Pentamerista neotropica Maguire
-
Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.
-
Family
Tetrameristaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex vel arbor parva, 5-15 m alta; ramis laevibus aliquantum decurrente contorto-angulosis, ramulis acutiore contorto-angulosis, subalatisque; foliis alternatis sessilibus vel subsessilibus, anguste oblanceolatis, versus bases valde attenuatis, versus apices rotundatis vel late obtusis, saepe minute apiculatis vel apiculato-retusis, glabris, subcoriaceis, integris, ad 16 cm longis, 4 cm latis, inaequilateralibus, costa prominenta, venis lateralibus non-evidentur, in sicco subtus prominulis, laminis subtus minute punctatis; inflorescentiis axillaribus in axillis foliorum, supernis vulgo 5-15 cm longis, racemosis, floribus distale subumbellato- vel subcorymboso-confertis; bracteis primariis ovato-deltoideis, ca 1.5-2.0 mm longis, obtusis, caducis; pedicellis crassis 18-22 mm longis; floribus vulgo 5-10, pentameris; bracteolis solitariis vel vulgo duobus, mox caducis, late ovato-deltoideis ca 1 mm longis, sepalis arte subtendentibus; sepalis 5, quincuncialibus, imbricatis, oblongis, ca 5 mm longis, 1.8-2.2 mm latis, late obtusis, subcarnosis, in centro ventrale glanduloso-punctato-maculatis; petalis 5, quincuncialibus, imbricatis, oblongis, 4-5 mm longis, 1.0-1.5 mm latis, non-maculatis; staminibus introrsis 5, appositi-sepalis, filamentis 1-nervatis, membranaceis, planis, ad basim brevissime connatis, 3-4 mm longis, ca 0.5 mm latis, distale angustatis; antheris introrsis 4-thecatis, oblongo-sagittatis, ca 1.5 mm longis, ad basim subapiculatis, connectivo non-glanduloso, minute vel haud distale instructo, ad extremum reflexis; pollinibus 3-colporatis, subsphaeroideis (in seco), prominente 3-sulcatis, vulgo 25-27 diam, sporodermate valde alveolato; ovario 5-loculari, ovoideo, glabro; stylo subulato, terete, 1.0-1.5 mm longo, apice subcrateriformi, integro vel minutissime 5-dentato; loculis uni-ovulatis; ovulis bitegmentis, solitariis, introrse basifixis, anatropis, epitropis; embryone recto, cotyledonis duobus; fructu baccato, globoso-oblongo, ca 2.0-2.7 mm longo, non-dehiscente; seminibus induratis, osseis, 5 mm longis, 3 mm latis, in sectione transversa retuse deltoideis; embryone ca 2 mm longo, cotyledonis ovoideo-deltoideis ca 0.5 mm longis, endospermio massivo, ca 4 mm longo, embryone basi incluso.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Confined to low-elevation natural savannas in the Alto Orinoco-Casiquiare drainages.
-
Discussion
Fig. 30-39, 41, 43, 44.
Type. Small tree, flowers fragrant, greenish, sepals green-maculate within, frequent along edge of savanna on right-hand bank of Río Pacimoni, 60 km above mouth of Río Casiquiare, Territorio Amazonas, Venezuela, at 120 m alt, 29 Nov 1953, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdack & George S. Bunting 36680 (holotype NY).