Kunhardtia rhodantha Maguire

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1958. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part III. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-156.

  • Family

    Rapateaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Kunhardtia rhodantha Maguire

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Herbae perennes terrestres; caulibus succulentis, crassis, 1-3 dm longis; foliis 3-7, 7-14 dm longis, vaginis valde distichis equitantibusque, in uno piano dispositis, coriaceis, 15-25 cm longis, conduplicatis, 3.5-5.5 cm latis, extus laevigatis enervatis exauriculatis eligulatis; laminis 5-12 dm longis, 4-5 cm latis, linearibus, subtiliter multinervatis, apice falcato-acuminato subobtuso; peduncelo pseudoterminali solitario, 7-12 dm longo, 7-10 mm lato, ad apicem valde dilatato et compresso, 2 cm lato; inflorescentia depresso-globosa, 7-8 cm diam.; braeteis involucralibus spathulatis bivalvatis ovato-acuminatis, 5-6 cm longis, 3-4 cm latis, maturis reflexis; receptaculo conico, ca, 2 cm alto; spiculis vulgo 50-60, sessilibus, porrectis, inferioribus reflexis, 3-4 cm longis, sepalis inclusis; bracteolis 16-20, valde gratatis, purpureo-rubris, apice rubrimaculato, inferioribus late ovatis, ca. 5 mm longis, 5 mm latis, saepe apiculatis, 5-7-nervatis, superioribus lanceolatis, ea. 20 mm longis, 5 mm latis, acutis, ad basim submembranaceis; sepalis 3, liberis, lanceolatis acutis rubritinctis, 30-35 mm longis, indistincte 9-11-nervatis, ad basim per 5 mm submembranaceis; corolla 35-45 mm longa, subcarnosa, purpureo-rubra, recurvo-porrecta aliquantum irregulari, petalis ad basim in tubo membranaceo per 10-15 mm connatis, sursum liberis, segmentis lanceolatis, naviculoideis, 20-35 mm longis, 6-8 mm latis, marginibus minute ciliolatis, multivenatis, basi auriculata, apice acuto; filamentis membranaeeis, 0.6-0.8 mm latis, ad basim corollae per 10-15 mm adnatis, partibus liberis ca. 10 mm longis; antheris 17-18 mm longis, linearibus, muriculatis, bitheeatis, ad apicem transverse biporis; ovario triloculari ad basim membranaceo sursum indurato, loculis pluriovulatis; seminibus subpyramidalibus, striatis, ca. 3 mm diam.

  • Discussion

    Among the Schoenoccphalcae, Kunhardtia by its ample corollas and numerous ovules, more than its immediate congeners, occupies a primitive phyletic position. Its anthers, however, have become the most modified of any in the tribe.