Calceolaria semiconnata Pennell

  • Authority

    Molau, Ulf. 1988. Scrophulariaceae Part I. Calceolarieae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 47: 1-325. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Scrophulariaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Calceolaria semiconnata Pennell

  • Type

    Type. Ecuador. Loja: Cerro Villonaco W of Loja, 2450-2900 m, 28 Jun 1944, Camp E-218 (holotype, PH; isotype, NY).

  • Synonyms

    Calceolaria lucida Pennell

  • Description

    Species Description - Vine or ascending shrub, the branches divaricate, the stems 0.3-3 m long; inflorescence and distal parts of stems glabrous and glutinous. Leaves connate, blades lanceolate, 9-13 x 2.5-3.9 cm, slightly acuminate, rounded at base, dark to bright green above, pale green and reticulate-venose or predominantly pinnate-venose below, the margins entire or sparsely denticulate. Inflorescence composed of two pairs of 4-flowered cymes, the peduncles 1-4 cm, the pedicels 1-2.2 cm; cyme bracts mostly absent but sometimes present in the lower cyme pair. Sepals green or yellow-green, 4.8-6 x 3.2-4.2 mm at anthesis, acute or slightly acuminate. Corolla type IV, bright yellow; upper lip flattened, circular, 8-13 mm high and 10-16 mm wide; lower lip up-curved, saccate in about 50% of length, the up-curved portion 12-20 x 11-18 mm; elaiophore present. Stamens with anthers huffish or yellow brown, 2.4-3 mm, the thecae equal; filaments 0.7-1.2 mm. Style slightly curved, 1.5-2.6 mm. Capsule 4-6 mm long. 2n = 36 (Lojtnant & Mo-lau 15017).

  • Discussion

    This is the northern counterpart to ø. con-natifolia, and these two vicarious taxa are isolated geographically by the Huancabamba Deflection. They are also reproductively isolated, since C. semiconnata possesses normal oil flowers.

  • Distribution

    Endemic to the Loja Province, Andes of S Ecuador; elfin forest and mountain scrub, 2250-2900 m.

    Ecuador South America| Loja Ecuador South America|