Hedyosmum pseudoandromeda Solms

  • Authority

    Todzia, Carol A. 1988. Chloranthaceae: Hedyosmum. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 48: 1-138. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Chloranthaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hedyosmum pseudoandromeda Solms

  • Type

    Type. Venezuela.  Prope coloniam Tovar. 1854-1855 (stam, pist), Fendler 1127 [lectotype (here designated) G, G neg. 7829; isolectotypes, BR (2 sheets), G, GH, MO, NY, S, US].

  • Synonyms

    Tafallaea pseudoandromeda (Solms) Kuntze

  • Description

    Species Description - Dioecious(?), glabrous trees 3-6(-15) m tall; internodes 1-4 cm long; young stems quadrate; older stems terete, encircled by leaf-sheath scars; internodes 1.1-5 cm long; nodes swollen. Leaves elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 3-4.4(-6.3) x 1.8-2.5 cm, apically acute, basally obtuse to cuneate, decurrent on petiole, glabrous, smooth, coriaceous, drying slaty dark brown above, reddish brown beneath, with midvein impressed above, raised beneath; lateral veins 7-10, 4-7 mm distant, obscure or slightly raised above and beneath, forming a distinct, nearly straight submarginal vein 1-3 mm from lamina margin; margins often revolute, serrate with teeth ca. 2.5 mm apart; free portions of petioles 0.3-0.9 cm long, slightly winged on margin; petiolar sheaths 0.4-0.8 x 0.4-0.6 cm, flared at apex, each margin with two minute, ca. 0.5 mm long, persistent, narrowly triangular, stipular processes, extended ca. 0.5 mm beyond free portion of petioles. Staminate inflorescences 1.2-1.7 cm long, composed of 1-3 axillary or terminal spikes; mature spikes 0.8-1.2(-3) cm long, with 100-150 anthers; anthers 0.7-1.2 x 0.5-1 mm; connectives ca. 0.3 mm long with a short hyaline apicule. Pistillate inflorescences axillary or terminal, branched or unbranched racemes, 0.9-2.2 cm long, often pendent, with 2-6 oppositely arranged cymules; cymules 1 (-2) flowered, 4-5 x 3-4 mm; subtending sterile cymule bracts, cucullate, acuminate at apex, ciliolate on margin, subtending floral bracts 2-3, up to 3 mm long, acute at tip, uniting at base to form a cupule around lower half to three-fourths of flower. Pistillate flowers trigonous, with a pore on each face of ovary, 3-4 x 2-3 mm; perianth lobes 0.5-1 mm long, rounded at apex, free to base; stigmas 2-3 mm long, clavate to linear in outline, 3-angled, elaborated distally. Fruiting cymules purple, globose to oblong, 6-8 x 3.5-5(-8) mm. Seeds 4-5 x 2-3 mm, trigonous, smooth.

  • Discussion

    Hedyosmum pseudoandromeda is notable for its cymules with solitary flowers, bracts that become reddish purple at maturity, and its small, thick elliptic leaves. It is most similar to H. gentryi. Both taxa have cymules with solitary flowers and reddish purple floral bracts. They differ in that H. pseudoandromeda has consistently shorter inflorescences with fewer cymules and smaller, thicker leaves.

    The lectotype was chosen over the other two collections mentioned by Solms-Laubach in the original description, Fendler 1117 and Moritz 1904, because of the high quality of the material representing both staminate and pistillate inflorescences, and the numerous isotypes.

  • Distribution

    Endemic to cloud forests of northern Venezuela, occurring at elevations of 1900-2400 m. Fruiting material has been collected in January, June, and October.

    Venezuela South America| Distrito Federal Venezuela South America| Lara Venezuela South America|