Gymnosiphon breviflorus Gleason

  • Authority

    Maas, Paulus J. M., et al. 1986. Burmanniaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 42: 1-189. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Burmanniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Gymnosiphon breviflorus Gleason

  • Type

    Type. Guyana. Tumatumari, Potaro River, Hitchcock 17349 (holotype, NY; isotypes, G, K, S, US).

  • Description

    Species Description - Herbs, 10-30 cm high. Rhizome-scales narrowly ovate, 1.8-3.5 mm long, 0.40.6 mm wide, apex acuminate. Stems white to brown, unbranched, sometimes branched just above the ground. Leaves ovate to broadly ovate, 0.9-2.1 mm long, 0.8-1.6 mm wide, margins often involute, apex acute or obtuse. Inflorescence a bifurcate cincinnus, each cincinnus at an angle of 90° or less with the other, 1-8 cm long and 3-10-flowered. Bracts creamy, broadly ovate, 0.5-1.2(-l.6) mm long and wide, the basal ones to 2 mm long, apex obtuse or acute. Internodes of infructescence (3-)4-6 mm long. Pedicels 3-5.4(-6.4) mm long. Flowers white to creamy, erect, 5.5-8.8 mm long. Floral tube 4-7.2 mm long, somewhat constricted just below the tepals, with six slightly prominent ribs. Outer tepals 3-lobed, ca. 2 mm long; central lobe broadly ovate-triangular, ca. 0.9 mm long, 0.7-1 mm wide; lateral lobes broadly ovate-triangular, 0.7-0.8 mm long and wide. Inner tepals obovate to broadly obovate, 0.3-0.8 mm long, 0.4-0.6 mm wide. Connective without appendages. Stipes 0.1 mm long. Style, including branches and stigmas, 3.4-4.8 mm long, branches 0.2-0.3 mm long, stigmas yellow, horseshoeshaped, 0.4-0.5 mm diam., sinus 0.3-0.4 mm deep, base of the horseshoe shortly (0.1 mm) bidentate, apical filiform appendages to 1.6 mm long. Ovary transversely ellipsoid, 0.6-1.3 x 1-2 mm. Capsule broadly ovoid, to 2.8 x 2.1 mm, with six slightly prominent longitudinal ribs; the persistent part of the floral tube obliquely abscising or longitudinally split, not constricted above the capsule, persistent part of the floral tube including the capsule 3.4-5.2 mm long, style exceeding the floral tube by 1.3-1.5 mm, often swollen at the top. Seeds 0.2-0.5 mm diam.

  • Discussion

    Gymnosiphon breviflorus can be easily recognized by its non-constricted floral tube, which is obliquely abscising at the apex after anthesis.

  • Distribution

    From Panama in the north to Amazonian Brazil and Bolivia in the south; in forests, often on terra firme, from sea level to 600 m; flowering all year.

    Panama Central America| Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Peru South America| Huánuco Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Brazil South America| Acre Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| La Paz Bolivia South America|