Psychotria sessilis var. hancorniaefolia (Benth.) Steyerm.
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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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Type
Type. Minas Geraës ad Caldas, Brazil, Regnell, ser. I. no. 171.
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Discussion
Psychotria hancorniaefolia Benth., Linnaea 23: 463. 1850.
Psychotria hancorniaefolia var variifolia M.-Arg., Mart. Fl. Bras. 6(5): 356. 1881.
Psychotria hancorniaefolia var brevifolia M.-Arg., Mart. Fl. Bras. 6(5): 355. 1881.
Psychotria sessilis var glabrescens M.-Arg., Mart. Fl. Bras. 6(5): 358. 1881.
Psychotria hancorniaefolia ß genuina M.-Arg., Mart. Fl. Bras. 6(5): 355. 1881.
Bentham stated that the calyx is 5-fid in his original description, and Müller-Argoviensis describes the corolla as 5-fid and the calyx as 5-denticulate. However, dissection of flowers of the Gardner 4728 (referred by Müller-Argoviensis to P. hancorniaefolia var variifolia) and other specimens from Minas Gerais show tetramerous flowers. Under P. hancorniae folia var variifolia, Müller-Argoviensis describes the leaves as “circ. 7-12 cm longis, circ. 15-20 mm. latis,” but an isotype collection (Gardner 4728) at NY has the leaves up to 22 mm wide and the photograph of the type collection at K has leaves up to 25-27 mm wide. Müller-Argoviensis included Blanchet 3357 under his P. hancorniaefolia var variifolia, but I would refer this collection to var angustifolia because of its leaf shape and proportions of length to width, with which it merges into var angustifolia as represented by Pohl 1913.