Ixora sandwithiana Steyerm.
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1967. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part VII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 17: 1-439.
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Family
Rubiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex vel arbor parva, ramulis pilis breviter patentibus pilosulis; stipulis bilobatis in vaginam 2 mm longam pubescentem connatis, vagina in lobos aristatos 8 mm longos basi late triangulares desinente, intus 3-aristatis in vaginam dense pubescentem 3-4 mm longam connatis, aristis 4-6 mm longis triangulari-subulatis extus minute puberulentibus; foliis ternatis brevipetiolatis, petiolis 1.5-3 mm longis supra glabratis subtus dense breviter pilosulis; laminis anguste elliptico-lanceolatis vel fusiformi-lanceolatis apice conspicue longiacuminatis basi cuneatim acuminatis, acumine acuto 13-23 cm longis 2-3.7 cm latis supra glabris subtus minute at mollitor pubescentibus, costa media nervis lateralibusque subtus pilis 0.1-0.2 mm longis patentibus instructis, nervis lateralibus utroque latere 18-28 subtus leviter prominulis 2-4 mm ante marginem anastomosantibus; inflorescentiis cymosis trichotomis 6-7 cm longis 9.5-10 cm latis (pedunculo haud incluso); pedunculo 3-4 cm longo pilis 0.1-0.2 mm longis patentibus dense piloso; inflores-centiae radiis primariis duobus vel tribus 20-25 mm longis divaricate patentibus dense pilosulis, ramulis superioribus lateralibus 13-14 mm longis divaricate patentibus dense pilosulis; floribus ultimis ternis centralibus solitariis sessilibusque lateralibus 1.5-2 mm longe pedicellatis, pedicellis dense pilosulis; bracteis sub cymis plemmque ternatis divaricate patentibus lanceolatis acuminatis 3-5 mm longis extus dense hispido-pilosis intus stramineo-strigosis; calyce hypanthioque 2.1 mm longo 1.5 mm lato; hypanthio urceolato 1.5 mm longo pilis patentibus pubescenti; calyce 1 mm longo extus hirtello intus strigoso, lobis 4 leviter subro-tundo-deltoideis apice rotundatis 0.2 mm longis 0.5 mm latis extus pilis patentibus pubescentibus, tubo intus basi glandulis carnosis munito; disco obsoleto; bractea sub hypanthio lanceolata 1.1 mm longa calyce breviori; corollis hypocrateri-formibus in alabastro acutis 11-14 mm longis, tubo 5.5-7.5 mm longo basi 1 mm lato apice 1.5 mm lato extus pilis 0.1 mm longis patenti-pilosulo praeter basin ipsam glabram intus glabro, lobis 4 ovato-oblongis acutis 4.5-6 mm longis 1.5-2 mm latis extus pilis 0.1-0.2 mm longis pilosulis intus glabris; staminibus exsertis, antheris lanceolatis apice acuminatis 2 mm longis; filamentis fere nullis 0.5 mm longis ad faucem tubi insertis; stylo 7 mm longo glabro.
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Discussion
This species is related to Ixora acuminatissima Mull.-Arg., I. intensa Kr., and I. cowanii Brem., from which it differs in the spreading-pilose corolla-tube, longer, more aristate stipules, densely puberulous stems, and densely pilosulous lower leaf-surfaces.
Both sheets of I. sandwithiana were labeled “Ixora longifolia sp.n.” by Ben-tham, but remained unpublished. Mr. N. Y. Sandwith sent me these sheets for identification. I have dedicated this very distinct species after him. It is a great pleasure to honor the name of this noted botanist, whose careful work in all groups of tropical American phanerogams will serve as a model for other students of tropical American plants. His scholarly and painstaking studies have done much to clarify the systematics of American tropical plants in general.