Ilex yutajensis Wurdack

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1961. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IV (2). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-87.

  • Family

    Aquifoliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ilex yutajensis Wurdack

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Ex descr. I. loretoicae Loes. affinis sed foliis minoribus venis subtus vix reticulatis. Frutex 2 m, glaber. Ramuli crassi i.s. longitudinaliter striato-sulcati. Petioli 7-9 mm longi 2.5-3 mm crassi; stipulae 0.9 X 0.6 mm triangulares apice parce acuminatae; lamina (6-) 7-9 (-10.5) X (4-) 5-6 (-6.5) cm apice rotundata vel subretusa (raro subobtusa) basi rotundata crasse coriacea ad margines remote (utrinque 5-7) sed distincte crenulato-serrulata supra nitidula subtus opaca et modice punctulata, venis lateralibus utrinque 5-7 supra plerumque indistincte insculptis subtus subelevatis ad margines arcuato-eonnectis sed vix reticulatis. Inflorescentiae 9 in foliorum axillis vel in foliorum delapsorum axillis plerumque 5-6(sed usque ad 12)-fasciculatae 1-florae; pedunculi (5-)6-8(-9) mm longi. Fructi 4-meri; calycis lobi singuli ca. 1 X 1-3 mm rotundata; drupa 4-pyrena ellipsoideo-sphaeroidea 5-6 mm diam. i.s. irregulariter sulcata stigmate prominulo 0.5 mm alto et 1-1.3 mm diam. coronata, pyrenis trigonis 4 mm longis. Flores [male] et flores [female] ignoti.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 24, D-F.

    I. loretoica has leaf blades 12-18.5 X 5-9 cm with manifestly reticulate veins. Other Andean species (I. scopulorum H.B.K., I. anonoides Loes., I. oltusata Turcz., I. crassifolia Hook., I. crassifolioides Loes.) with leaves similar to I. yutajensis all have known solitary [female] inflorescences or solitary [male] (and thus by implication solitary 9 ) inflorescences, as well as (either or both) other foliar and floral differences. From I. tateana Steyermark (the holotype of which has been examined), I. yutajensis differs in its smaller proportionately wider leaves with the lateral veins beneath rounded-elevated rather than sharply raised. Tate 424 was erroneously cited in the original description as a paratype of I. tateana, but actually is the type number of I. culmenicola Steyerm., a quite different species.