Ilex tiricae Edwin

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1965. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 12 (3): 1-285.

  • Family

    Aquifoliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ilex tiricae Edwin

  • Type

    Type. Shrubby thickets bordering swamp along E branch of headwaters of Rio Tirica, alt. 2120 m. Central Section of Chimanta Massif, Bolivar, Venezuela, 12 Feb 1955, Julian A. Steyermark d John J. Wurdack 803 (holotype U S ; isotype VEN).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex subglabra 0.5-1.0 m alta, ramis ascendentibus, ramulis et virgis in siceo griseis, atrogriseis vel nigrogriseis solum sparsissimis puberulis (cum pedicellis) vel glabris (cum calycis) ; laminis rigidis coriaceis, glabris, marginibus integris, vel aliquando 1/8-2/3 marginibus remote serrulatis, revolutis, apice abruptebrevissime ad breviacuminatis, acuminibus 0.1-2.5 mm longis, deltoideis-triangularibus, basibus cuneatis vel orbicularibus non vel solum parvum decurrentibus, in vivo supra atro-viridis et lucidis, subtus argenteo-viridis, in siceo supra lucide brunnescenti-viridis, subtus pallidis obscuris viridis brunneis, epunctatis (vel rarissimo sub lente 30 X sparsissime puiicticulatis) supra et subtis 7-9 jugis venarum subobsoletis, alternariis, (2.0-)3.6-5.3(-6.1) cm longis X (1.6-)3.1-3.5(-3.8) cm latis, plerumque late ovatis aliquando ovatis raro obovatis; petiolis in sieco nigris incrassatis 7.0-12.0 mm longis (plerumque 7.0-10.0 mm); [female]-floribus (ex fructu) solitariis, axillaribus in pedicellis tenuibus praelongis, 1.4-2.4 cm descendentibus, 6-meris, calycis tubis circulo nigro saepe reductis, calycis-lobis 6, parvissimis aeutis; baccis drupis in siceo (et in vivo) castaneis brunneis ad mahogoniis, exocarpis laevis roseis vel nigris punctis, ca. 10.0 mm longis X 7.0 mm diametro late-ovoideis ad subglobosis, apice aeutis, stigmatis lobis 6 ex parte confluentibus, capitatis-coronatis, mesocarpis largis in sieco farinosis, in vivo glutinosis; pyrenis 6, trigonis late-canaliculatis cristis marginibus dorsaliter, laevis lateraliter; [male]- et [female]-floribus ignoti.