Seemannia dioica Rusby
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Authority
Rusby, Henry H. 1927. Descriptions of New Genera and Species of Plants Collected on the Mulford Biological Exploration of the Amazon Valley 1921-1922. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 7: 205-387.
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Family
Gesneriaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - (But one specimen seen.) Densely gray-pilose, except the bright-green upper leaf-surfaces, which are very sparingly strigose with short, tapering hairs. Stems 2 dm. high, decumbent at the base, angled and sulcate. Leaves opposite, the petioles 1 to 2 cm. long, thin and weak, the blades 8 to 15 cm. long, 3 to 5 cm. broad, ovate with acuminate and acute summit and subrotund or obtuse base, entire or obscurely serrulate, ciliate, very thin, gray beneath, bright green above, the venation weak and inconspicuous, the secondaries 8 or 10 on a side, falcately ascending, faintly reddish. Flowers solitary in the axils, the peduncles very slender, 2 or 3 times as long as their petioles. Calyx-tube turbinate, about 3 mm. long and nearly as broad, the recurved lobes nearly twice as long, herbaceous, narrowly lanceolate and acuminate and acute. Corolla rose-colored, gray-pilose, 2.5 cm. long, the base slightly oblique and slightly gibbous, the tube moderately ventricose above the middle, the teeth very short, and green. Disk and pistil wanting. Stamens distinct, inserted at the base of the corolla, the base of filaments calcarate, the anthers extending to mouth of corolla, distinct.
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Discussion
The anomaly of a unisexual plant in this family is difficult of explanation. The plant is technically a Seemannia, by its corolla teeth, and calcarate filaments, while its distinct but connivent anthers are exceptional in this genus. It may be an abnormality, possibly a hybrid with an Aehimenes. The fact that only one specimen could be found is suggestive of an abnormal origin.