Mendoncia odorata Leonard
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Authority
Leonard, Emery C. 1951. The Acanthaceae of Colombia, I. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 31: 1-117.
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Family
Mendonciaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type in the U. S. National Herbarium, No. 1706847, collected in second growth along the Río Negrito, 70 km. east of Villavicencio, Intendencia of Meta, Colombia, December 25, 1938, by Oscar Haught (No. 2494).
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Suffrutex volubilis, caulibus subquadrangularibus vel teretibus, striatis, parce adpresso-hirtellis vel glabratis; lamina foliorum ovata vel ovato-elliptica, acuminata, mucronata, basi acuta vel obtusa, parce adpresso-hirtella vel glabrata, pilis supra e basi stellata orientibus instructa; fibres axillares, fragrances; pedicelli adpresso-hirtelli ; braceteae ovatae vel oblongo-ovatae, obtusae, minute apiculatae, extus parce adpresso-hirtellae, intus glabrae; corolla subflava, lobis suborbicularibus drupa ovoidea, leviter compressa, glabra.
Description - A suffrutescent vine up to 5 meters high; branches subquadrangular to terete, striate, sparingly appressed-hirtellous to glabrate; leaf blades ovate to oblong-elliptic, up to 11 cm, long and 5 cm. wide, gradually to abruptly acuminate (the tip blunt and ending in a mucro about 2 mm, long), acute or obtuse at base, thin, sparingly appressed-hirtellous or glabrate, the hairs of the upper surface produced petioles up to 2 cm. long, glabrous or sparingly hirtellous; flowers to several in each axil pedicels up to 1.5 cm. long, appressed-hirtellous; bracts ovate to oblong-ovate, up to 2 cm. long and 1 cm. wide, obtuse and minutely apiculate at apex, rounded at base, sparingly appressed-hirtellous without, the hairs 0.5 mm, long or less, glabrous within; corolla, cream with brownish markings, glabrous, fragrant, up to 3 cm. long, 6 mm, broad at base, narrowed 5 mm. above base to 3 or 4 mm., thence enlarged to 8 mm. at throat, 2-lipped, the lobes suborbicular, about 5 mm. in diameter; calyx glabrous, subentire; ovary and style glabrous; drupe ovoid, slightly compressed, 1.5 cm. long, barely 1 cm. broad, about 4 mm. thick, glabrous.
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Discussion
Mendonciaa odorata resembles M. gracilis in many respects but can be separated by its sparingly pilose stems. In M. gracilis the stem hairs are more numerous and usually closely appressed. The veins anf veinlets of the leaf blades of M. gracilis are often much more prominent than those of M. odorata. The name odorata alludes to the fragrant flowers (Haught 2494).