Ixora yavitensis 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

    Ixora yavitensis Steyerm.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 6-metralis altus, ramis glabris; foliis oppositis petiolatis, petiolis 4-7 mm longis glabris, laminis ovato-ellipticis apice acutis basi acuminatis vel cuneatim acutis 7-11.5 × 3.5-5.5 cm utrinque glabris, nervis lateralibus utroque latere 7-8 rectis adscendentibus supra impressis subtus obscuris ante marginem 4-6 mm anastomosantibus; stipulis 1.5-3 mm longis glabris, vagina suborbiculari rotundata 1.5 mm longa caulem arete involventi apice et infra apicem cuspide lanceolata 1 mm longa instructa; inflorescentiis plerumque axillaribus necnon terminalibus fere sessilibus congestis multifloris dispositis; floribus sessilibus; bracteolis duobus sub floribus triangulari-ovatis acutis 1 × 0.8 mm glabris basi connatis; calyce hypathioque 1.5-2.2 mm; hypanthio obconico 1-1.5 × 1-1.5 mm glabro; calycis tubo breviter cupulari 0.5 mm longo, lobis 4 patentibus late triangulari-suborbicularibus vel suborbicularibus apice abrupte cuspidatis vel acuminatis 0.5 mm longis 0.7-0.8 mm latis utrinque glabris intus basi glandulis ovatis atque pilis adpressis instructis; disco depresso basin loborum calycis attingenti; corollis anguste hypocrateriformibus 15 mm longis omnino glabris in alabastro anguste ellipticis vel fusiformibus subacutis, tubo 11.5 mm longo 0.9-1 mm lato, lobis quatuor oblique oblongis vel elliptico-oblongis subacutis 3.5-4.5 × 1.8-2.5 mm; staminibus supra faucem paullo exsertis, antheris lineari-oblongis apice abrupte apiculatis basi rotundatis 2-2.3 mm longis, filamentis 1.5 mm longis glabris ad apicem faucis affixis; stylo 10 mm longo filiformi glabro, stigmatibus rhomboideo-ellipticis acutis 1 mm longis.

  • Discussion

    Type. Along road between Yavita and Pimichin, 1 km from Yavita, alt 125 m, 21 Apr 1970, tree 6 m, leaves coriaceous, dark green above, dull green below, calyx pale green with tawny on tip of ovary, corolla salmon rose-red in bud, Julian A. Steyermark & George Bunting 102858 (holotype VEN, isotype NY).

    Ixora yavitensis appears to be closely related to the West Indian I. ferrea (Jacq.) Benth., also known from northern Venezuela, from which it differs in the relatively longer and more acuminate to cuspidate, spreading calyx lobes, and more densely and more numerously flowered inflorescences.