Monographs Details:
Authority:
Rudd, Velva E. 1968. A Résumé of Ateleia and Cyathostegia (Leguminosae). Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 32(6): 385-411, pl. 1-9.
Rudd, Velva E. 1968. A Résumé of Ateleia and Cyathostegia (Leguminosae). Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 32(6): 385-411, pl. 1-9.
Family:
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Description:
Description - Shrub or tree, to about 8 m. tall; leaves 3-13-foliolate, the axis tomentulose, 5-10 cm. long; stipules lanceolate, to about 10 mm. long and 4 mm. broad; leaflets with blades ovate, oblong, or lanceolate-oblong, 1.5-9 cm. long, 0.5-3.5 cm. broad, obtuse to acute, the base subcordate, rounded, or sometimes cuneate, the upper surface subglabrous to moderately crisp-pubescent, glabrescent, the midvein depressed, usually crisp-pubescent, the lower surface subsericeous when young, at maturity moderately subsericeous, crisp-pubescent, or the hairs patent, usually glabrescent, the petiolules 1-3.5 mm. long, crisp-pubescent to subsericeous; bracts linear or linear-lanceolate, 1-7 mm. long, 1.5-4 mm. broad, the bracteoles linear, 1-1.5 mm. long; flowers 15-30 mm. long; calyx tomentulose to subsericeous, 4-7 mm. long including teeth 0.5-2 mm. long; petal 15-30 mm. long, 5-18 mm. broad, the claw 5-10 mm. long; ovary white-villous; fruit crisp-pubescent to subsericeous, sometimes glabrescent, 3.5-5 cm. long including stipe 1-1.5 cm. long, 1-1.3 cm. broad; seed about 8-10 mm. long, 4-4.5 mm. broad, and 2-4 mm. thick.
Description - Shrub or tree, to about 8 m. tall; leaves 3-13-foliolate, the axis tomentulose, 5-10 cm. long; stipules lanceolate, to about 10 mm. long and 4 mm. broad; leaflets with blades ovate, oblong, or lanceolate-oblong, 1.5-9 cm. long, 0.5-3.5 cm. broad, obtuse to acute, the base subcordate, rounded, or sometimes cuneate, the upper surface subglabrous to moderately crisp-pubescent, glabrescent, the midvein depressed, usually crisp-pubescent, the lower surface subsericeous when young, at maturity moderately subsericeous, crisp-pubescent, or the hairs patent, usually glabrescent, the petiolules 1-3.5 mm. long, crisp-pubescent to subsericeous; bracts linear or linear-lanceolate, 1-7 mm. long, 1.5-4 mm. broad, the bracteoles linear, 1-1.5 mm. long; flowers 15-30 mm. long; calyx tomentulose to subsericeous, 4-7 mm. long including teeth 0.5-2 mm. long; petal 15-30 mm. long, 5-18 mm. broad, the claw 5-10 mm. long; ovary white-villous; fruit crisp-pubescent to subsericeous, sometimes glabrescent, 3.5-5 cm. long including stipe 1-1.5 cm. long, 1-1.3 cm. broad; seed about 8-10 mm. long, 4-4.5 mm. broad, and 2-4 mm. thick.
Discussion:
The complete range of this species is not yet known but it possibly extends into Bolivia. I think it probable, however, that the syntype collection made by Pearce is from Peru, where the locality name, Santa Ana, is not uncommon. The petal dimensions in this species are variable, even on the same branch. This may be more apparent than real due to differences in maturity of the flowers at the time of collection. I have been tempted to treat material from Ecuador as a new species and also to assign it to C. weberbaueri. The fruit tends to be glabrate at maturity and the stipe is shorter than on the type material of C. weberbaueri. On the other hand, I have a feeling that all collections of Cyathostegia might be correctly referred to only one variable species. Until more data become available, I have decided to maintain the status quo, with two species. Dr. J. N. Rose annotated specimens of two collections from Ecuador as a new species of Cyathostegia. Had he published, he would have anticipated by two or three decades Schery's elevation of Cyathostegia to generic rank.
The complete range of this species is not yet known but it possibly extends into Bolivia. I think it probable, however, that the syntype collection made by Pearce is from Peru, where the locality name, Santa Ana, is not uncommon. The petal dimensions in this species are variable, even on the same branch. This may be more apparent than real due to differences in maturity of the flowers at the time of collection. I have been tempted to treat material from Ecuador as a new species and also to assign it to C. weberbaueri. The fruit tends to be glabrate at maturity and the stipe is shorter than on the type material of C. weberbaueri. On the other hand, I have a feeling that all collections of Cyathostegia might be correctly referred to only one variable species. Until more data become available, I have decided to maintain the status quo, with two species. Dr. J. N. Rose annotated specimens of two collections from Ecuador as a new species of Cyathostegia. Had he published, he would have anticipated by two or three decades Schery's elevation of Cyathostegia to generic rank.