Neea neblinensis Maguire & Steyerm.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Nyctaginaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Neea neblinensis Maguire & Steyerm.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 5-metralis, ramulis novellis sparsim pubemlis; foliis elliptico-oblongis apice abrupte obtuseque subacuminatis basi cuneatim decurrentibus 13-15 cm longis, 4-8.5 cm latis, ubique glabns, nervis lateralibus tenuibus utroque latere 7-8, venatione tertiaria subtus grosse reticulata; petiolis 1-2 cm longis; inflorescentia foeminea pauciflora, floribus sessilibus confertis, axibus paucis 3-13 mm longis, 1-1.5 mm latis; pedunculo 3-5 cm longo, 1-1.5 mm lato sparsim adpresso- ferrugineo-puberulo; perianthio cyhndrico leviter undulato 7 mm longo 2-2.5 mm lato, lobis 0.5 mm longis; involucro leviter lobato, lobis late deltoideis subobtusis 0.3-0.4 mm longis, 0.8 mm latis extus pubemlis; pistillo 4-4.5 m m longo; stylo filiformi glabro; ovario 1.5 m m longo 0.8-1.8 mm lato.

    Description - Tree 5 m tall, young branches sparsely puberulent. Leaves elliptic-oblong, abmptly obtusely subacuminate at apex with a broadly obtuse acumen, 13-15 cm long, 4-8.5 cm wide, lateral nerves

  • Discussion

    Type. Venezuela. Territorio Federal Amazonas: Cerro de la Neblina, S of C a m p 3, 700 m alt, 14-16 N o v 1957, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdack & Celia K. Maguire 42072 (holotype N Y , isotype M O ) .

    Neea neblinensis is distinguished by the relatively large leaf blades grossly reticulate on the lower surface, the relatively large pistillate perianth, and the small clusters of flowers at or near the end ofthe ultimate axes ofthe inflorescence. It is related to N. huachamacarae Steyerm. and N. mapourioides Steyerm., from which it diflfers in the more prominent tertiary venation of the leafhlades and the clustered pistillate flowers on the ultimate axes.