Tecoma tenuiflora (DC.) Fabris

  • Authority

    Gentry, Alwyn H. 1992. Bignoniaceae--part II (Tribe Tecomeae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 25: 1-370. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Bignoniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tecoma tenuiflora (DC.) Fabris

  • Type

    Type. Bolivia. D'Orbigny 481 (P) (F neg. 39936).

  • Synonyms

    Bignonia tenuiflora DC., Gelseminum amoenum Kuntze, Gelseminum amoenum var. pubescens Kuntze, Gelseminum amoenum var. tomentosum Kuntze, Stenolobium amoenum (Kuntze) K.Schum.

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub 1-2.5 m tall, the branchlets slightly lepidote to minutely puberulous. Leaves pinnate, (3-)5-13-foliolate, the leaflets sharply and closely serrate with the tooth tips oriented toward leaflet apex, elliptic, apically acute to acuminate, basally cuneate to rounded, membranaceous to chartaceous, the laterals 0.5-4.5 cm long, 0.2-1.9 cm wide, equal-sized, the terminal slightly larger (to 5 x 2.5 cm), scattered lepidote especially below, also puberulous below at least along main veins and sometimes sparsely over surface, above glabrous except along puberulous midvein to scattered puberulous, the rachis slightly marginate but unwinged, the petiole mostly 1-2 cm long, puberulous, the lateral petiolules absent or to 1 mm long. Inflorescence a terminal raceme or several racemes in axils of uppermost leaves (occasionally paniculate with two racemose lower branches), puberulous. Flowers with the calyx cupular, evenly 5-denticulate, the 1-3 mm long teeth long apiculate, 36 mm long (including teeth), 2-3 mm wide, sparsely lepidote, otherwise glabrous to puberulous with flexuous trichomes; corolla red or dark red-orange, narrowly salverform-tubular, slightly and gradually expanded apically (4-)5-6.5 cm long, 0.7-0.9 cm wide at mouth of tube, the tube 4-6 cm long, the lobes 0.4-0.7 cm long, completely glabrous outside and inside, the lobes ciliate, also slightly puberulous in sinuses; stamens subexserted, held at or just below mouth of tube, the thecae divaricate, 3 mm long, glabrous or with a very few inconspicuous trichomes, the connective apiculately extended 1 mm; pistil 46 cm long, the ovary linear-oblong, 3 mm long, 1 mm wide, glabrous; disk cupular-pulvinate, 0.5 mm long, 1 mm wide. Fruit a linear capsule, tapering at ends, the calyx caducous, 6-10(-15) cm long, 6-10 mm wide, glabrous or with a few inconspicuous lepidote scales, also with scattered inconspicuous lenticels; seeds thin, bialate, 5-7 mm long, 12-15 mm wide, the wings hyaline-membranaceous, sharply demarcated from seed body.

  • Discussion

    Very close to T. rosifolia of northern Peru from which it differs in a straighter corolla tube, more acute, thinner, lateral leaflets, usually glabrous below, and a caducous calyx in fruit. The northernmost collections (e.g., Beck 6233, 6263, and 6748) from Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca Departments of Bolivia are intermediate. They have leaflets more coriaceous and densely puberulous below, that differ from those of T. rosifolia (but not from Angulo 2063 nor Nee & Vargas 37445) only in sharper serrations and more acute apices.

  • Common Names

    guaran colorado, guaranguay del cerro

  • Distribution

    Southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, 1400-2500 m. Representative collections examined.

    Bolivia South America| Chuquisaca Bolivia South America| Tarija Bolivia South America| Argentina South America| Jujuy Argentina South America| Salta Argentina South America| Santa Fé Argentina South America| Santiago del Estero Argentina South America|