Pyrrorhiza neblinae Maguire & Wurdack
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1957. The Botany of the Guiana Highland -- Part II. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 235-392.
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Family
Haemodoraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Herba cormifera unifoliata. Folium oblineare 30-36 x 0.8-1 cm carnosum glabrum, parte basali vaginante expansa 1-2 cm longa. Inflorescentia uniscaposa scapo basi bractea membranacea 3-5 cm longa vaginante bracteis superioribus 4 plusminusve coriacea vel carnosa 2-10 x 0.4-1 cm cum scapo crispo-pubescentibus setis subtilibus glanduliferis apicem versus densis. Inflorescentia pianosuperata ramis helicoideis cum bracteolis dense glanduloso-villosis. Flores sessili vel breviter (ad 3 mm)pedicellati bracteolo unico suffulto, tepalis aequalibus 12.5-15 x 5.5-6 mm ellipticis obtusis vel late acutis trinervibus intus glabris extus modice vel sparse glanduloso-puberulis praecipue praeter medium, flore ceteroqui glabro. Stamini unici filamentum 3-5-4 mm longum crassum, anthera 3 x 1.1 mm biloculare longitudine dehiscente; staminodia linearia 1.7-2.7 x 0.2 mm. Stylus 4.4-4.7 mm longus. Capsula 1.2-1.5 cm longa loculicida. Semen immaturum 3 x 2.5 mm complanatum marginibus processis corneis rubris ca. 1 mm longis dense vestitis.
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Discussion
HOLOTYPE: Herb with bright red-orange rootstalk, scape apically brown-orange, perianth basally orange-red and apically white, locally frequent in open savanna of west headland 5 km southwest of cumbre camp, Cerro de la Neblina, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, elev. 1900 m, Jan. 6, 1954, Maguire, Wurdack, & Bunting 37108 (NY). Paratype: Rootstalk and inflorescence orange-red, perianth white basally orange, fruit orange-brown, occasional in savanna along west escarpment 1-3 km north of cumbre camp, Cerro de la Neblina, elev. 1800 m, Jan. 10, 1954, Maguire, Wurdack, & Bunting 37222.
The closest relative of Pyrrorbiza seems to be Scbiekia, which differs in having much smaller flowers with a definitely zygomorphic perianth, one large and two small stamens in the inner cycle, two staminodia in the outer cycle, four (3-5 according to Pax) ovules per locule, a capitulate stigma, and smooth seeds.