Heteropterys cuatrecasasii W.R.Anderson
-
Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part XI. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 32: 1-391.
-
Family
Malpighiaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex scandens, ramis sericeis pilis atrobrunneis demum canescentibus. Foliorum majorum lamina 4-9 cm longa, 2-4 cm lata, ovata vel elliptica, basi cuneata vel rotundata, apice acuminata, coriacea, supra laxe sericea saepe mox glabrescens, subtus pertinaciter tomentoso-sericea vel demum glabrescens, eglandulosa vel subtus margine aliquot glandulis minimis impressis munita, nervis lateralibus supra invisibilibus subtus prominulis; petiolus 5-9 mm longus, sericeus, eglandulosus; stipulae non visae. Inflorescentia panicula axillaris et terminalis brevis et conferta, tomentoso-sericea pilis atrobrunneis vel demum canescentibus, floribus in umbellis vel corymbis 4-6(-8)-floris, bracteis 2-3 mm longis, eglandulosis, pedunculo 2-5 mm longo, bracteolis 1.5-2.5 mm longis, ellipticis, appressis, eglandulosis. Pedicellus 3-5 mm longus, tomentoso-sericeus. Sepala 4 lateralia 8 glandulas 1-1.6 mm longas circulares vel ellipticas virides 2.4-2.9 mm superantia, 1.7-2 mm lata, triangularia, apice revoluta, abaxialiter omnino tomentosa pilis atrobrunneis, adaxialiter glabra, anticum eglandulosum vel raro 1 glandula parva munitum. Petala lutea, margine et abaxialiter paucipilifera vel demum glabrata, ungue 2-2.4 mm longo, limb 2.3-2.8 mm longo latoque, margine eroso vel denticulato. Filamenta 2.4-3 mm longa, usque 1/3 connata, glabra, recta vel paulo curvata; antherae 0.8-1.1 mm longae, glabrae, connectivo omnino nigro. Ovarium 1.5 mm altum, sericeum; styli 1.8-2 mm longi, basi sericei, recti, erecti vel divergentes, apice truncati. Samara 21-33 mm longa, ± pertinaciter tomentoso-sericea; ala dorsalis 15-26 mm longa, 9-16 mm lata, margine abaxiali recto vel leviter sursum curvato; nux 5-8 mm longa, 4-6 mm alta; torus ca 2 mm altus.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known only from the Serranfa Paru and nearby Cerro Huachamacari.
-
Discussion
Type. Cowan & Wurdack 31339, frequent in higher sabanitas, cumbre, Cerro Paru, along west rim S from camp caño, Amazonas, Venezuela, elev 2000 m, 7 Feb 1951 frt (holotype MICH, isotypes NY, US, VEN). Heteropterys cuatrecasasii is named in honor of Dr. Jose Cuatrecasas, whose excellent treatment of the Malpighiaceae of Colombia has been extremely helpful in the preparation of this paper. It is notable for the small, acuminate leaves, which are persistently tomentose-sericeous below and have the veins not visible above, the short crowded inflorescence, the elliptical appressed bracteoles, the roundish green calyx glands, the small petals with sparse, deciduous hairs on the margin and abaxial surface, the truncate styles, and the small samaras.