Psychotria cupularis (Müll.Arg.) Standl.
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.
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Family
Rubiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Characteristic features of this taxon are the disk deeply sunken within the calyx tube below its border, the relatively few-flowered, short inflorescence with generally short peduncles, and relatively small leaves. The peduncle varies from usually 1.8-3 cm long, but may attain 5-7 cm in length; inflorescence varies generally from 1-4 cm long by 2-5 cm wide, in fruit sometimes attaining 7 cm in length; total number of axes of the inflorescence varies from 4-9; calyx together with hypanthium 1.5-2.5 mm long; corolla usually 5-8 mm long, rarely to 10 mm; leaves usually 7.5-10 × 3-4 cm but varying to 15-18 × 6-8.5 cm on sterile and larger-leaved specimens.
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Discussion
Mapouria cupularis M.-Arg., Flora 59: 459, 465. 1876; Mart. Fl. Bras. 6(5): 403. 1881.
Mapouria mahuriensis Brem., Brittonia 8: 243. 1957.
Type. Ad cataractas fluminis Aripecurú, Pará, Brazil, Dec 1849, Spruce 326.
Bremekamp described Mapouria mahuriensis as a glabrous shrub with the interior of the corolla as glabrous, but an examination of the holotype specimen at NY shows a densely barbate interior about halfway up, and while most of the leaves are glabrous, some puberulence may be noted along the upper part of the petiole, uppermost part of the stem, and a dense minute puberulence on the peduncle and inflorescence axes. In the type collections of Mapouria cupularis, based on Spruce 326 and 558, the stem is puberulent, the peduncle densely puberulent, the main axes of the inflorescence puberulent-strigillose, and the midrib and lateral nerves of the leaf blades beneath puberulent. Specimens of Oldeman & Sastre 129 from French Guiana have a similar degree of pubescence as in the type of Mapouria cupularis. The two taxa are found to be inseparable.
The inflorescence of the type collection of Mapouria mahuriensis is in a young state of anthesis. Although described as having four lowest axes, there are five, including the central main rachis or axis which is nearly equal in length to the other four axes. On this central axis is developed another tier of three short axes 4-5 mm long. In appearance is produced an umbellate type of inflorescence with the axes each trichotomously branched. The gray color of the dried leaves referred to by Bremekamp as characteristic of Mapouria mahuriensis is found on some specimens, but not on others which dry a dull purplish-brown or purplish-gray, or even gray-green, and in older specimens of one hundred years or more preserved at the Paris herbarium (note citations above of collections by Perrottet and Le Prieur) they turn a blackened or dull brown.
A collection from British Guiana (S. S. & C. L. Tillett 45333 between Adaro River and Mokay River, upper Mazaruni River basin, Kukui River, alt 500 m, 8 Sep 1960) is tentatively referred to P. cupularis, but differs in the disk equalling or exceeding the calyx teeth.
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Distribution
Distribution. Guianas, Brazil, eastern Venezuela. FRENCH GUIANA. Riviere Camopi (affluent de l’Oyapock), rive droite environ 1 km en amont du Saut Yanioué, 6 Feb 1968, Oldeman & Sastre 41A; same locality, 10 Feb 1968, Oldeman & Sastre 129; Orapu, tracé village Moufflet, 22 Dec 1966, Oldeman B-751; forests of Montagne de Mahury (near Cayenne), alt 130-170 m, 17 Dec 1954, Cowan 38853 (type collection of Mapouria mahuriensis); hill above Grant’s Road, Matabon, vicinity of Cayenne, 1921, Broad
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