Banisteriopsis patula B.Gates

  • Authority

    Gates, Bronwen. 1982. Banisteriopsis, Diplopterys (Malpighiaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 30: 1-238. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Malpighiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Banisteriopsis patula B.Gates

  • Type

    Type. Blanchet PL exs. 1632, Brazil, Bahia, fl (holotype, G; isotypes, BM, F).

  • Synonyms

    Banisteria eglandulosa A.Juss.

  • Description

    Species Description - Liana, young branches sometimes hairy, the hairs stiff with the trabecula 1.0-2.0 mm long and the stalk up to 0.2 mm long, old branches glabrate. Stipules minute. Leaves chartaceous or coriaceous, with the petiole 9-20(-36) mm long, appressed-sericeous, canaliculate above, eglandular or apically Eglandular, the lamina 3.0-11.4 cm long and 1.8-6.8 cm wide, ovate, obtuse to truncate at the base, acute to acuminate at the apex, with the margin plane to slightly revolute and bearing minute glands, the one nearest the base on each side sometimes enlarged, adaxially sparsely sericeous to glabrate, abaxially sparsely sericeous or tomentose, rarely glabrate, the hairs with the trabecula 0.3-1.0 mm long, with the reticulation smooth or prominulous adaxially, the lateral veins prominent abaxially. Inflorescence of 4-flowered umbels, 1-9 umbels borne in racemes, on short axillary branches up to 3.5 cm long with very reduced leaves or bracts, appressed-golden-sericeous; bracts and bracteoles 1.0-2.0 mm long, appressed-golden-sericeous abaxially, narrowly oblong and rounded at the apex, spreading, persistent; pedicels sessile or subsessile, 9-15 mm long, 0.4-0.6 mm wide, appressed-golden-sericeous. Sepals 1.4-2.5 mm long and wide, rotund, rounded at the apex, appressed-sericeous abaxially, glabrous adaxially, eglandular. Petals yellow, externally sericeous, subentire to denticulate, the 4 lateral petals reflexed between the sepals, with the claw 1.5-3.0 mm long and 0.4-0.5 mm wide, the limb 7.0-9.0 mm long and 5.5-7.5 mm wide, broadly elliptic, concave, the posterior petal with the claw erect, 2.5-3.0 mm long and 0.7 mm wide, apically constricted, the limb 4.0-7.5 mm long and 2.5-5.0 mm wide, obovate to broadly elliptic, plane, reflexed. Stamens with filaments 1.6-3.6 mm long, that opposite the posterior petal much shorter than the others, the other 9 almost the same length except those opposite the antero-lateral sepals sometimes shorter, those of the 3 posterior stamens inflexed between the posterior styles, the locules 0.5-1.5 mm long, those of the 3 posterior stamens shorter than the others, glabrous, the connectives opposite the 3 anterior sepals 0.8-1.6 mm long, 0.7-1.2 mm wide, 0.6-0.9 mm deep, obovate, glandular and enlarged, apically papillate, with the locules diverging distally, those opposite the petals and the postero-lateral sepals 0.4-1.0 mm long, 0.3-0.8 mm wide and 0.2-0.6 mm deep, narrowly oblong, only those opposite the antero-lateral petals apically papillate. Ovary 1.0-1.4 mm tall, densely pubescent, styles 2.0-3.0 mm long, subequal, diverging from the base, stigmas capitate. Fruit without carpophore, the nut 7-12 mm tall and 6-10 mm long, laterally compressed, sparsely appressed-golden-sericeous, the hairs with the trabecula 1.0-1.5 mm long, bearing laterally on each side 2 winglets up to 8 mm high, and a rounded appendage on its upper edge up to 8 mm tall and 7-12 mm long, the wing 35-56 mm long and 10-18 mm wide, narrowly oblong, sparsely appressed-pubescent to glabrate.

  • Discussion

    Collected in flower in March, April, August, and October, and in fruit in September.

    The variation represented by these collections may correspond to more than one taxon. I prefer not to subdivide the species at this stage because of the paucity of material, and especially of fruiting material. Maybe additional collections will fill in the apparent discontinuities in the variation. However, I shall detail the variation I have observed. The type is characterised by chartaceous leaves with sparse appressed pubescence abaxially, the hairs with straight trabecula 0.2-0.6 mm long. Its sepals are short, up to 1.6 mm long, the lateral petals are short-clawed, with the claw 1.5-2.5 mm long, and the limb of the posterior petal is small (4.0-5.0 mm long and 2.5-3.0 mm wide). The only fruiting collection of this species (Schwacke 10864), and Peckolt 235 are similar to the type in these characters. Three collections (Kuhlmann s.n.; Burchell 2808; Bunbury 1) also have chartaceous leaves, but the abaxial leaf pubescence is more dense, the hairs with the trabecula flexuous and longer (0.5-1.0 mm). In addition, the sepals are larger, 2.0-2.6 mm long, the claw of the lateral petals is longer (2.5-3.0 mm), and the limb of the posterior petal is larger (6.5-7.5 mm long, and 4.0-5.0 mm wide). Belem 1521 is unusual in its very condensed axillary inflorescences and its coriaceous leaves which are glabrate, although the hairs are short and appressed like those of the type: in its sepal size, claw length of the lateral petals, and limb size of the posterior petal, it also resembles the type. Heringer 401 also has coriaceous leaves, but its petioles are very long, up to 3.5 cm; other collections of this species have a maximum petiole length of 2 cm. In its sepal size and abaxial leaf pubescence this collection resembles the Kuhlmann collection, but its lateral petals are short clawed and the posterior petal is small like the type.

    This species is unusual not only for its eglandular calyx, but also for its spreading, lingulate bracts and bracteoles; only Banisteriopsis krukoffii has similar bracts and bracteoles, which are like those of Diplopterys. Banisteriopsis patula can be readily distinguished from Diplopterys in flower by its entire to denticulate petals which are densely sericeous externally, and its eglandular calyx; in fruit, B. patula exhibits a well-developed dorsal wing typical of Banisteriopsis.

    The specific epithet refers to the spreading floriferous bracts and bracteoles.

  • Distribution

    In the Atlantic coastal forest of Rio, Espírito Santo, and Bahia in Brazil.

    Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America|