Phenakospermum guyannense (Rich.) Miq.
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Authority
Mori, S. A., et al. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana: Part 1. Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-422.
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Family
Strelitziaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Herbs, to 10 m tall; trunk 2-3 m tall, ca. 10 cm diam. Leaves: petiole 1-1.5 m long; blade narrowly oblong-elliptic, 120-300 X 50-75 cm, the lower surface reticulate, with many small cross-veins. Inflorescences to 3 m tall, the rachis green; bracts green to greenish yellow, shiny, 3-8, distichous, deeply boat-shaped, 30-45 X 7-16 cm; bracteoles greenish white, narrowly triangular, 27-35 cm long. Flowers (including ovary) to 28 cm long; tepals white to creamy white with green margins, to 17 cm long; stamens 10-15 cm long; style 12-15 cm long. Capsules ovoid, with acuminate apex, 10-20 X 4-7 cm. Seeds black, 7-11 X 4-6 cm, aril orange, fibrous. Fl (Jun); in secondary vegetation near village of Saul, 200 to 300 m.
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Discussion
Note:Bat-pollinated—the flowers emerge from the bracts just before sunset at which time they emit a sweet smell and produce copious nectar. Bats of the genus Phyllostomus are the primary pollinators. After the initial visit, the style falls to one side of the flower and apparently is not contacted on subsequent visits (Kress, 1993). In Surinam, the leaves of this species are folded along the midrib and woven together to make mats for thatching roofs