Remijia maguirei 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 maguirei Steyerm.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex 3 m altus, ramis glabris vel surculis juvenilibus sparse vel moderatim adpresso-pubescentibus; foliis petiolatis, petiolis 0.5-1.5 cm longis glabris, laminis oppositis oblanceolato-vel lanceolato-ellipticis apice acutis vel acuminatis basi acutis angustatisque 6.5-16 × 2-6 cm supra costa media nervis lateralibusque sparse pubescentibus ceterum glabris subtus sparse adpresso-pubescentibus axillibus bar-bellatis vel vetustioribus glabris vel glabrescentibus; stipulis lineari-oblongis sub-acutis 3 × 0.5 cm sparse vel moderatim adpresso-pubescentibus; inflorescentiis axillaribus in anthesi 6-9 cm longis 3-9-floris, pedunculo 6-9.5 cm longo breviter adpresso-pubescenti, axibus lateralibus duobus 3-10 mm longis; floribus pedicellatis, pedicellis 2-5 mm longis dense sericeis; bracteis sub floribus ovato-oblongis vel ovalibus obtusis vel subacutis 17-18 × 8-9 mm pilis brevibus strigosis atque hirsutis longioribus instructis; calyce hypanthioque 6-7 mm longo, hypanthio anguste turbinato 4-5 × 2.5-3 mm dense velutino-sericeo, calycis tubo 1-2 mm longo extus strigilloso intus glabro prope basin glandulis quinque aggregatis, lobis 5 vadosis late triangularibus acutis 0.5 × 1 mm; corolla subinfundibuliformi 32-40 mm longa, tubo 21-24 mm longo basi 2 mm lato fauce 4-4.5 mm lato extus dense sericeo intus glabro, lobis 5-6 extus sericeis intus sparse papillato-puberulentibus 10-13 × 2.5-3 mm; antheris 5 mm longis, filamentis 2-2.5 mm longis paulo infra medium tubi corollae affixis; stylo 8 mm longo glabro; capsulis sursum dehiscentibus linearibus 22-27 × 5 mm dense strigosis, seminibus 7-7.5 × 2-2.5 mm.

  • Discussion

    Type. Cerro de la Neblina, summit, Cano Grande SSW of Cumbre Camp, Amazonas, Venezuela, alt 1100 m, 24 Dec 1957, shrub 3 m, flowers pink, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdack, William M. Keith & C. K. Maguire 42469 (holotype NY).

    Paratypes. VENEZUELA. Amazonas. Cerro de la Neblina, occasional in scrub forest along runlet near Cumbre Camp, summit, alt 1700 m, 5 Jan 1954, Maguire, Wurdack & Bunting 37065; stream course, Bonnetia forest at northwest head of Canon Grande, Cerro de la Neblina, alt 2000 m, 8-9 Dec 1957, Maguire, Wurdack, Keith & Maguire 42317.

    This taxon is characterized by the few-flowered inflorescences of showy pink corollas, abundantly glandular interior of calyx tube, shallow calyx with tiny teeth, and small leaves. It is probably most closely related to R. steyermarkii Standi, of Cerro Duida.