Graffenrieda fruticosa Wurdack

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Melastomataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Graffenrieda fruticosa Wurdack

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - G. rufae Wurdack remote affinis, sed foliis minoribus triplinerviis non acuminatis venis secundariis subtus vix evolutis, inflorescentia vix evoluta. Ramuli novelli cum petiolis foliis subtus hypanthio calyceque densissime pallideque rufo-fulvi. Petioli 4-9 mm; lamina integra 10-25 X 6-10 mm (in ramis sterilibus ad 40 X 20 mm) elliptica vel paulo ovato-elliptica apice hebetiacuta basi late acuta breviter (0.5-1 mm) triplinervia nervis secundariis inconspicuis supra anguste insculptis, supra primum furfuracea demum glabrata, subus primum pallide rufo-fulva demum cinerea. Flores in ramulis foliosis plerumque terni sessiles vel vix (ad 1 mm) pedieellati 5-6- (raro 4-) meri. Hypanthium (ad torum) 3.7-4.7 X 3-4 mm.; calyx 1.4-2.8 mm coalitus ad apicem vix (ad 0.8 mm) lobulatus, cum dentibus exterioribus 1.5-2.5 X 0.8-1 mm lanceolatis instructus. Petala 12-14 X 5-9 mm, asymmetrice obovata apice obtusa eciliata intus glabra extus modice granuloso-furfuracea. Stamina glabra isomorphica; filamenta 3.7-4.8 mm; antherae subulatae curvatae 4-4.8 mm longae, connectivo sub thecis paulo (ad 0.4 mm) producto postice in calcar acutum 0.8-1 mm longum porrecto. Stylus glaber 8.2-11.3 X 0.5 (basi) -0.2-0.3 (apice) mm; ovarium 3-loculare, dense rufo-granulosum apice in collum integruintegrum 1 mm. longum prolongum; semina 0.6-1 X 0.3-0.45 mm, laevia pyramidata.

  • Discussion

    Type: shrub 0.2-0.7 m, petals pink, anthers yellow, occasional in savanna 5 km west of eumbre camp, elev. 1900 m., Cerro de la Neblina, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, Jan 6, 1954, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdack, & George 8. Bunting 37105 (NY). Paratypes (all from the west eumbre of Neblina): Maguire, Wurdack, c0 Bunting 36927, 37085, 37295.

    The long exterior calyx-teeth are reminiscent of the genus Meriania; however, the character of the pubescence and the granulose ovaries indicate Graffenrieda. G. fruticosa seems to be the ultimate reduction of a line coming from G. hitchcockii Gleason through G. rufa Wurdack.