Costus montanus Maas

  • Authority

    Maas, Paulus J. M. 1972. Costoideae (Zingiberaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 8: 1-140. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Costaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Costus montanus Maas

  • Type

    Type. Brenes 22607 (holotype, NY), San Pedro de San Ramon, prov. Alajuela, Costa Rica.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Herba statura ignota, vaginis, ligulis, petiolis, laminis, bracteis, bracteola, calyce, corolla, ovario et capsula dense ferrugineo-velutinis. Vaginae rubrae, 5-12 (-20) mm in diametro. Ligula (5-) 15-35 mm longal apice inaequaliter bilobata, lobo majore triangulari, 10 mm longo, minore depresse triangulari, 3-5 mm longo. Petiolus 8-20 mm longus. Folia anguste elliptica, basi cuneata, apice breviter acuminata, 13.5-22 cm longa, 4-8.5 cm lata, facie superiore interdum praeter costam strigulosam glabra. Inflorescentia ovoidea, 4-10 cm longa, 2.5-4.5 cm lata. Bracteae rubrae, coriaceae, late ovatae, usque ad 2.5 cm longae et latea, apicibus acutis saepe reflexis et appendices simulantibus; appendices deltatae vel depresse triangulares, 0-18 mm longae et 0-8 mm latae (inferiores usque ad 6 cm longae et 1.5 cm latae). Bracteola rubra, 17-18 mm longa. Calyx ruber, 11-15mm longus, lobis depresse triangularibus, 2-4 mm longis. Corolla rubra, ca 45 mm longa, tubus 10 mm longus, lobis anguste obovatis, 35 mm longis et 12 mm latis. Labellum conglutinatum, aurantiacum (?), ca 35 mm longum. Stamen juvenile 18 mm longum et 6 mm latum, apice rotundatum, anthera 7 mm longa. Pollinis grana 100-116 p diametro, exinio 3-3.5 crasso, poris 6-8, 18-24 diametro (Brenes 22607 from Costa Rica). Ovarium 5 mm longum. Capsula globosa, 10 mm diametro, seminibus brunneis, 3 mm longis. Chromosome number 2n = 18 (Coll. indig. 10 from Costa Rica).

  • Discussion

    This species is readily recognized by its long, unequally two-lobed ligule and the ferrugineous-velutinous indument on most parts of the plant.

    Studying two photographs of the type of C. lima (collected by Scherzer in Costa Rica) I found that the inflorescence of a part of that collection belongs to C. montanus.

  • Distribution

    (Fig 48, 10). Only known from Costa Rica; in moist cloud forest, in the shade, along streams, at middle elevations, from 1300-1800 m.

    Costa Rica South America|