Pterandra flavescens Maguire

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett, et al. 1953. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (2): 87-160.

  • Family

    Malpighiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pterandra flavescens Maguire

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex vel arbor parva; ramulis novellis dense rufo-sericeis; foliis oppositis, laminis elliptico-lanceolatis vel ellipticis, vel elliptico-oblanceolatis (3) 4-7 (10) cm. longis, (1) 2-4 cm. latis, supra glabris nervis impressis prominulis costaque exceptis pallidis sparse hirsutulis, subtus plus-minusve 8 jugis nervis lateralibus costaque conspicue rufo-sericeis, apice obtuso apiculato, basi acuta, petiolis 5-10 (15) mm. longis rufo-sericeis, stipulis ca. 4 mm. longis infrapetiolaribus connatis apice excepto; floribus 1-3 in fasciculis axillaribus; bracteis bracteolisque persistentibus subulato-lanceolatis ca. 2 mm. longis; pedicellis 18-22 mm. longis gracilibus dense rufo-hirsutulis; corollis pallidoflavescentibus ca. 12 mm. diam,,; sepalis ca. 4 mm. longis ovatis valde hirsutulis biglandularibus, glandibus albidis ca. 2 mm. longis; petalis subaequalibus 6-7 mm. longis, unguibus ca. 1 mm. longis extus hirsutulis intus glabris sed ad basim subpilosis, laminis obovatis extus sparse rufo-sericeis marginibus glabris crispulatis, apice obtuso, basi acuta; staminibus 10, filamentis minusve liberis subaequalibus teretibus ca. 0.5 mm. diam. glabris ad basim intus brevipilosis; antheris subrectangularibus ca. 1 mm. longis 1.5 mm. latis, thecarum marginibus late alatis, alis ca. 0.4 mm. latis, connectivo ca. 0.2 mm. producto, ferme ad 90 angulos affixis; discis subpilosis; ovario dense hirsuto triloculari trilobato, loculis uniovulatis, uno abortivo; stylis ca. 3 mm. longis subulatis glabris ventraliter subapicibus; fructibus tripartibus carpellis semiglobosis ca. 4 mm. longis indehiscentibus, facie ventrali plana, sessilibus oblique affixis, stylo ventraliter carpello medio affixo; toro pyramidali ca. 2 mm. alto; seminibus 3-4 mm. longis ovatis compressis, cotyledonibus complanatis convolutis linearibus ca. 6 mm. longis carnosis, radicula brevi.

  • Discussion

    TYPE: small tree 10 m. high, flowers pale yellow, occasional in savanna, along open banks of lower Cano Negro, alt. 1500 m., Cerro Sipapo, Amazonas, Venezuela, Jan, 1, 1949, Bassett Maguire & Louis Politi 28104; New York Botanical Garden. Paratypes: shrub to 3 rn. high, petals pale yellowish, fruit deeply 2-3 lobed, savanna, Cano Negro, alt. 1500 m., Cerro Sipapo, Dec. 25, 1948, Maguire & Politi 27946; small shrub to 2 m. high, petals pale cream with red midvein, infrequent, marshes Cano Negro, 1500 m. alt., Cerro Sipapo, Maguire & Politi 27692, 27692A.

    Pterandra flavescens is closely related to the low altitude rain-forest tree P. arborea Ducke, of Amazonas, Brazil. This latter species has larger leaves and smaller pink flowers. Fruiting material was not seen by Ducke.

    Tetrapteris fimbriata Juss. Flowers yellow, liana climbing to 20 m., opening along stream in montane forest, Intermediate Camp, Cerro Sipapo, 600 m. alt., Feb. 2, 1949, Maguire & Politi 28749, 28783.