Sphinctanthus striiflorus (DC.) Hook.f.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Rubiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Sphinctanthus striiflorus (DC.) Hook.f.

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Amazonian Brazil and Venezuelan Guayana to delta of Orinoco River. VENEZUELA. Terr. Fed. Delta Amacuro: Catalina, May 1896, Rusby & Squires 296. Bolívar: entre rocas en la orilla del Medio Caura, El Travieso, alt 150 m, 15 Mar 1939, Williams 11529; along Río Suapure, between Raudal Budare and Raudal Punta Brava (about 70-80 river km from mouth), alt 110-120 m, 17 Jan 1956, Wurdack & Monachino 41257; at river edges, Río Pargueni, 1-10 km above mouth, alt 90 m, 10 Dec 1955, Wurdack & Monachino 39771. BRAZIL. Amazonas: rocks on the Rio Negro "in Guiana Gallica" Schomburgk 900 (type of Sphinctanthus rupestris Benth.); secus Rio Negro, inter Barra et Barcellos, Nov 1851, Spruce 1874; Manaos, ad ripam saxosam Rio Negro, 8 Nov 1942, Ducke 1030; (Tefé) Ega, Amazon, 1831, Poeppig 2879 (type of Conosiphon aureus Poepp. & Endl.); Maués, 30 Nov 1946, Murca Pires 144, 145; south bank of Rio Negro opposite Manaus, 9 Nov 1966, Prance, Pena & Ramos 3027. Terr, do Roraima: Igarape Agua Boa, Rio Mucajai between Pratinha and Rio Apiaú, 24 Jan 1967, Prance, Forero, Pena & Ramos 4053.

  • Discussion

    Genipa (?) striiflora DC., Prodr. 4: 378. 1830.

    Conosiphon striiflorus Poepp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. & Sp. 3: 27. 1841.

    Conosiphon aureus Poepp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. & Sp. 3: 27. pl. 233. 1841.

    Sphinctanthus rupestris Benth., Hook. Jour. Bot. 3: 212. 1841.

    The Paris photo of the type specimen of Genipa (?) striiflora DC. bears an unpublished manuscript name (“Genipa brasiliana A. Rich.”). It is clearly referable to Sphinctanthus rupestris Benth., showing the characteristic enlarged base of the corolla tube of the genus. The leaf blades have a shape similar to those of 5. rupestris, and are obtuse or rounded at the tip, as is often the case in S. rupestris. Schumann [Mart. Fl. Bras. 6(6): 357. 1889] expressed the conviction that these two taxa were probably conspecific, and, if so, that de Candolle’s basionym had priority.

    In their description of Conosiphon aureus, Poeppig & Endlicher state the calyx to be glabrous, but make no mention of the presence of glandular excrescences within. The leaves vary at the apex from rounded to acuminate and from only 3-4.5 × 1.5-2 cm, as in Schomburgk 900, to 7-10.5 × 2.4-4 cm, as in Wurdack & Monachino 39771. The color of the corolla has been described by various collectors as “lutea” (Schomburgk), “aurantiaco-luteis” (Ducke), “amarillentas” (Williams), “yellow, the lobes brown-spotted” (Wurdack & Monachino 39771), “yellow, the tube greenish” (Wurdack & Monachino 41257), “yellow with dark red center” (Prance, Forero, Pena & Ramos 4053). Plate 233 of Poeppig & Endlicher has the corolla colored golden.

    The exterior surface of the corolla tube is strigillose with a zone of antrorse hairs alternating with one of retrorse tomentum. This type of alternating antrorse and retrorse pubescence is found likewise in S. polycarpus (Karst.) Hook. f.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Amazonian Brazil and Venezuelan Guayana to delta of Orinoco River.

    Brazil South America| Venezuela South America| Guyana South America|