Calea tricephala Maguire

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Asteraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Calea tricephala Maguire

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex 3 m. altus; ramulis in sicco sulcatis sparse hirsutis patentibus; foliis oppositis ellipticis vel lanceolatis vel oblanceolatis (4) 5-7 cm. longis (2) 3-4 cm. latis, firmiter papyraceis vel chartaceis, supra glabris subtus resinosopunctatis sparse hirsutis vel glabris, apice acuto, basi acuta, margine serrato sursum basim integro, venis primariis ferme 2 jugis recurvis ad apicem, venis secondariis anastomosis cum primariis subtus prominentibus supra prominulis, petiolo 10-15 mm. longo sparse ciliato; cymis terminalibus tricephalis vel monocephalis; pedunculis ebracteatis 2-5 cm. longis sparse hirsutis valde sulcatis; involucris late companulatis 1.5-2.0 cm. longis 2.0-2.5 cm. latis, bracteis exterioribus 4 foliaceis late ovatis acutis vel obtusculis 8-18 mm. longis 5-11 mm. latis sparse hirsutulis vel subglabris, phyllaribus 3-4-seriatis subinduratomembranaceis conspicue vittatis late scariosis, inferioribus suborbicularibus 7-9 mm. longis superioribus oblongo-oblanceolatis 16-18 mm. longis 6-8 mm. latis; floribus ligulatis ca. 12-14, ligulis flavis oblongo-oblanceolatis 7-9-nervis 12-14 mm. longis 3-5 mm. latis 3-crenato-denticulatis; pappo squamiformi, squamis ca. 15, biseriatis lineari-acuminatis laceratis ca. 3 mm. longis; achaeniis lineari-cuneatis 4-5-angulatis 4-5-costatis, costis sparse hirsutis; floribus discoideis tubulatis numerosis, corollis 6-7 mm. longis glabris, tubo L5-2.0 mm. longo, lobis 1.25-1.50 mm. longis acutis, squamis 12-15, biseriatis lineariacuminatis laceratis 5-6 mm. longis; achaeniis ca. 2.5 mm. longis aliquantum compressis, 5-angulato-costatis, costis sparse hirsutis; receptaculo alveolato convexo vel hemisphaerico paleaceo, paleis 5-6 mm. longis acutis minute erosis, achaenium subtendentibus.

  • Discussion

    TYPE: shrub 0.5-3.0 m. high, flowers yellow, rays 12-13, infrequent, cumbre along West Rim, south from Camp Cano, Cerro Paru, 2000 m. alt., Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, February 7, 1951, Richard S. Cowan & John ]. Wurdack 31296; New York Botanical Garden. Paratype: shrub 2 m. high, rays yellow, leaves with scented glands, cumbre, West Rim, Cerro Paru, 2000 m, alt., Feb. 4, 1951, Cowan & Wurdack 31246.

    Calea tricephala is most closely related to C. lucidivenia Gl. & Blake of Auyan-tepui, L'aipan-tepui, and Cerro Guaiquinima, all in the State of Bolivar. For this latter species Gleason and Blake suggest a close affinity with C. trianae var. tolimensis Hieron. of Colombia. The Venezuelan species, at least, show further strong relationship with C. myrtifolia (DC.) Bak. of Minas Geraes, Brazil.