Carlowrightia henricksonii T.F.Daniel

Authority

Daniel, Thomas F. 1983. Carloivrightia (Acanthaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 34: 1-116. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family

Acanthaceae

Scientific Name

Carlowrightia henricksonii T.F.Daniel

Type

Type. Mexico. Tamaulipas: 3 mi W of Morales and 19 mi E of the Matamoros-Victoria highway on road to Loreto, 26 Apr 1960, Johnston c£ Crutchfield 5357 (US!, holotype; MICH!, TEX!, isotypes).

Description

Latin Diagnosis - Suffrutex usque ad 3.5 dm altus. Caules juniores multistriati vel quadrati vel teretes, canescentes trichomatibus glandulosis et eglandulosis. Folia petiolata; petioli 1-6 mm longi; laminae ovatae vel ellipticae vel obovatae, 5-17 mm longae, 1.0-8.5 mm latae, 2-6-plo longiorae quam latiorae. Redacta dichasia floribus 1-3, sessilia vel brevipedunculata (pedunculis usque ad 0.5 mm longis) in axillis foliorum. Calyces 3.5-4.0 mm longi. Corollae azurae-purpureae labio superiore in centro luteo excepto, 9-12 mm longae. Capsulae (7.0-)8.5-9.5 mm longae, glabrae. Semina 4-5 mm longa, 3.5-4.2 mm lata; testae (laeves) papiilosae, marginibus integrae vel crenulatae.

Species Description - Erect to decumbent suffrutescent perennial to 3.5 dm high, arising from a woody caudex to 8 mm in diameter or a woody rhizome to 3 mm in diameter. Older stems quadrate to terete, 1-2 mm in diameter, pubescent or glabrate. Younger stems green, quadrate to terete, usually multistriate, 0.5-1.5 mm in diameter, canescent with a mixture of dense, erect, eglandular and glandular trichomes 0.20.5 mm long. Leaves ascendent, petiolate; petioles 1-6 mm long, pubescent like younger stems; laminas ovate to elliptic to obovate, 5-17 mm long, 1.0-8.8 mm wide (often reduced in size acropetally), mostly 2-6 times longer than wide, acute to truncate (or oblique) at base, acute at apex; margins flat, entire; surfaces pubescent like younger stems; several orders of venation evident. Reduced dichasia solitary or opposite at the nodes, sessile to short pedunculate in leaf axils, the peduncles to 0.5 mm long; flowers 1-3 per dichasium, each sessile to short (to 0.5 mm long) pedicellate, subtended by 2 bractlets. Bractlets linear to narrowly elliptic to obovate, 2.5-7.0 mm long, 0.4-1.5 mm wide, pubescent like leaves. Secondary bractlets (if present) linear-subulate, 1.5-2.0 mm long, 0.3 mm wide. Calyx 3.5-4.0 mm long, the outer surface pubescent like leaves, the inner surface sericeous with appressed trichomes to 0.5 mm long; tube 0.7-0.8 mm long; lobes subulate, 2.5-3.5 mm long, 0.5 mm wide at base. Corolla blue-purple with a papillate, yellow eye streaked with purple veins on the upper lip, 9-12 mm long, pubescent on the outer surface with trichomes 0.2-0.4 mm long; tube 2-4 mm long, 1.0-1.3 mm in diameter; upper lip spatulate, 6.5-8.0 mm long, 3.2-3.5 mm wide, emarginate at apex; lower lip 6.5-8.0 mm long, the lateral lobes obovate-elliptic, 6.5-7.5 mm long, 3.0-3.5 mm wide, the lower lobe obovate-elliptic, 5-7 mm long, 2-3 mm wide. Stamens 4.5-5.0 mm long; filaments 4.0-4.2 mm long, 0.2 mm wide at base, glabrous above, pubescent at the base with trichomes to 0.2 mm long; thecae 1.2-1.5 mm long. Disc 0.3-0.4 mm high. Style 7.0-8.5 mm long, glabrous or sparsely pubescent near the base. Stigma lobes 0.2-0.3 mm long. Capsules (7.0-)8.5-9.5 mm long, glabrous; stipe (1.8-)3.0-4.0 mm long; head flattened, (5.2-)5.5-6.5 mm long (including a terminal beak to 1 mm long), 4.04.6 mm wide; retinacula 1.8-2.0 mm long. Seeds usually 4 per capsule, flat, obliquely cordate in outline, 4-5 mm long, 3.5-4.2 mm wide; testa papillose (rarely only slightly so or smooth); margins entire or crenulate. Flowering. This rare species has been collected in flower in April, June, and September. It undoubtedly flowers in the intervening summer months as well.

Discussion

Discussion. Known only from three collections, this species was not found in the field during this study. Although the floral morph is not precisely known, evidence from dried corollas suggests that it is Type II. The species is best placed in section Mexicana where its closest relative appears to be C. purpurea. Carlowrightia henricksonii differs from this species by its smaller and more narrow laminas, longer stamens and style, and shorter, glabrous capsules.

Distribution

Carlowrightia henricksonii is known only from a limited, lowland region of northeastern Tamaulipas where it grows in sandy prairies at elevations below 200 meters.

Mexico North America| Tamaulipas Mexico North America|