Cyphomandra corymbiflora subsp. mortoniana (L.B.Sm. & Downs) Bohs

  • Authority

    Bohs, Lynn A. 1994. Cyphomandra (Solanaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 63: 154. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Solanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cyphomandra corymbiflora subsp. mortoniana (L.B.Sm. & Downs) Bohs

  • Synonyms

    Cyphomandra mortoniana L.B.Sm. & Downs, Cyphomandra patrum L.B.Sm. & Downs

  • Description

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    Description - Leaf blades sparsely to densely puberulent-pubescent adaxially, more so on veins, densely pubescent to pilose abaxially. Crown leaves with blade ovate to elliptic-ovate, 6-22 cm long, 3.5-15 cm wide, length:width ratio 1.5-2:1, the base cordate with basal lobes 1-2.5 cm long. Inflorescence branched, 30-40-flowered, ca. 20 cm long; peduncle 7-13 cm long; pedicels 15-25 mm long, 20-30 mm long in fruit. Calyx radius (4-) 7-10 mm, the lobes (3-)5-8 mm long, 2-6 mm wide, ovate to lanceolate. Corolla radius ca. 1525 mm, the tube (4-)5-7 mm long, the lobes 11-25 mm long, 7-14 mm wide. Fruit ellipsoidal, acute at apex, ca. 2 cm long, 1 cm in diam.; seeds unknown.

  • Discussion

    Fruits edible according to Reitz 2364a. This subspecies, along with subspecies corymbiflora, may have value as an ornamental due to its short stature and showy flowers.

    This subspecies is separated from subspecies corymbiflora by its larger corollas and longer peduncles. Those specimens with a corolla radius greater than 15 mm, corolla lobes longer than 11 mm, and a peduncle equal to or greater than 7 cm long probably belong to subspecies mortoniana. Collections of subspecies mortoniana also have elongated acute fruits.

    Cyphomandra patrum was segregated from C. mortoniana by Smith and Downs (1964) because of its longer and denser indumentum. However, indumentum varies considerably within subspecies mortoniana and in C. corymbiflora as a whole and is not sufficiently distinctive in C. patrum to justify its recognition as a distinct species. The two collections of subspecies mortoniana from Parana, Hatschbach 1593 and 77922, differ from the other representatives of this taxon in having smaller calyces and pubescent anthers. Although the anther pubescence is unique in the genus and the collections are geographically separated from the rest of the subspecies, they are probably best regarded as aberrant variants of subspecies mortoniana.

    Smith and Downs first provided descriptions and Latin diagnoses of C. mortoniana and C. patrum in Phytologia, Volume 10 (1964), but failed to designate a type collection for C. mortoniana and cited the wrong collection number for the type of C. patrum. The valid publication of these names must therefore date from Smith (1965) in which these errors were corrected.

  • Common Names

    Azeitona, azeitona braba, Baga de veado

  • Distribution

    Restricted to two localities in southeastern Brazil, one in Parana southeast of Curitiba and the other in the southeastern Serra do Mar region in Santa Catarina around São Joaquim, 950-2000 m in elevation, in clearings, thickets, and waste places in dwarf forest in the mountains. Flowering specimens have been collected in January and October through December. Fruiting specimens have been collected in December.

    Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America|