Remijia sipapoensis Steyerm.

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.

  • Family

    Rubiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Remijia sipapoensis Steyerm.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 10 m alta, ramulorum internodiis supremis dense ferrugineo-hirsutis; stipulis obovatis acutis 4.5 × 2 cm moderatim adpresso-strigillosis intus glabris; foliis petiolatus, petiolis 2-3 cm longis glabris, laminis obovato-ellipticis vel obovatis vel late oblanceolatis obtusis vel obtusiuscule acutis 15-34 × 5.5-16 cm supra glabris subtus costa media nervis lateralibusque moderatim vel densiuscule breviter strigillosis pagina sparse vel moderatim breviter strigillosa, nervis lateralibus utroque latere 8-9 in extremitatibus curvatis vix anastomosantibus, venulis tertiariis subtus obsoletis vel tenuibus; inflorescentiis axillaribus 16-33 × 4-11 cm, axibus infimis 1.5-5 cm longis moderatim strigosis vel substrigillosis; pedunculo 7.5-18 cm longo moderatim adpresso-strigilloso; bracteis infimis plerumque suborbicularibus rotundatis raro oblongo-lanceolatis obtusis 6-15 × 6-8 mm extus plerumque glabris praeter pilos paucos basi munitis intus glabris marginibus dense tomentoso-hirsutulis; floribus plerumque 3-5 ad axes laterales insidentibus breviter pedicellatis, pedicellis 2-4 mm longis densiuscule strigillosis; calyce hypanthioque 8-10 mm longo, hypanthio cylindrico 5-7 × 3 mm extus dense sericeo-strigoso, calycis tubo 3-3.5 × 4.5 mm extus moderatim strigoso intus glabro basi glandulis 0.3-0.4 mm longis munito, lobis inaequalibus 6 late deltoideis subacutis vel subobtusis 0.5-1.5 × 1-1.5 mm; disco ad dimidium tubum calycis attingente; corolla saltern 24-26 mm longa hypocrateriformi, tubo saltern 9-10 × 3.5 mm, lobis 12-16 × 4-5 mm extus dense strigillosis; antheris immaturis 4.5 mm longis; stylo 14 mm longo superne glabro inferne pubescenti; capsulis linear i-oblongis 3-4 × 1 cm sparse adpresso-pilosis.

  • Discussion

    Type. Cerro Sipapo (Paraque), frequent in forest above Cano Grande, 1 km northwest of Savanna Camp, Amazonas, Venezuela, alt 1500 m, 28 Dec 1948, small tree 10 m high, 10 cm diam, flowers white, Bassett Maguire & Louis Politi 28013 (holotype NY).

    Paratype. VENEZUELA. Amazonas: Cerro Sipapo, in low bush near Campo Grande, alt 1500 m, 8 Dec 1948, Maguire & Politi 27556 (NY).

    This species is related to R. ulei Krause, from which it differs in the shorter stipules rounded at apex, the different leaf shape, leaf base not long cuneate, petiole not long decurrent, relatively longer calyx and hypanthium with longer, less pubescent calyx tube, shorter corolla, less numerous lateral nerves of the leaf blades, and inflorescence more elongated in its upper part with more elongated lateral axes.