Saxofridericia spongiosa Maguire
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1958. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part III. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-156.
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Family
Rapateaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Herbae perennes 2-3 m altae; caudice aliquantum rotundato nee compresso nee conspicue sigmoideo; vaginis 30-35 cm longis, 8-10 cm latis conduplicatis, crasse spongiosis, in sicco conspicue transverse rugosis; laminis 1.5-3.5 m longis, 7-10 cm latis, subtus delicate et dense punctatis, apice gradatim vel attenuate acuto, saepe falcato, reticulate venatis, venis primariis 1-3 mm separatis; pedunculis duobus, bracteis submembranaceis 15-30 cm longis subtentis, pedunculo 8-12 dm longo, ca. 15 cm lato, aliquantum compresso sed non acute compresso, conspicue bulbose subtus inflorescentia expanso; inflorescentia hemisphaerica solitaria bibracteata; bracteis involucralibus 8-10 cm longis, 4-5 cm latis connatis igitur saccatis, demum capite maturo ruptili; reeeptaculo ovato vel hemisphaerico 15-20 mm demum 35 mm longo, multispiculato; spiculis 60-100, fusiformibus, 26-32 mm longis, sepalis inclusis; bracteolis 6-18, gradatis, oblongooblanceolatis acuminatis, 14-20 mm longis, 4-6 mm latis, 5-9-nervatis sursum subinduratis, deorsum subscariosis; sepalis 25-28 mm longis, 6-8 mm latis, lanceolato-acuminatis, induratis, et valdius 9-11-nervatis sursum, ad basim scariosis; petalis liberis, ungue 20-22 mm longo, 4-5 mm lato, lamina rhomboideo-orbiculari vel ovato-orbiculari, minute acuminata 18-20 mm lata; filamentis ca. 20 mm longis; antheris ca. 18 mm longis, valde transverse rugosis; stylo ca. 3 cm longo, stigmate minuto terminali; ovario triloculari, loculis pluriovulatis; capsula ovalioblonga ca. 1 cm longa.
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Discussion
Type: perennial herb to 3 m high, sheaths conspicuously spongy, petals ovate rhomboid; frequent, granitic slopes, Cerro Arauicaua, alt. 120-200 m, Rio Yatua-Pacimoni, Amazonas, Venezuela, Feb 4, 1954, Maguire, Wurdack & Bunting 37485 (holotype NY). Paratype: perennial herb with leaves to 3.5 m long, flowers yellow, scapes and leaves glaucous, frequent, granitic slopes, Cerro Arauicaua, Maguire, Wurdack & Bunting 37474.
Known only from Cerro Arauicaua, where this handsome herb is a conspicuous plant of the open granite slopes. It is the only species of the subgenus Saxofridericia known to occur at low altitudes and elsewhere than on sandstones of the Roraima Sediments.