Banisteriopsis cristata (Griseb.) Cuatrec.

  • Authority

    Gates, Bronwen. 1982. Banisteriopsis, Diplopterys (Malpighiaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 30: 1-238. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Malpighiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Banisteriopsis cristata (Griseb.) Cuatrec.

  • Type

    Type. Richard Schomburgk 594, Guyana, fl fr (holotype, GOET).

  • Synonyms

    Banisteria cristata Griseb., Banisteria orbicularis Nied.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Liana, or shrub with vining branches, branches terete, pale to dark brown, glabrous, lenticels numerous, more or less prominent, old branches with prominent corky ridges. Stipules triangular, up to 1 mm long. Leaves with the petiole 5-15 mm long, sparsely appressed-sericeous to glabrate, bearing a pair of protuberant glands adaxially near the apex, the lamina 2.7-9.0(-12.0) cm long, 2.5-5.9(-8.0) cm wide, ovate to rotund, cuneate to obtuse or rarely truncate at the base, acute to acuminate or apiculate at the apex, with the margin plane, at first appressed-sericeous on both sides, soon glabrous except the margin and midrib, the hairs sessile, the trabecula straight, 1.0-1.5 mm long, with the lateral veins prominulous on both sides. Inflorescence in the axils of leaf scars of leaves of previous seasons, of 4-flowered umbels, 1-several umbel-bearing branches in each axil, the branches up to 6 mm long, sericeous; bracts and bracteoles 1.0-1.5 mm long, triangular, appressed-sericeous abaxially, involucrate, persistent; pedicels sessile, (10-) 14-19(-21) mm long, 0.4-0.5 mm in diameter, sparsely appressed-sericeous. Sepals 1.7-2.3 mm long, 1.4-2.2 mm wide, oblong to orbicular, larger in fruit, appressed-sericeous abaxially, tomento-sericeous adaxially, eglandular. Petals yellow, laciniate, eglandular, glabrous, the 4 lateral petals reflexed between the sepals, with the claw 2.0-3.5 mm long, the limb 5.0-11.0 mm long and 4.5-8.0 mm wide, the petal outermost in bud largest, broadly elliptic, the posterior petal with the claw erect, 2.5-3.5 mm long and up to 0.8 mm wide, the limb 4.0-6.0 mm long, 2.5-5.0 mm wide, broadly obovate. Stamens with the filaments opposite the 4 lateral petals and the anterior and postero-lateral sepals 3.6-5.4 mm long, that opposite the anterior sepal longest (4.6-5.4 mm), those opposite the antero-lateral sepals 2.6-3.6 mm long, that opposite the posterior petal 1.6-3.0 mm long, those of the 3 anterior stamens erect, those opposite the antero-lateral sepals and postero-lateral petals directed posteriorly, those of the 3 posterior stamens inflexed between the posterior styles; anthers with the locules 0.6-1.0 mm long, glabrous, the connectives of the stamens opposite the sepals 0.7-1.0 mm long, 0.6-0.8 mm wide, 0.3-0.6 mm deep, broadly obovate, with the locules diverging distally, papillate, those opposite the petals 0.4-0.7 mm long, 0.3-0.4 mm wide, 0.2-0.4 mm deep, oblong. Ovary 1.0-1.3 mm tall, sericeous, the styles slender and tapering apically, hairy for part of their length, the hairs T-shaped, sessile, with unequal arms, the longer arm 1.0-2.0 mm long, the anterior style 4.5-5.4 mm long, curved and directed anteriorly distally, hairy for up to half of its length, the posterior styles 3.8-4.2 mm long; sigmoid, directed posteriorly distally, hairy for one-fourth to one-third of their length, stigmas truncate. Fruit with the carpophore up to 1.5 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, the nut 45 mm tall and 4-5 mm long, globose, bearing on each side 3 to 7 crest-like lateral wings radiating from the areole, sparsely sericeous to glabrate, the wing 25-34 mm long, 9-11 mm wide, sparsely appressed-sericeous, the hairs stiff, irritating, the trabecula straight, 1.0-1.5 mm long, bearing on its upper margin at the base an appendage 6-7 mm tall and 5-7 mm along its base.

  • Discussion

    Collected in flower in January, March to July and November through December, and in fruit from May to July.

    This species is distinguished from Banisteriopsis lutea by its glabrate mature leaves, and the appressed-sericeous pubescence on the leaves and inflorescence. Usually B. cristata flowers in a leafless condition so that few collections have mature leaves. The type of B. orbicularis has mature leaves although the flowers are not borne in their axils, and this specimen was collected in November. Pittier 11346 also has mature leaves, and was collected in December. Perhaps these two specimens represent individuals whose flowering response was triggered in the wet season, perhaps in response to anomalous weather conditions.

  • Distribution

    In deciduous woodland (savannah) in Venezuela, Guyana and Surinam.

    Venezuela South America| Zulia Venezuela South America| Yaracuy Venezuela South America| Carabobo Venezuela South America| Aragua Venezuela South America| Distrito Federal Venezuela South America| Guárico Venezuela South America| Anzoátegui Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America|