Voyria parasitica (Schltdl. & Cham.) Ruyters & Maas
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Authority
Maas, Paulus J. M. & Ruyters, P. 1986. Voyria and Voyriella (saprophytic Gentianaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 41: 1-93. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Gentianaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Mexico. Veracruz: Papantla, Schiede s.n. (holotype, HAL).
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Synonyms
Leiphaimos parasitica (Jacq.) Schltdl. & Cham., Voyria mexicana Griseb.
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Description
Species Description - Herbs, to 30 cm high. Stems simple, sometimes branched, white to creamy, internodes 2.5-3 cm long. Leaves connate at their base, narrowly triangular to narrowly ovate, 3-5 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, apex acute. Inflorescence dichasial at the base, monochasial towards the apex, to 30-flowered. Bracts similar to the upper leaves but somewhat smaller. Pedicels ca. 0.5 mm long. Flowers white to creamy, 5-merous. Calyx campanulate, 3-4 mm long, tube (1-)2-3 mm long, lobes triangular, remote, 0.5-2 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, apex acute to acuminate, sinuses obtuse, calyx scales present. Corolla salverform, white to creamy, 8-10 mm long, tube cylindric, 7.5-9 mm long, swollen after anthesis, constricted at the throat, lobes deltate, 0.5-1 mm long and wide, apex acute to acuminate. Stamens inserted 1-2 mm below the throat, anthers subsessile, ca. 0.5 mm long, dorsifixed, thecae acute at the base, truncate at the apex, divergent. Ovary narrowly ellipsoid, 4-5 x 1 mm, eglandular, stipitate, the stipe to 3 mm long in fruit. Style 0.5-2 mm long, stigma 2-lobed, lobes homed. Capsule ellipsoid to globose, some what flattened, 4-6 mm diam., valves with involute margins. Seeds filiform to fusiform, 0.6-2.0 x 0.07-0.10 mm, paraphyses present.
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Discussion
Voyria parasitica is the species with the northernmost distribution, as it extends to Florida and the Greater Antilles. It has a many-flowered inflorescence, a (white) corolla 8-10 mm long, the lobes being very narrow, only 0.5-1 mm wide.
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Distribution
USA (Florida), Mexico, Central America to Honduras in the South, and Greater Antilles; in forests, often on limestone, the collections from Florida often gathered in hummocks; from sea level to 900 (-1300) m; flowering all year.
United States of America North America| Florida United States of America North America| Mexico North America| Chiapas Mexico North America| Oaxaca Mexico North America| Veracruz Mexico North America| Yucatán Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Belize Central America| Honduras Central America| Bahamas South America| Cuba South America| Jamaica South America| Haiti South America| Dominican Republic South America| Puerto Rico South America|