Strychnos goiasensis Krukoff & Barneby
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Authority
Krukoff, Boris A. & Barneby, Rupert C. 1969. Supplementary notes on the American species of Strychnos. VIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 20: 1-93, IX. 94-99.
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Family
Loganiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Ad sectionem Intermediae referenda, S. panurensi et S. duckei affinis, sed ab ambabus corolla extus laevi nec dense papillosa styloque pilosulo nec glaberrimo absimilis. A S. panurensi antheris brevioribus, a S. duckei foliorum laminis minoribus glabris ulterius differt.
Species Description - Macroscopic: petioles 7-10 mm long; blades narrowly elliptic, about 8.5-10 cm long, 3-3.5 cm broad, cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, dull on upper surface, somewhat paler beneath, subcoriaceous to chartaceous, 3-plinerved with the inner pair opposite and diverging at 0-2 mm from base, reticulation prominulous on both surfaces. Microscopic: branchlets and petioles glabrous; blades prominently tuberculate beneath, smooth above, glabrous on both surfaces. Inflorescences in elongated thyrses (about 2½-5 cm long) with nodes of opposite branches along rachis distant, puberulent with pale-brown spreading or ascending hairs, bracts ovate 0.6-0.9 mm long, pedicels 0-1 mm long; calyx 1-1.2 mm long, the lobes ovate, 0.7-0.8 mm long, obtuse at apex; corolla 4.4 mm long, the tube 2.1 mm, within glabrous at base but bearded upward from a point ca 0.6 mm from orifice, the lobes 2.3 mm long, smooth externally, pilosulous within but papillose at tip and along the margins of the lobes; filaments inserted at the sinuses, 0.5 mm long; anthers narrowly oblong 1.2 x 0.45 mm, glabrous, fully exserted from the corolla-throat; ovary glabrous but style densely pilosulous up to within ±0.5 mm from the stigma. Fruits not seen. No tendrils are present in the available material but they are expected to occur in this species.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution: Known so far only from the State of Goias in Brazil. Doubtless occurs also at least in the State of Mato Grosso.
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Discussion
Type locality: Goias, Brazil. Inflorescences of S. goiasensis are elongated thyrses (about 2½-5 cm long) like those of the related S. panurensis and S. duckei. Inflorescences of the other known species of Intermediae are either congested cymes (up to 1.5 cm long) as in S. hirsuta and S. melinoniana or short, racemose, loosely few-flowered cymes (flowers mostly 5-7) as in four other species (S. guianensis, S. glabra, S. subcordata and S. bicolor). S. goiasensis may be distinguished from both S. duckei and S. panurensis by two easily observed characters: Corolla conspicuously papillose externally from base to tip of the lobes, ovary and style glabrous 43. S. panurensis and 45. S. duckei. Corolla smooth externally, papillose only at tip and along the margins of the lobes; ovary glabrous but style densely pilosulous up to within ± 0.5 mm from the stigma 44. S. goiasensis. So far as anthers are concerned, S. goiasensis seems about intermediate between the other two. The anthers of S. panurensis are proportionately narrower and absolutely longer, 1.5-1.9 mm; those of S. duckei are definitely smaller. We think, but cannot be sure because of the young stage of the flowers in S. goiasensis, that the corolla is much less densely bearded internally than in either S. duckei or S. panurensis. The hairs seem to be fewer, and shorter, and to extend less distance up the lobes. Strychnos goiasensis is the first species of Intermediae collected in the State of Goias, always assuming that no error was made on the label of Glaziou’s specimen. It is to be recalled that errors were made on labels of several Glaziou specimens of Strychnos as to the localities of their collections. For details see under S. guianensis (7a:56). The type collection of S. goiasensis is Glaziou 21760 and the next collection (Glaziou 21761) is of S. pseudo-quina which, according to the label, is also from Goias, where this species is known to occur. The type was received by the British Museum on an exchange basis from Paris and it was distributed as Antonia ovata Pohl, var. glabra Mull. Arg. It seems likely therefore that specimens of this collection are also available at Paris.