Piptocarpha subcorymbosa G.Lom.Sm.

  • Authority

    Smith, Gerald L. & Coile, Nancy C. 2007. (Compositae: Vernonieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 99: 1--94. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Asteraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Piptocarpha subcorymbosa G.Lom.Sm.

  • Type

    Type. Peru. San Martin: Carretera Tarapoto-Yurimaguas, km 13-12 700 m, 16 Jul 1980, Kimachi 5233 (holotype, GA; isotype, IBE).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutices scandentes, 2 ramis pendulis. Folia alterna 9-13 x 3.5-5.5 cm, coriacea, lanceolata, supra glabra, infra arete cinereo-stellato-tomentosa. Inflorescentiae fasciculi, densi, globosi, subcorymbosi. Capitula 9-10-flosculosa, breviter pedunculata, solitaria vel aggregata bina vel tria; involucra anguste turbinata 9-10 x 3-3.5 mm; phyllaria imbricata 7-8-seriata, brunnea in sicco, intima lineares. Corollae cremeae, glabratae, tubo ca. 4 mm longo, lobis ca. 1.5 mm longis; antherae 3-3.5 longae, auriculae basi argute caudatae ca. 1 mm longae. Pappus albus imprimis unise-riatus; setae interiores filiformes 5-5.5 mm longae, setae exterires paucae filiformes minus quam 1 mm. Achaenia ca 3 mm longa, interdum 3-angulata, leviter 10-costata.

    Species Description - Scandent shrubs, branches long, pendulous, lateral branchlets numerous, shorter, terete, lightly striate, closely cinereous-substellate-tomentose. Leaves evenly spaced along the branches; petioles furrowed, cinereous-tomentose, 10-20 mm long; blades 9-13 x 3.5-5.5 cm, coriaceous, lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, oblique at the base, margin slightly revolute, glabrous above, cinereous brown-stellate-tomentose below, 6-10 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescences dense, axillary, globose, subcorymbose clusters of (5-) 10-25 heads. Heads with 8-9 florets, shortly pedunculate, solitary or in groups of two or three; involucres narrowly turbinate, 9-10 x 3-3.5 mm; phyllaries imbricate in 7-8 series, glabrate, brown, slightly darkened at tips (when dried), margin ciliate, outer ones triangular-ovate to elliptic, subacute, tomentulose at apex, inner ones narrowly elliptic to linear, obtuse at apex. Corollas cream-colored, glabrate, tube ca. 4 mm long, the lobes ca. 1.5 mm long, gland-tipped; anthers 3-3.5 mm long, basal auricles sharply caudate, ca. 1 mm long. Pappus white, indistinctly biseriate, inner bristles filiform, 5-5.5 mm long, outer bristles few, mostly occurring at the lateral edges of the achenes, less than 1 mm long. Achenes ca. 3 mm long, glabrate, finely 10-costate.

  • Discussion

    Piptocarpha subcorymbosa is closely allied to P. opaca, P. lechleri, and P. prancei, but is distinguished from these species by its subcorymbose inflorescences (hence P. subcorymbosa) with heads on slender, short peduncles. Piptocarpha subcorymbosa may hybridize with both P. opaca and P. lechleri, causing additional difficulties in the identification of species in ser. Opacae in Peru.

    Specimens of this species and information about its locality and habitat were provided by Dr. Sidney McDaniel, whose assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

  • Distribution

    Piptocarpha subcorymbosa is found in north-central Peru. The species grows in montane rainforests. Elevation is 700-1000 m. Flowering and fruiting occur from Jul to Oct.

    San Martín Peru South America|