Piptocarpha leprosa (Less.) Baker

  • Authority

    Smith, Gerald L. & Coile, Nancy C. 2007. (Compositae: Vernonieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 99: 1--94. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Asteraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Piptocarpha leprosa (Less.) Baker

  • Type

    Type. E Brasilia tropica, s.d., Sellow s.n. (holotype, B, not extant; lectotype here designated, GH).

  • Synonyms

    Vernonia leprosa Less., Carphobolus leprosus (Less.) Sch.Bip., Vernonia capitellata DC., Carphobolus pellucidus Sch.Bip., Piptocarpha pellucida (Sch.Bip.) Baker, Piptocarpha sprucei Baker

  • Description

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    Species Description - Scandent to sprawling shrubs, branches long, pendulous, strongly 4-5-angled; lateral branchlets shorter, numerous, ferruginous- or cinereous-lepidote. Leaves evenly spaced along branchlets; petioles prominently furrowed, decurrent, (6-) 10-15 mm long; blades 6-14 x 2-5.5 cm, subcoriaceous, elliptic, acuminate at apex, cuneate to slightly oblique at base, margin remotely toothed, glabrate above, cinereous-lepidote, gland-dotted below, 6-8 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescences axillary, dense corymbose clusters of 20-60 heads. Heads with three florets, in groups of 2-5 on short, stout, lepidote peduncles; involucres cylindric to narrowly turbinate, 6.5-7.5 x 2-3 mm; phyllaries imbricate in 5-6 series, yellowish brown, darkened, tomentulose, obtuse to subacute at apex, margin sparsely arachnoid, outer ones ovate to elliptic, inner ones oblong to linear. Corollas cream-colored, gland-dotted, especially on lobes at apex, tube (2.8-)3-3.5(-4) mm long, the lobes 2.5-3(-3.2) mm long; anthers 3-3.5 mm long, the basal auricles elongated, papillate and blunt at tip, 0.4-0.7 mm long. Pappus white, biseriate, inner bristles filiform, ca. 6 mm long, outer bristles filiform, unequal, 0.5-2 mm long. Achenes 3.5-4(-4.5) mm long, 10-costate, gland-dotted.

  • Discussion

    Populations of Piptocarpha leprosa in northern South America have been identified as P. sprucei Baker. They have vegetative and floral morphologies and flavonoid profiles nearly identical to P. leprosa in southern Brazil. Thus, P. sprucei is treated as a synonym of P leprosa.

    The disjunct populations of Piptocarpha leprosa in northern South America are difficult to explain on the basis of information currently available. It is possible that the populations in coastal forests of Venezuela were originally dispersed as seeds on cargoes from the ports of southern Brazil to the ports of Venezuela, but this dispersal by man would be unlikely to account for numerous similar disjunct distributions of other South American taxa; thus, the distribution is likely natural. (See Distribution and Dispersal).

    Piptocarpha leprosa is similar to other Piptocarpha species that have strongly angled stems. It is distinguished from these species by distinctly smaller elliptic leaves that are cinereous-lepidote and gland-dotted below, and phyllaries that are darkened and only tomentulose at apex. These names were taken from herbarium specimens, but were never validly published, though mentioned in literature; Vanillosma acuminatum Mart, ex Sch. Bip., Pollichia 20/21: 419. 1863, pro syn.; Vanillosma albidum Mart, ex Baker, Martius Fl. bras. 6(2): 128. 1873, pro syn.; Vanillosma candicans Mart, ex Baker, loc. cit., pro syn.

  • Common Names

    Braço-de-quatro-quinas, bejuco blanco

  • Distribution

    Piptocarpha leprosa is found in northern South America and is disjunct in southeastern Brazil. It grows in coastal forests, climbing high into trees of secondary forests or as sprawling shrubs on hillsides. Elevation is ca. 800-1500 m. Flowering and fruiting occur from Sep to Nov in Brazil and from Mar to May in northern South America.

    Anzoátegui Venezuela South America| Aragua Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Miranda Venezuela South America| San Martín Peru South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America|