Acanthella montana Gleason

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett, et al. 1953. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (2): 87-160.

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Acanthella montana Gleason

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - A. confertae affinis sed ramosior, internodiis ubique brevissimis, foliis multo minoribus, seminum ala tenuissime scariosa.

    Species Description - Much branched depressed shrub, the internodes all very short, 0.7-1.5 ram. long, setiferous at the nodes, the setae 1.5-3 rnm. long and persistent far below the leaves. Leaves crowded in clusters of about a dozen, on petioles about 1 mm. long; blades firm, oblanceolate, up to 13 mm. long by 4 mm. wide, tipped with a subulate spine nearly 1 mm. long, acute at both ends or somewhat cuneate to the base, entire, glabrous, 3-nerved, the lateral nerves obscure, the secondaries obscure and crooked. Flowers not well displayed on the one available specimen, the hypanthium and sepals apparently very like' those of A. conferta, the stamens also the same; petals reported as yellow. Seeds concave, thin, about 4 mm. long by 2.5 mm. wide, the wing about 0.7 mm. wide, exceedingly thin and hyaline.

  • Discussion

    TYPE: from sandstone rocks on the summit of Cerro Sipapo, 1900 m. alt., Amazonas, Venezuela, Bassett Maguire & Louis Politi 27550; New York Botanical Garden.