongo-lanceolatis vel elliptico-oblongis apice obtuse acuminatis basi acutis vel obtusis 10.5-17 × 3-6 cm supra glabris subtus costa media pilis patentibus pilosa ceterum glabris, nervis lateralibus utroque latere 15-16 in marginem praesertim desinentibus, venulis tertiariis tenuibus paullo impressis; inflorescentia pyramidali elongata 13-15 cm longa basi 10-16 cm lata apice supra mediumque 3 cm lata, ramis glabris infimis aliquantum flexuosis 4-5 cm longis, inferioribus medianisque cernuis, rhachidi subquadrangulari glabra; pedunculo 3.5-4 cm longo glabro; bracteis sub pedicellis late triangularibus ciliatis 0.9-1 mm longis; pedicellis 3-6 mm longis glabris; calyce hypanthioque 1.7-2 mm longo, hypanthio breviter columnari 1.1-1.2 × 1-1.2 mm glabro; calyce 0.5-0.8 mm longo, lobis sub-orbiculari-deltoideis subacutis conspicue ciliolatis; disco in alabastro lobos calycis aequanti sub anthesi lobos excedenti; corolla subcylindrica basi paullo ampliata 11 mm longa extus glabra, tubo 9 mm longo basi 3 mm lato fauceque intus supra basin tubi 2 mm annulo pilorum ornato, lobis 2.2 × 1.2 mm; staminibus ad apicem tubi affixis, antheris linearibus 3.5-3.8 mm longis; filamentis 1.5 mm longis supra basin tubi 6 mm affixis; stylo 9 mm longo; bacca suborbiculari-ovoidea 5-6 mm longa 4-5 mm lata 10-costata glabra.
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Discussion
An additional specimen (Fosberg 21031 from just above San Bernardo, halfway between Albán and Sasaima, lat 4° 5' N, long 74° 26' W, Dept. Cundinamarca, Colombia, alt 1900 m, 14 Sep 1943) may belong here, but the calyx lobes are not ciliolate.
This new taxon is characterized by its elongate inflorescence with flexuous or subflexuous descending lower and middle branches. It is related to P. macrobotrys (R. & P.), P. pyramidalis Standi., P. acetosoides, and P. demissa Standi, var chimo. From P. pyramidalis of Colombia the new taxon differs in having prominently ciliolate calyx lobes and inflorescence bracts and in a less-lobed calyx. From P. macrobotrys it differs in having a glabrous corolla, rachis, and inflorescence branches, glabrous hyanthium and lower leaf surface, and a less lobed calyx. From P. acetosoides it differs in the glabrous hypanthium, corolla, rachis, and lateral axes of the inflorescence, while from P. demissa var chimo it is distinguished by the elongated inflorescence with descending lower and middle branches, and in the smaller calyx and hypanthium.