Monographs Details:
Authority:

Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part XI. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 32: 1-391.
Family:

Malpighiaceae
Description:

Latin Diagnosis - Liana lignosa, ramis vegetativis sparsim sericeis demum glabratis. Lamina foliorum majorum 11-13 cm longa, 5-7 cm lata, elliptica, basi cuneata vel obtusa et subauriculata, apice abrupte brevi-acuminata, utrinque sparsim sericea m ox glabrata, reticulo subtus prominulo, subtus basi 2 glandulis ellipticis 2-3 mm longis et in dimidio distali aliquot glandulis parvis in serie sub margine munita; petiolus 11-16 mm longus, sericeus vel glabratus, eglandulosus; stipulae in paribus interpetiolaribus connatae, pari triangulari, usque 7 mm longo, 6 mm lato, caduco. Inflorescentia cymosa vel paniculata, sericea, floribus in umbelhs 4-floris, umbella subsessili (in pedunculo 0.5-1.5 mm longo portata), bracteis non-floriferis 10-20 mm longis, tenuis, bracteis floriferis ca 1.5 mm longis latisque, eglandulosis, pedunculo ca 5 mm longo, bracteolis 1-1.5 mm longis latisque, apicalibus, abaxialiter caHosis. Pedicellus 8-10 mm longus, apice tumidus, sericeus mox glabratus. Sepala 2-3 mm lata, rotundata, utrinque glabra praeter marginem minute ciliatam, per anthesin appressa, 4 lateralla biglandulifera, glandulis 3.5-6 mm longis, auriformibus. Petala lutea (praeter unguem rubrum), glabra, erosa, 4 lateralia ungue 4-5 mm longo, limbo 11-12 mm longo, 10-12 mm lato, orbiculari; petalum posticum ungue 3.5-4 mm longo, crasso, limbo 7-8 mm longo, 6-7 mm lato, obovato. Filamenta 3 mm longa, glabra, recta, ca 2/3 connata; antherae 1.4-1.8 mm longae, glabrae, subaequales. Ovarium 2 mm altum, dense sericeum; styli ca 2.5 mm longi, subaequales, antico gracHiore et paulo breviore, glabri, recti, stigmatibus ut videtur internis et decurrentibus. Fructus ignotus.

Discussion:

Type. Tillett & Tillett 45871, mixed-evergreen forest with indefinite fluvial forest along river, W bank, below Utschi mouth, Kamarang River, upper Mazaruni River basin, elev 550 m, Oct flr (holotype MICH, isotypes K, NY, US). This species is known only from the type. It is notable for its large stipules, large glands at base of lamina, sessile or subsessile umbels, tumid pedicels, asymmetrical non-decurrent calyx glands, and very large lateral petals. Its closest relative is a species of southwestern Amazonia that has smaller flowers and uninflated pedicels; representatives of that species are Klug 2636, San Martin, Peru (NY); Klug 3154, Loreto, Peru (NY, US); Schunke V. 7437, San Martín, Peru (MICH); LI. Williams 6422, San Martín, Peru (NY); Prance 5215 & 7015, Rondonia, Brazil (MICH); and Bang 1531, Mapiri, Bolivia (MICH, NY). Probably also referable to that species is Ule 6348, Loreto, Peru, type (?) of T. discolor var andina Niedenzu, not seen. Most of these collections have been called Tetrapterys peruviana Morton ex Macbride by Macbride or Cuatrecasas, but they do not compare well with Klug 3662 (US!), the type, from San Martín, Peru. It lacks large basal glands on the lamina and has symmetrical decurrent calyx glands and samaras without outgrowths between the lateral and dorsal wings. As far as I can determine, the collections cited (except Klug 3662) represent a natural species without a name. It will be described later as part of a revision of Tetrapterys.