Quelchia eriocaulis 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 eriocaulis Maguire, Steyerm. & Wurdack

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - Frutex 1-3-metralis, caule erecto ligneo simplici solitario infra denudato aliter conferte folioso, parte media supraque densissime ferrugineo-lanulosa infra tomentoso vel glabrescenti, 0.7-1.2 cm diam.; foliis alternis densissime confertis breviter petiolatis, petiolis incrassatis, 0.7-1.5 cm longis, densissime fulvo-lanulosis, laminis valde patentibus coriaceis supra atroviridibus glabris obscure vel valde reticulato-venosis subtus densissime fulvo-lanatis oblongoobovatis vel ovato-oblongis rotundatis vel subobtusis apiculatis basi subcuneatis vel rotundatis, 2-9 cm longis 1-4.5 cm latis, caulium sterilium foliis majoribus ad 12 cm longis ad 5.5 cm latis, costa media supra subsulcata, nervis lateralibus primariis utroque latere 4-12, supra obscuris subtus nullis; capitulorum glomerulis axillaribus dense confertis numerosis inter folia per caul em; capitulis congestis sessilibus unifloris anguste subhemisphaericis vel late fusiformibus, 1.5-2 cm longis 1-2 cm latis, cum bracteis subulatis vel lineari-lanceolatis 11-23 mm longis 1-2 mm latis extus densissime ferrugineo-lanulosis intus glabris subtendentibus; involucro elliptico-ovato vel lanceolato, 2 cm longo 5-6 mm lato, 4-5-seriato, phyllariis 7-9-(10), extimis ovatis vel ovato-lanceolatis abrupte acuminatis, 7-8-(10) mm longis 4 mm latis, extus rufo-pubescentibus vestioribus glabris, medianis late lanceolatis abrupte acutis, ca. 10 mm longis 4 mm latis, parte superiore tertia rufo-pubescentibus vestustioribus glabris, intimis oblanceolatis vel lanceolatis subacutis vel subobtusis, 10-12 mm longis 2-3 mm latis, parte superiore quarta rufo-pubescentibus vetustioribus glabris; corollis rosaceorubris regularibus (actinomorphicis), 10-15 mm longis, cvlindricis profunde 5-lobis, tubo 6-7 mm longo 1.5-2.5 mm diam. extus puberulo, lobis late lanceolatis acutis, 6-7 mm longis 1.25 mm latis, glabris; antheris 5.5-7 mm longis, basi caudato-sagittatis, appendicibus terminalibus triangulari-lanceolatis subacuminatis glabris, 1 mm longis, caudicibus lanceolatis vel lineari-oblongis subobtusis, 1.5-2.5 mm longis, hispidulis adjacentibus per 0.75-1 mm connatis; styli ramulis subtruncatis apice minute 3-lobatis, 1.5 mm longis, glabris; achaeniis subelliptico-oblongis castaneis, 5 mm longis 1.0-1.5 mm latis, 10-costatis glabris; pappo stramineo, 6-8 mm longo, setis scabridulis.

• Discussion

  TYPE: summit, at edge of escarpment in and among zanjones, Torono-tepui, Chimanta Massif, Bolivar, Venezuela, 2165-2180 m alt., February 9, 1955, Julian A. Steyermark & JohnJ. Wurdack 675 (holotype F, isotype NY). Paratypes: eastcentral portion of summit of Apacara-tepui, chimanta Massif, 2450-2500 m alt., June 21-22, 1953, Steyermark 75902; rocky slopes around zanjones between east and west branches of Rib Tirica, Central Section, Chimanta Massif, 2185 m alt., February 12, 1955, Steyermark & Wurdack 753 (putative parent plant of x Q. grandi folia).