Dioscorea abysmophila Maguire & Steyerm.
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1989. The Botany of the Guayana Highland- Part XIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 51: 1-127.
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Family
Dioscoreaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Volubilis glabra; foliis altemis integris suborbiculari- ovatis apice abrupte caudato-acuminatis, basi profunde cordatis, 13-15 cm longis 8- 9.5 cm latis, palmatim 7-11-nervis, nervis subtus valde elevatis; petiolis 5-6 cm longis; floribus masculinis sessilibus plerumque fasciculatoglomemlatis verticillatis, verticillis in spicis dispositis; staminibus sex sessilibus vel subsessilibus; perianthii segmentis late ovatis obtusis. Glabrous twining plant. Leaves altemate, entire, suborbicular-ovate, abmptly caudate, acuminate at apex with acumen 1.5-2 cm long, deeply cordate at base with a U-shaped sinus, 13-15 cm long, 8-9.5 cm wide, palmately 7-11-nerved, the nerves strongly elevated below, tertiary veins subprominulously reticulate below; petiole 5-6 cm long. Staminate inflorescence simple, 11-14 cm long, peduncle 2-3 cm long, rachis 1-1.5 m m diam. Flowers sessile, 2-3-fasciculate-verticillate, the verticils spicately disposed. Bracts ovatetriangular, attenuate-acuminate, 1.5-2 mm long.
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Discussion
Type. Venezuela. Territorio Federal Amazonas: Cerro de la Neblina, Bonnetia forest at N W head of Caiion Grande, 1200-2200 m alt., 8-9 Dec 1953, Bassett M a guire, John J. Wurdack & Celia K. Maguire 42319 (holotype N Y , isotype M O ) .
The absence of fmiting material precludes the placement of this taxon in a definite subgenus of Dioscorea, although it is not matched by any other known species. Dioscorea abysmophila is characterized by its many-nerved, entire, deeply cordate leaves, staminate inflorescences with flowers in verticils of sessile fasciculate glomerules, and flowers with 6 stamens.