Calceolaria cordifolia Molau

  • Authority

    Molau, Ulf. 1988. Scrophulariaceae Part I. Calceolarieae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 47: 1-325. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Scrophulariaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Calceolaria cordifolia Molau

  • Type

    Type. Peru. Ayacucho: Prov. Huanta, Río Chuimacota Valley, 3100-3200 m, Feb-Mar 1926, Weberbauer 7577 (holotype, F; isotypes, F, GH, NY, PH, US).

  • Description

    Species Description - Ascending herb or subshrub, 0.5-1 m tall; inflorescence and distal parts of stems glandular-villous or glandular-tomentose with white or yellowish hairs. Leaves decussate; blades herbaceous, cordiform or ovate, 5.8-12 x 2.7-7.5 cm, acute or somewhat acuminate, cordate at base, the margins serrate, ciliate; upper surface bright green, sparsely pilose, almost smooth; lower surface pale green, reticulate-venose, the veins white-villous, interspaces pilose; petioles 1.5-5.8 cm, white-villous. Inflorescence composed of one or two pairs of 8-18-flowered cymes, the primary peduncles 4.2-12 cm, the pedicels 0.9-3.6 cm; cyme bracts present, though often rudimentary. Sepals ovate or elliptic, bright yellow, 7.9-10 x 5.7-7.3 mm at anthesis, acuminate, externally short-pilose, internally glabrous, the margins puberulous. Corolla type I, golden yellow, unspotted; upper lip 5-6 x 8-10 mm; lower lip 20-26 x 14-18 mm, saccate in 60-70% of length; elaiophore present. Stamens type 1; anthers buff or yellow-brown, glabrous, 2.8-3.4 mm, the thecae divaricate; filaments 1.4-2.6 mm. Style almost straight, 4-5.6 mm. Capsule ovoid or conic, at least 5 mm long (not seen fully mature), glandular.

  • Discussion

    The bright yellow calyx and golden yellow corolla make C. cordifolia a very showy species.

  • Distribution

    Endemic to the eastern cordillera of the Andes of central Peru, known only from the departments of Junín and Ayacucho; moist sites in open rock slopes, 3100- 3900 m.

    Peru South America| Junín Peru South America|