Piptocarpha triflora (Aubl.) Benn. ex Baker

  • Authority

    Smith, Gerald L. & Coile, Nancy C. 2007. (Compositae: Vernonieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 99: 1--94. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Asteraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Piptocarpha triflora (Aubl.) Benn. ex Baker

  • Type

    Type. French Guiana, ad ripam fluvii Aroura, s.d., Aublet s.n. (holotype, BM [also as photo at GA]).

  • Synonyms

    Eupatorium triflorum Aubl., Monanthemum cruegeri Griseb., Piptocarpha cruegeri (Griseb.) Baker

  • Description

    Species Description - High climbing, extensively branched shrubs, often forming vining thickets, lateral branchlets slender, terete, slightly striate, cinereous-stellate-tomentose. Leaves not crowded along the branchlets; petioles 515 mm long; blades 8-14 cm x (2-)3-5 cm, subcoriaceous, elliptic, oblong or lanceolate, acuminate at apex, slightly oblique to rounded at base, margin sparsely toothed, glabrous above, cinereous-stellate-tomentose below, 6-10 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescences axillary and terminal panicles. Heads with 13 florets, densely clustered in globose glomerules on slender peduncles along and at end of rachises; peduncles and rachises cinereous-tomentose; involucres narrowly ovoid, 6-7 mm x 1.5-2 mm; phyllaries irregularly imbricate in several series, yellowish brown, darkened toward and subacute at apex, margin ciliate to arachnoid, outer ones triangular-ovate to elliptic, silvery tomentulose at apex. Corollas cream-colored, glabrate, tube 3.5-4.5mm long, lobes 1.52 mm long; anthers 3 mm long, basal auricles sharply caudate, ca. 0.6 mm long. Pappus white to light straw-colored, biseriate, inner bristles filiform, 56 mm long, outer bristles unequal, Unear to filiform, 1 mm or less long. Achenes 4-5 mm long, 10-costate, minutely gland-dotted.

  • Discussion

    Piptocarpha triflora is found climbing high in trees and forming vining thickets along river margins and upland areas. It is easily recognized by its habit, dense clusters of small heads in axillary and terminal panicles, and elliptic to oblong or lanceolate leaves that are cinereous-tomentose below.

  • Common Names

    bush rope

  • Distribution

    Piptocarpha triflora is found in northern South America from eastern Colombia and eastern Venezuela to French Guiana. The species grows along river margins and upland areas. Elevation is 80 to 800 m. Flowering and fruiting chiefly occur from Jan to Jul but occasionally the year round.

    Bolívar Venezuela South America| Delta Amacuro Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| Amapá Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Roraima Brazil South America|