Senecio phelpsiae Cuatrec.
-
Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1957. The Botany of the Guiana Highland -- Part II. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 235-392.
-
Family
Asteraceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex scandens, ramis in sicco badiis subrugosis et parce granulosis peridermato plus minusve separabili extremis leviter striatis, valde juvenilibus lana crispa ferruginea satis decidua tectis mox glabris. Folia alterna crassa viridia nitida, valde juvenilia tomento crispo ferrugineo deciduissimo munita mox glaberrima. Petiolus 2-8 mm longus crassus. Lamina succulenta oblongo-elliptica vel oblonga basi paulo attenuata apice obtusa vel acutiuscula margine integerrima, 5-10 cm longa, 1-2.8 cm lata, utrinque laevis; in sicco translucida, costa et nervis 5 paribus ascendentibus arcuatis filiformibus inmersis transpecte visibilibus.
Species Description - Inflorescentiae terminales corymboso-paniculatae pedunculatae exfoliatae. Pedunculus robustus folia excedentia cum ramis in statu juvenili tomento lanuginoso ferrugineo munitus mox glaber. Rami ramusculique subteneres striolati elongatique bracteolis lanceolatis vel linearibus muniti. Pedicelli graciles, sed praecipue erecti, striolati mox glabri 1-2 bracteolis brevibus muniti 1.4-5 cm longi, apice incrassati 1-2-bracteolati. Capitula radiata. Calyculus nullus. Involucrum campanulatum primum lanuginosum mox glabrum, 8 bracteis crassiuscule herbaceis oblongo-lanceolatis ca. 9 mm longis 1.8-3 mm latis, margine scariosis. Receptaculum alveolatum marginibus breviter fimbriatum 2 mm lacuna. Flores marginales feminei ligulatae 3-4, corolla lutea glabra ca. 14 mm longa, tubulo crassiusculo 6 mm, ligula ovato-oblonga, 3 mm lata, 7-nervata, apice 3-dentata. Flores disci hermaphroditi 11-12, corolla tubulosa glabra lutea, 9 mm longa, tubulo 5 mm longo, dentibus linearibus, 1 mm longis. Antherae 3 mm longae, basi obtusae. Rami stigmatici elongati flexuosi apice subtruncati parce papillosi. Pappus stramineo-albicans.
-
Discussion
TYPE: VENEZUELA: Terr. Amazonas: Cerro Guanay, Cano Guaviarito, Rio iManapiare, Rio Ventuari, infrequent, rocky elevations at 2,000 m alt. Subsucculent vine or scandent subshrub, Bassett Maguire, Kathleen D. Phelps, Ch. B. Hitchcock & G. Budowski 31737 (NY; isotype, F).
Senecio phelpsiae is a striking species for its thick, smooth, fleshy, narrowly elliptical or oblong leaves. It is closely related to S. jahnii Cuatr. but differs from it by the very short-petiolate and narrower leaves which have another kind of nervation, by its smaller heads and flowers, and by the almost complete absence of a calycle. S. cobrensis Cuatr., a related species, has broader, acute, long-petiolate leaves and a different form and size of flowers. S. cucullatus Klatt has broader, long-petiolate leaves and smaller heads and flowers. S. haughtii Cuatr. has richer and denser inflorescences, shorter and more bracteolate pedicels and broader, long-petiolate leaves. The very deciduous woolly indument on the buds and young leaves and branchlets of S. phelpsii has not been observed in the other, related species.