Piptocarpha sellowii (Sch.Bip.) Baker
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Authority
Smith, Gerald L. & Coile, Nancy C. 2007.
(Compositae: Vernonieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 99: 1--94. (Published by NYBG Press) -
Family
Asteraceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. E Brasilia tropica, s.d., Sellow 786 (holotype, B, not extant, as photos at F, GH, NY; lectotype here designated from isotypes, G-DC [as IDC microfiche]; isolectotypes, BR, GH, K, P).
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Synonyms
Vernonia ramiflora Less., Carphobolus sellowii Sch.Bip., Piptocarpha senescens Baker, Piptocarpha sellowii var. balansiana Hieron.
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Description
Species Description - Robust scandent to subscandent shrubs, branches widely spreading, pendulous, terete, lateral branchlets numerous, shorter, closely cinereous-tomentose. Leaves evenly spaced along branchlets; petioles cinereous-tomentose, gland-dotted, (10-) 15-25 mm long; blades large, 8-18(-21) x (3-)4-7.5 cm, subcoriaceous, acute to acuminate at apex, oblique or cuneate at base, margin coarsely and conspicuously toothed, glabrous above, cinereous-stellate-tomentose, gland-dotted below, 8-12 pairs of lateral veins, inflorescences axillary, dense, branching corymbose clusters of 20-50 heads. Heads with 3-4 florets, solitary or in groups of 2-3 on branching, stout, tomentose peduncles; involucres narrowly ovoid or cylindric, 8.5-10 mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm wide; phyllaries irregularly imbricate in 7-9 series, yellowish brown often two-toned, darker above middle, glabrate, slightly tomentulose and acute at apex, margin sparsely arachnoid, curved or bow-shaped, outer ones elliptic, inner ones narrowly elliptic to linear. Corollas with intense sweet odor, cream-colored, gland-dotted at junction of tube and lobes, tube 4.5-5.5(-6) mm long, the lobes 2-3 mm long, outer surface glandular at tip; anthers purple 3.5-4 mm long, basal auricles elongated, papillate and blunt at tip, 0.5-0.6 (-0.8) mm long. Pappus white, biseriate, inner bristles filiform, 6-7 mm long, outer bristles very short, linear or a few filiform, occasionally deciduous, 0.5-1.5 mm long. Achenes (3.5-)4-4.5 mm long, somewhat 3-angled, 10-costate, glabrous. Chromosome number: 2n=34, Hatschbach 44000 (GA, MBM).
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Discussion
Piptocarpha sellowii is similar in its robust habit and dense axillary glomerules to P. lundiana and P. quadrangularis but is distinguished by its large, subcoriaceous leaves with conspicuously dentate margins and heads that have long, cylindrical to narrowly ovoid involucres.
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Common Names
Braço-forte, Cipó prata
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Distribution
Piptocarpha sellowii is found in the highlands of southern Brazil and in northeastern Argentina and eastern Paraguay. It is usually found climbing in trees or forming vining thickets in secondary forests on slopes along rivers and streams. Elevation is 350-750 m. Flowering and fruiting occur from May to Aug.
Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Rio Grande do Sul Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Paraguay South America| Misiones Argentina South America|