Cavendishia complectens subsp. striata (A.C.Sm.) Luteyn

Description

Description: Leaves (5-)8-16(-18) x (4-)5.5-15(-17) cm. Floral bracts coriaceous, cucullate or oyster shell-shaped, appressed to the flowers at and after anthesis, striate, elliptic, obovate, or suborbicular, (4-)9-13 mm long, apically broadly rounded and often splitting; pedicels 0.5-7 mm long; bracteoles membranaceous or coriaceous, flat, concave, or cucullate often completely enveloping the calyx, usually striate, oblong or spathulate to suborbicular, 1.5-10 x 0.6-10 mm. Calyx lobes oblong to ovate-oblong, usually narrowly imbricate 1.5-5 X ca. 2 mm, erect (rarely flaring) at anthesis.

Distribution: W Colombia to N Peru, at elevations of 70-2100 m.

Cultivated: E

Type: Colombia. Valle: Cordillera Occiental, W slopes, banks of Río Digua, La Elsa, 1000-1200 m, 9 Nov 1943 (fl), Cuatrecasas 15306 (holotype, GH, photo NY neg. 9093; isotypes, F, NY, US, photo NY neg. 9092).

Key to Varieties of C. complectens subsp. striata: 1. Inflorescence open, lax; floral bracts not covering entire calyx at anthesis; flower pedicels (1-)2.5-7 mm long; bracteoles oblong to narrowly ovate, flat with venation obscure, 1.5-4(-6) x 0.6-3 mm, shorter than pedicels or if longer then merely appressed to hypnathium; corolla usually white at base and apex with a dark purple band in the middle, rarely completely white; S Chocó (Colombia) to Peru ........................................................ var. striata 1. Inflorescence very congested, compact, cylindric; floral bracts completely concealing calyx and lower corolla at anthesis; flowers subsesile, the pedicels 0.5-1.5 mm long; bracteoles spathulate to semiorbicular, cucullate, conspicuously striate, (4-)5.5-10 mm long and broad, longer than pedicels and usually enveloping calyx at anthesis; corolla completely white; Cordillera Occidental of NW Antioquia to central Chocó Depts., Colombia ............ var. cylindrica<