Symbolanthus camanensis Maguire & B.M.Boom
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1989. The Botany of the Guayana Highland- Part XIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 51: 1-127.
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Family
Gentianaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Herba suflfruticosa 2 m usque alta; ramulis 3-4 mm diam., acute trigonis; intemodiis vulgo 2-4 cm longis; foliis oppositis, petiolis 10-15 m mlongis, ad basim aliquantum expansis; laminischartaceis ellipticis, vulgo 6-8 cm longis, 2-3 cm latis, obtusis vel acutiusculis, basi acutis, improminuletrinerviis; floribus terminalibus, duobus(?l-3); pedicellis 1.5-2 cm longis; sepalis 5,sub-liberis, oblongis, obtusis vel rotundatis, 15-16 mm latis; corollis infundibuliformibus, ventricosulis,6-7 cm longis, lobis 5, late ovatis velapiculatis, ca. 20 mm longis, nonreflexis; staminibus 5, filamentis filamentosis ad juncturamtubi cum limbo aflftxis; stylo 40-50 mm longo.
Distribution and Ecology - Known only from the summit of Cerro Camani.
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Discussion
Type. Venezuela. Amazonas: Herbaceous, flowers pink; occasional on summit of Cerro Camani, Rio Ventuari, 2200 m alt., 5 Feb 1951, Bassett Maguire 31799 (holotype N Y ) . Paratype. Perennial subshrub to 2 m, flowers rose-lavender, striped white; occasional, summit Cerro Camani, 2200 m, 17 Feb 1951, Maguire 31828 (NY).
Specimens examined. VENEZUELA, amazonas: Rio Ventuari, Cerro Camani. Maguire 31799 (holotype N Y, unicate); Maguire 31828 (paratype N Y , unicate).
It is regrettable that the Camani population is represented only by the two unicate type collections. These specimens are marked by short blunt sepals and petiolate, thin, elliptic, weakly nerved leaves. That this minor species is part of the Symbolanthus elisabethae complex is abundantly clear. However, in the isolation of its restricted range, the population is phenotypically relatively invariable and genetically restricted. In sepal character it resembles S. tricolor of eastem Colombia.