Symbolanthus

  • Authority

    Steyermark, Julian A. & Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The flora of the Meseta del Cerro Jáua. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 833-892.

  • Family

    Gentianaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Symbolanthus

  • Type

    Type. In clump 1 m tall; corolla deep rose-red; leaves ascending, coriaceous, rich green above, paler green below with raised nerves; savanna-like areas, Cerro Jaua, cumbre de la porcion Central-Occidental de la Meseta de Jaua, 4° 45' Lat N, 64° 26' Long Oeste, 36 millas nauticas o 60 km noroeste de la mision de Campamento Sanidad del Río Canaracuni, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela, alt 1922-2100 m, 22-27 Mar 1967, Julian A. Steyermark 97958 (holotype VEN; isotype NY).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Suffrutex 1-metralis, caulibus subherbaceis acute tetragonis 2.5-4 mm diam, angulis alis angustis praeditis, glabris; foliis sessilibus, laminis coriaceis adscendentibus oblanceolatis apice acutis vel subacutis basi angustatis 6-10 × 1-2.5 cm glabris, nervis lateralibus utroque latere 2 adscendentibus supra paullo impressis subtus paullo elevatis subparallelo-percurrentibus ab margine 2-3 mm, venulis tertiariis obsoletis vel vix manifestis; floribus plerumque 3 ad apicem caulis, pedicellatis; pedicellis 1-1.8 cm longis glabris; calyce 2.5-2.8 cm longis, tubo 0.7 cm longo, lobis 2.5-2.6 × 1-1.3 cm lanceolato-oblongis obtusis vel subobtusis marginibus scariosis minute serrulatis; corolla late cylindrico-infundibuliformi 7 cm longa, tubo 5.2 cm longo basi 0.6 cm lato fauce 2.5 cm lato, lobis suborbicularibus apice abrupte cuspidatis 1.8-2 × 1.5-1.7 cm; staminibus inaequalibus, tribus longioribus duobus brevioribus, filamentis ad 35 mm longis in tubum 20 mm longum connatis; tubo coroniformi ad basin filamentorum membranaceo elevato 22 mm longo quinque processibus late oblongo-ligularis truncatis apice 2-3-dentatis 2 mm longis, dentibus apicalibus 1.5 mm longis; antheris linearibus 9 mm longis in appendicem caudatam 2 mm longam desinentibus; stylo 5 cm longo glabro, stigmatibus spathulatis 0.5 cm longis.

  • Discussion

    Fig 14.

    This taxon is mostly closely related to S. nerioides Griseb., from which it differs in the proportionately broader and shorter-tipped corolla lobes, which are proportionately shorter with respect to the length of the tube, the broader corolla tube, and the sessile leaves, which are oblanceolate and broadest above the middle. It is also related to S. tricolor Gilg., from which it differs in the sessile narrower leaves broadest above the middle, the 4-angled stems, and shorter, less pointed corolla lobes, which are also proportionately broader.