Renealmia thyrsoidea subsp. chrysantha Maas

  • Authority

    Maas, Paulus J. M. 1977. Renealmia (Zingiberaceae--Zingiberoideae), Costoideae (Additions) (Zingiberaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 18: 1-218. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Zingiberaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Renealmia thyrsoidea subsp. chrysantha Maas

  • Type

    TYPE. S. S. & C. L. Tillett 44996 (holotype, U; isotypes, NY, US), mixed evergreen forest along NE side of Mt. Ayanganna, Upper Mazaruni R., Guyana.

  • Description

    Description - Lamina narrowly elliptic, 25-60 cm long, 7-12(-l5) cm wide. Scape 15-30 cm long, the sheaths soon deciduous, 3.5-6 cm long and 0.8-1 cm wide. Bracts golden-yellow, soon deciduous, ovate-triangular (only one bract seen), 15 mm long, 8 mm wide. Peduncles 5-10 mm long, elongating to 15 mm after shedding of fruit. Bracteole 12-14 (the uppermost)-18-20 (the lowermost) mm long. Pedicels 1-4 mm long, up to 7 mm after shedding of fruit. Calyx golden-yellow, tubular, long-persistent, 20-21 mm long, 5-11 mm wide. Corolla (in bud) ca 20 mm long. Labellum (in bud) 10 X 6 mm. Anther 9-10 mm long. Style (in bud) 21 mm long. Capsule ellipsoid, 17-20 X 10-15 mm, ca 50-seeded.

  • Discussion

    This subspecies is named after its bracts and calyx, which according to the description on the label of the type are golden-yellow. All collections studied beside the type are very poor, and additional material for further investigation is necessary.

    It is close to subsp thyrsoidea but differs by its golden-yellow (instead of red) bracts and calyx, longer peduncles and pedicels, and longer persistent calyx. The decision whether to treat this new taxon as a subspecies or as a distinct species is somewhat arbitrary.

  • Distribution

    Guyana and Suriname; in upland forest, mostly near the mountain tops, (300-)800-1080 m; locally common.

    Suriname South America|