Remijia argentea Steyerm.
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.
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Family
Rubiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor vel frutex 1.5-6 m altus, ramis juvenilibus laxe piloso-hirsutis atque hispido-strigosis vetustioribus glabris; foliis oppositis petiolatis, petiolis 3-4 cm longis glabris, laminis late oblongis vel ovato-oblongis apice obtusis vel acutis basi plerumque rotundatis maturis plerumque 15-30 × 12-15 cm, raro lanceolatis vel oblongo-lanceolatis 33-40 × 5-13 cm, supra glabris atque plerumque nervis lateralibus sulcatis subtus argenteo-tessellatis pilis minutis conferte adpressis intra areolas obtectis, nervis lateralibus utroque latere 17-24 subtus elevatis, costa media nervis lateralibusque atque venulis tertiariis subtus pilis elongatis leviter vel dense adpresso- vel subflocculoso-pubescentibus munitis; stipulis lanceolato-oblongis 21-32 × 8-10 mm, extus laxe cinereo-pilosis subflocculosis intus glabris; inflorescentiis in anthesi 15-17.5 cm longis in fructu ad 40 cm interrupte racemoso-subspicatis pedunculatis, pedunculo in anthesi 9-14 cm longo in fructu 27-30 cm cinereo-subflocculoso-villosulo; bracteis sub axibus inferioribus ligulato-oblongis vel ovato-oblongis obtusis vel cuspidatis 12-16 × 3-7 mm extus sericeis vel laxe villosis intus glabris; floribus sessilibus sub-capitatis 4-5 aggregatis; bracteis sub floribus lanceolatis longiacuminatis vel caudato-acuminatis 4-5.5 × 1.5 mm extus dense sericeis intus glabris; calyce hypanthioque 10 mm longo, hypanthio oblongo-turbinato 4 × 3 mm extus dense sericeo, calyce spathaceo 6-6.5 × 3 mm extus sericeo vel crispa to-villoso intus glabro glandulis 5 linearibus 0.5 mm longis inter basin tubi et sinus 1/3-3/8 longitudinis insertis, calycis lobis triangulari-lanceolatis vel ovato-lanceolatis acutis 0.5-1 × 0.5-1 mm inaequalibus vel subaequalibus; corolla in anthesi 31-34 mm longa, tubo 17-18 mm longo extus plerumque dense cinereo-sericeo intus glabro, lobis 5 linearibus subobtusis 14-16 × 1.5 mm extus dense sericeis intus basi papillato-puberulentibus ceterum glabris; antheris linearibus basi bilobulatis 3.5 mm longis, filamentis 0.7 mm longis paulo infra medium tubi affixis; stylo 16 mm longo glabro; capsulis 22-25(-35) × 7-9 mm lineari-oblongis subflocculoso-strigosis vel subflocculoso-villosulis per calycem per-sistentum coronatis.
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Discussion
Fig 55.
Type. Savanna edge, Yapacana savannas, northwest base of Cerro Yapacana, Amazonas, Venezuela, alt 125 m, 16 Sep 1957, Bassett Maguire, John J. Wurdack, W. M. Keith & C. K. Maguire 41496 (holotype NY, isotype VEN).
Paratypes. VENEZUELA. Amazonas: Cerro Moriche, Río Ventuari, lower east slopes, alt 300-800 m, 14 Jan 1951, Maguire, Cowan & Wurdack 30907; Río Cuao, Río Orinoco, alt 125 m, 17 Jan 1949, Maguire & Politi 28414-A; Cerro Yapacana, alt 825 m, 4 May 1970, Steyermark & Bunting 103091.
The Maguire & Politi 28414-A differs from the other collections cited in having longer and narrower leaves (33-36 × 9-12 instead of 15—30 × 12-15 cm), lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, less sulcate lateral nerves on the upper surface, lateral nerves 21-24 pairs instead of 17-23, and longer mature fruits (25-35 instead of 22-25 mm long). Similar variations in foliage occur in Steyermark & Bunting 103091 from leaf blades 5 cm wide to those up to 13 cm.
Remijia argentea is characterized by its silvery-gray tessellate reticulate lower leaf surface with minute hairs clustered in the areoles, the spathaceous large calyx splitting along one side, the elongated corolla lobes, and the large leaf blades with numerous sulcate lateral nerves on the upper side.