Stegolepis neblinensis Maguire

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1965. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 12 (3): 1-285.

  • Family

    Rapateaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Stegolepis neblinensis Maguire

  • Type

    Type. Scapes usually 2-3 per plant, petals yellow obcordate apiculate, heads 1-2(-4), one scape usually monocephalous, the other usually bicephalous, abundant in open savanna. West Headland, 5 k m W Cumbre Camp at alt. 2000 m, Cerro de la Neblina, Amazonas, Venezuela, 6 Jan 1954, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdack d George S. Bunting 37107 (holotype N Y , isotypes V E N , US, K, COL, B R A S ) . Paratypes. Neblina: Maguire, Wurdack d' Bunting 37159; Maguire, Wurdack d: Maguire 42394.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Herbae perennes ad 5-8 dm altae; vaginis subinduratis valde conduplicatis, 3.5-4.5 cm latis, 10-18 cm longis, valde scario-marginatis, auriculis prominentibus rotundatis ca. 3-5 mm longis; laminis lineari-lanceolatis, (2-)3-6 dm longis, 1.5-2.5 cm latis, apice subfalcate acuto, costa prominenta, venis primariis, prominulis 0.4-0.8 mm apartis; pedunculis axillaribus 2-4, vulgo 3-5 dm longis, prominente nervatis, 1.5-4.0 mm latis, plus-minusve compressis; capitulis 1-3-floribus compressis; spieulis ovatis, magnis, sepalis inclusis, 2.5-3.5 cm longis, 1.0-1.5 cm latis, 2 bracteis deltoideo-acuminatis 6-7 mm longis subtendtibus; bracteolis 24-28 induratis deltoideo-acuminatis vel lanci-acuminatis, anguste scario-marginatis, 8-20 mm longis, 4-6 mm latis, apice acute acuto vulgo minute carinato; sepalis 3, plus-minusve liberis, lanceolatis 26-28 mm longis, laminis induratis 16-18 mm longis, unguibus scariis ca. 10 mm longis, ca. 3 mm latis, 7-9-nervis; petalis 3, 3-4 cm longis, unguibus liberis, 1.0-1.5 cm longis, 3-4 mm latis, valde 7-nervis, laminis 2.0-2.5 cm longis, 1.5-2.5 cm latis, late obovatis, obcordatis, apiculatis; staminibus 6, appositi-sepalis cum unguibus 2 mm adnatis, appositi-petalis plus-minusve liberis, filamentis planis, scariosis, 12-14 mm longis, ca. 1 mm latis, 1-venis; antheris 9-10 mm longis, 4-locularibus, loculis posterioribus apice ca. 0.5 mm obtuso productis; ovario 3-loculare, loculis pluriovulatis; stylis subulato-trigonis 12-14 mm longis; seminibus mihi ignotis.

  • Discussion

    With the material now at hand, it is not useful to attempt to distinguish the two considerably disjunct populations, i.e., those of Neblina in Amazonas, and Auyan-tepui of the Gran Sabana, some 700 k m distant, as distinct subspecific taxa.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Presently known from Cerro de la Neblina, Terr. Amazonas, and Auyan-tepui, Estado Bolivar. VENEZUELA. Neblina: Maguire, Wurdack d Bunting 37214, 37104. Auyan-tepui: planta que creee en la parte superior, flores amarillas, bastante, alt. 2300 m, Abril 1956, Vareschi d- Foldats 4864 (VEN), 4910 (NY) ; alt. 2200 m, Dec 1938, Tate 1108 (NY).

    Venezuela South America|