Quelchia bracteata Maguire, Steyerm. & Wurdack

• Authority

  Maguire, Bassett, et al. 1957. Botany of the Chimanta Massif - I Gran Sabana, Venezuela. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 393-484.

• Family

  Asteraceae

• Scientific Name

  Quelchia bracteata Maguire, Steyerm. & Wurdack

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - Frutex 2-4-metralis, caule erecto ligneo, ramulis erectis infra denudatis aliter conferte foliosis, 0.4-0.7 cm diam., parte media supraque stramineotomentosa infra strigoso, pilis malphigio-pauciramosis, foliis alternis densissime confertis erectis breviter petiolatis, petiolis incrassatis, 3-7 mm longis basi 2.5-4 mm latis, pubescentibus vel glabrescentibus, laminis coriaceis supra atroviridibus subtus argenteo-viridibus utrinque valde reticulato-venosis late oblongis vel obovato-oblongis rotundatis vel obtusis apiculatis basi subcordatis vel subobtusis, 3-8 cm longis 1.5-3.5 cm latis, costa media subtus prominenti, nervis lateralibus utroque latere 8-9; capitulorum glomerulis axillaribus, saepe pseudo-terminalibus dense confertis numerosis pedunculatis, pedunculis 0.3-3 cm longis, plerumque strigosis; corymbis 2-2.5 cm latis; capitulis congestis unifloris, 17-21 mm longis cum bracteis foliosis vel lanceolatis acutis vel subacutis, 12-17 mm longis 3-10 mm latis, strigillosis vel supra glabrescentibus subtendentibus; involucro fusiformi-elliptico, 9-12 mm longo 3-4 mm lato, 4-5-seriato, phyllariis 7-9 chartaceo-coriaceis lanceolatis extimis apice acutis vel subobtusis, 8-9 mm longis 2-2.5 mm latis, apice ciliatis extus circa apicem leviter pilosis, medianis intimisque apice obtusis vel subobtusis, 7.5-9 mm longis 2.5 mm latis, apicibus marginibusque parte superiore ciliolatis aliter glabris; corollis albidis actinomorphicis glabris profunde 5-fidis tubo cylindrico 3.5-4.0 mm longo 1.2 mm lato, lobis valde recurvatis linearibus acutis, 6 mm longis 1 mm latis; antheris atropurpureis, 6-6.25 mm longis, basi caudato-sagittatis, appendicibus terminalibus triangulari-lanceolatis acutis, 1.5 mm longis, caudicibus linearilanceolatis, 1.5-2.0 mm longis, acutiusculis hispidulis adjacentibus connatis; styli ramulis albidis divaricatis, ca. 1-75 mm longis, minute 3-lobatis; achaeniis subfusiformi-oblongis griseis vel brunneo-purpureis, 4-5 mm longis 1.5 mm latis, leviter 10-costatis glabris; pappo stramineo vel purpureo, vel supra stramineo et basi purpureo, 7-8 mm longo, setis scabridulis.

• Discussion

  TYPE: forested slopes below summit of western escarpment, Torono-tepui, Chimanta Massif, Bolivar, Venezuela, 1970 m, February 9, 1955, Julian A. Steyermark & John J. Wurdack 683 (holotype NY, isotype F). Paratypes: rocky slopes around zanjones between east and west branches of headwaters of Rio Tirica, Central Section, Chimanta Massif, 2185 m alt., February 12, 1955, Steyermark & Wurdack 754 (putative parent of x Q. grandifolia); Bonnetia forest, northwestern part of summit of Abacapa-tepui Chimanta Massif, 2125-2300 m alt., April 13, 1953, Steyermark 74872.