Authority:

Bohs, Lynn A. 1994. Cyphomandra (Solanaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 63: 154. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family:

Solanaceae

Synonyms:

Solanum diversifolium Dunal, Solanum heterophyllum Lam., Solanum caracasanum Roem. & Schult., Cyphomandra caracasana (Roem. & Schult.) Sendtn., Cyphomandra campanulata Moritz ex Steyerm. & Huber

Description:

Description - Inflorescences unbranched or forked, the axes glabrous to densely puberulent-pubescent. Calyx chartaceous or fleshy, glabrous to moderately pubescent, the radius 3-11 mm, the lobes 1-9 mm long, 1.5-4 mm wide, deltate to triangular, acute or obtuse at apex. Fruits ellipsoidal, elongated, acute at apex, 5-8.5 cm long, 1.5-2 cm in diam. Seeds 2.5-3 mm long, 2.5-3 mm wide.

Discussion:

The elongated fruits and relatively small seeds of subspecies diversifolia distinguish it from subspecies chlorantha. Subspecies diversifolia is restricted to the mountains of coastal Venezuela and is geographically separated from subspecies chlorantha by the Yaracuy depression in north-central Venezuela that runs between the Cordillera Merida and the Cordillera de la Costa.

Considerable local geographic variation occurs within subspecies diversifolia, perhaps corresponding to isolated populations occupying different peaks of the highly dissected Coastal Cordillera. Steyermark (1979) divided the Coastal Cordillera into several refuges and dispersal centers, emphasizing the distinctness of floristic elements in isolated portions of this range. Specimens from Miranda, Distrito Federal, and Aragua near Colonia Tovar have very large calyces (radius 6-11 mm, lobes 4-9 mm long, 3-4 mm wide). Collections from Colonia Tovar are nearly glabrous and were formerly segregated as a separate species, Cyphomandra glabra Pittier (Pittier, 1947). These collections are probably better viewed as local variants of subspecies diversifolia. Pittier’s name is illegitimate because he provided no Latin diagnosis.

Specimens collected in Aragua near Choroni or in the Parque Nacional Henri Pittier differ from the other representatives of subspecies diversifolia in their small calyces (radius 3-4 mm, lobes 1-3 mm long, 1.5-2.5 m wide). Collections from the Peninsula of Paria in Estado Sucre may also have small calyces, but my material is not sufficient to evaluate this character critically. The fruits, though acidulous, are pleasant-tasting and perhaps merit investigation as a fruit crop.

Distribution:

Venezuela South America| Aragua Venezuela South America| Distrito Federal Venezuela South America| Miranda Venezuela South America| Sucre Venezuela South America|