Xyris cryptantha Maguire & L.B.Sm.

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.

  • Family

    Xyridaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Xyris cryptantha Maguire & L.B.Sm.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Herbae acaules dense caespitosae, rhizomatibus nullis; foliis 7-9 cm longis, rigidis, laevibus; vaginis ca. 15 mm longis, rubro-brunneis, basi abrupte dilatatis, apice eligulatis et cum laminis confluentibus, intus dense longeque ciliatis, alibi glabris; laminis teretibus, subulato-acuminatis, 0.3 mm diam., glabris, pallido-punctulatis; scapo erecto, ad 12 cm alto, tereti, 0.3 mm diam., glabro, laevi; vagina scapi eas foliorum subaequans, breviter laminata; spica anguste obconica, 1-2-flora; bracteis duabus basilaribus anguste oblongis, obtusis, 8 mm longis, hand carinatis, marginibus albidis, membranaceis, mox laceratis, area dorsali magna, angustissima, acuminata, bracteis reliquis similibus sed gradatim minoribus; sepalis lateralibus liberis, linearibus, acutis, 5.5 mm longis, carinatis, glabris, laevibus; placentis basilaribus.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. This well marked species is presently known only from the Pacimoni savannas. It is perhaps most closely related to X. uleana.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 2, A-E.

    Type. Flowers yellow, locally frequent, Sabana Pacimoni, alt. 100 m, on right bank of Rio Pacimoni, 50 km above mouth, 2 Oct 1958, Amazonas, Venezuela, B. Maguire & J. J. Wurdack 41677 (holotype NY, isotype US). Paratype. Same locality, 41667.