Blepharandra heteropetala W.R.Anderson

Authority

Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part XI. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 32: 1-391.

Family

Malpighiaceae

Scientific Name

Blepharandra heteropetala W.R.Anderson

Description

Latin Diagnosis - Frutex vel arbor 2-7 m alta, ramis vegetativis glabris (ab initio?), cicatricibus prominentibus. Foliorum majorum lamina 6-10 cm longa, (2.5-)3-7 cm lata, elliptica vel ovata, basi cuneata vel truncata, margine revoluta, apice emarginata, reticulo utrinque prominulo vel obscuro, subtus nunc glauca glaucidine tenui non exfoliata, nunc eglauca; petiolus (6-)8-12 mm longus, 3-5 mm proximalibus in vagina cum stipulis connatis, distaliter alatus; stipulae epipetiolares, in petiolo persistentes, cum stipulis oppositis in vagina interpetiolari 3-5 mm longa connatae, lobis liberis 4-7 mm longis, apice rotundatis, abaxialiter glabris, adaxialiter basi hirsutis apice glabris. Inflorescentia 7-20 cm longa, terminalis vel axillaris, simplex vel saepius ternata vel biternata, thyrsiformis, albovelutina, bracteis 2.5-5 mm longis, 1.5-2 mm latis, ovatis, concavis, abaxialiter subsericeis vel glabris, adaxialiter glabris, caducis, cincinnis 2-6-floriferis, velutinis, pedunculo primario 1-3 mm longo, bracteolis bracteis similibus sed minoribus et abaxialiter sericeis. Pedicellus 8-11 (in fructu 13) mm longus, velutinus pilis 0.3 mm longis, in alabastro circinatus. Sepalorum glandes 1.3-2 mm longae, obovatae, lobi (1.5-)2-3 mm longi, (1-) 1.4-2 mm lati, triangulares, apice acuti vel obtusi vel rotundati, plani vel apice paulo revoluti, integri (vel obscure denticulati), utrinque laxe sericei. Petala glabra vel ungue paucipilifero; petala 4 lateralia alba, ungue 1-1.5 mm longo, limbo 3-4 mm longo, 2.5-4 mm lato, ovato, margine denticulato, paulo concavo; petalum posticum roseum, ungue 3-4 mm longo, 1 mm diametro, limbo 3.5-4.5 mm longo, 5-6 mm lato, galeiformi, margine denticulato. Filamenta 1.5-4 mm longa, utrinque densissime pilosa, piHs longissimis, tenuibus, basifixis; antherae 1-1.7 mm longae, connectivo atrorubro loculos aequanti vel paulo superanti, loculis pilosis pilis basifixis apice persistentibus rectis 1-1.2 mm longis; pollen tricolporatum. Ovarium conoideum vel sphaeroideum, 1-1.2 mm altum, 1.3-1.5 mm diametro, triloculare, loculis omnibus uniovulatis; styli 5-6 mm longi, patulo-ascendentes. Fructus 2 mm altus, 2.5 mm diametro, subsphaeroideus. Semina 3 vel abortu 2 vel 1, matura ignota.

Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Savannas of the Alto Rio Orinoco to campinas east and north of Manaus.

Discussion

Type. Wurdack & Adderley 42704, Sabanita Morocoto, right bank of Rio Orinoco, 8 km below mouth of Rio Atabapo, Amazonas, Venezuela, elev 125-150 m, 30 May 1959 (holotype MICH, isotypes NY, US, VEN). Collected in flower in almost all months, most commonly from May to September. Recently collectors have found in southern Amazonas a Blepharandra that is similar to B. heteropetala in stature and leaf-shape, but its leaves are smaller than usual and the flowers are reported to be white, with no mention made of the pink flag petal for which the species is named. Perhaps these populations represent B. heteropetala with some introgression from the southern species, B. cachimbensis, or perhaps they deserve recognition as yet another species in this complex. The collections are INPA 60468 from the Municipio de Labrea and INPA 60667, 60670, and 60696 from Nova Prainha.