Symbolanthus yutajensis Maguire & B.M.Boom

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1989. The Botany of the Guayana Highland- Part XIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 51: 1-127.

  • Family

    Gentianaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Symbolanthus yutajensis Maguire & B.M.Boom

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Herba suffruticosa 2 m usque alta; ramulis 2-3 mm diam., acute quadrangulatis, in angulis 4-porcatis; intemodiis 10-15 mm longis; foliisoppositis, subsessilibus; petiolis minus quam 1m m longis; laminis ellipticis 2-2.5 cm longis, 8-12 mm latis, apice obtusis vel acutiusculis, basiacutis, laminis in petiolum sensim attenuatis,venis lateralibus non evidentibus; floribus terminalibuserectis, solitariis, raro duobus, in fructifensnutantibus; sepalis fere liberis, non nisibasi connatis, lanceolatis, vel subovatis, 18-20m m longis, 6-10 mm latis, acutis, scarioso-marginatis,dorso carinatis; corollis infundibuliformibus,aliquantum ventricosis, roseis, intus albovittatis,tubo ca. 8 mm longo, limbo ca. 30 m mlongo, lobis 5, late ovatis, 15-16 mm longis, nonreflexis; staminibus 5 inclusis, filamentis filamentosis,ad juncturam tubi cum limbo afl&xis;antheris basifixis, ca. 3.5 mm longis, 4-locularibus,apice arete recurvatis, breviaristatis; pollinistetradibus 125-140 )um diam., sporodermate

  • Discussion

    Type. Venezuela. Amazonas: Herbaceous shrub to 2 m high, stems and leaves subsucculent, dark green, flowers rose, white striped within; frequent just below escarpment at 2100 m , Cerro Yutaje, Rio Manapiare, Ventuari, 17-19 Feb 1953, Bassett Maguire & Celia K. Maguire 35333 (holotype N Y ) .

    Specimens examined. VENEZUELA, amazonas: Cerro Yutaje. Maguire & Maguire 35333 (holotype NY, isotypes K, US, VEN); herb or subshmb 1-1.5 m high, leaves dark green, flowers rose, white-striped, occasional on chffs below escarpment at 2100 m, 17-18 Feb 1953, Maguire & Maguire 35317 (paratypes GH, NY, S).

    Symbolanthus yutajensis is an exceptionally well marked species belonging to the S. elisabethae alliance. Geographically and probably genetically it is most closely associated with S. camanensis, knovm from the relatively nearby Cerro Camani and S. elisabethae subsp. occidentalis from Huachamacari, each of which was yielded a new taxon oi Symbolanthus