Randia formosa var. nitida K.Schum.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Rubiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Randia formosa var. nitida K.Schum.

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Venezuelan Guayana to delta of Orinoco River, Venezuela. VENEZUELA. Terr. Fed. Delta Amacuro: alrededores de Sacupana, Dec 1959, Aristeguieta 4029; Catalina, lower Orinoco, May 1896, Rusby & Squires 222 (type of Randia orinocensis Rusby); Santa Catalina, Rusby & Squires 173. Bolívar: between mouth of Río Pargueni and mouth of Río Horeda, Middle Orinoco, alt 80-90 m, 14 Dec 1955, Wurdack & Monachino 39880. Amazonas: Casiquiare, Spruce 3211.

  • Discussion

    Randia orinocensis Rusby, Descr. N. Sp. S. Am. PI. 132. 1920.

    Type. Casiquiare, Amazonas, Venezuela, Dec 1853, Spruce 3211.

    Although Rusby’s original description states that the plant is “glabrous except the young portions, which are obscurely strigose,” an examination of the type specimen shows the lower midrib and lateral nerves of the leaves strigillose or with ascending pubescence. The fruit surface, likewise, shows an abundance of short appressed hairs.

    Within the R. formosa taxon are found specimens which are intermediate between typical R. formosa and var densiflora with elongate calyx tube and hypanthium as in R. formosa var formosa, corolla lobes shorter than in R. formosa var formosa, but approaching those of var densiflora, corolla tube longer than in var densiflora, and with the lower leaf surface often densely softly pubescent, varying to sparingly pubescent. Such are the following, cited previously above under R. formosa var formosa: Steyermark 87019, Curran 211 M, 2 M-10, de Bruijn 1016, Pittier 10625, Steyermark & Fernandez 99550, Cardona 4023, and Broadway 2948.

    Specimens intermediate in characters between R. ruiziana and R. formosa were previously discussed under R. ruiziana. At present it appears that both taxa may be retained as distinct species. However, future studies may show that they represent variations of one taxon.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Venezuelan Guayana to delta of Orinoco River, Venezuela.

    Venezuela South America| Guyana South America|