Psychotria marginata Sw.

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.

  • Family

    Rubiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Psychotria marginata Sw.

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. West Indies, Central America, and South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil). VENEZUELA. Mérida: valley of Río Capaz, 5 km NNE of La Azulita, alt 500 m, 20 Jan 1966, Breteler 4930. Barinas: Reserva Forestal Caparo, bosque tropofito, Unidad 1, parte norte entre pica 6 y 7, este de El Canton, 18-20 km SE del campamento Cachicamo, alt 100 m, 10 Apr 1968, Steyermark, Bunting & Blanco 102056; Ticoporo Forest Reserve, 70° 45' W, 8° 15' N, alt 350 m, 23 Jan 1964, Breteler 3543; near Barinitas, 70° 40' W, 8° 45' N, alt 600 m, 15 Oct 1963, Breteler 3152; along road to San Cristobal, 90 km SW of Barinas, 29 Jun 1966, de Bruijn 949; Ticoporo Forest Reserve, 70° 45' W, 8° 15' N, near Bumbrun River, alt 350 m, 5 May 1964, Breteler 3919. Apure: Reserva Forestal San Camilo, selva siempreverde, trechos pianos vecindades del Chiricoa, 9-10 km al este del caserío San Camilo (El Nula), alt 200 m, 1 Apr 1968, Steyermark, Bunting & Blanco 101710. BRAZIL. Acre: 4 km E of Sena Madureira, municipality of Sen Madureira, 27 Sep 1968, Prance, Coelho, Ramos & Farias 7585. COLOMBIA. Int. Meta: Uribe, Río Duda, lat 3° 12' N, long 74° 24' W, alt 770 m, Fosberg 19493. Com. Putumayo: Umbría, 0° 54' N, 76° 10' W, alt 325 m, Klug 1700. Magdalena: Barranca Bermeja, Magdalena Valley, between Sogamoso and Carare rivers, alt 100-500 m, Haught 2008. Boyaca: El Umbo region, region of Mt. Chapon, Lawrance 490. Bolívar: 150 km N of Barrancobermeja, 74° 4' W, 8° 15' N, alt 900 m, 22 Aug 1966, de Bruijn 1092. ECUADOR. Pichincha: 20 km W of Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Cazalet & Pennington 5060. Esmeraldas: Quinindé, Asplund 16320. PERU. Loreto: Masisea, alt 275 m, Killip & Smith 26840; Killip & Smith 28411, 28417. San Martin: Pongo de Cainarachi, alt 230 m, Klug 2754.

  • Discussion

    Uragoga marginata (Sw.) Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 2: 960. 1891.

    Psychotropium fruticulosum foliis plumbeis & c., Browne, Hist. Jam. 161. n.6. 1756.

    Type. In sylvestribus, southern Jamaica, Swartz.

    This species is easily distinguished in the sterile state by the slenderly thickened whitish border of the leaf blades with an irregularly ciliolate margin. This character is absent from all the other species treated in the present work. Furthermore, additional characters of this taxon are the numerous pairs (10-14) of lateral nerves of the leaf blades which have a characteristic gray-purplish cast when dried, the glabrous calyx and hypanthium, exterior of the corolla, and inflorescence branches, the small corolla 3-3.5 mm long, the solitary flowers pedicellate, and the acuminate short teeth of the calyx. Domatia may or may not be present in the lower axils of the leaf blades.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. West Indies, Central America, and South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil).

    West Indies| Central America| South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Brazil South America|