Bonnetia celiae Maguire

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.

  • Family

    Theaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bonnetia celiae Maguire

  • Description

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    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex vel arbor parva ad 4 m alta; ramis teretibus, cicatricibus foliorum delap-sorum late lunatis cum 3 fasciculatis vascularibus notatis; foliis alternatis non-confertis, ca 10-15 mm apartis, subsessilibus vel petiolis 2-3 mm longis; laminis ellipticis late obtusis vel rotundatis, integris, non-marginatis, coriaceis, 8-10 cm longis, 4-5 cm latis, conspicue arcuate nervatis; inflorescentiis late pyramidali- vel corymboso-paniculatis, ad 8 cm longis, 12 cm latis; ramis primariis valde compressis; bracteolis inconspicuis, praecox caducis; floribus numerosis, grandis; sepalis 5, quincuncialibus, orbiculari-obovatis, conspicue scario-marginatis, exterioribus brevissimo-apiculatis, ca 10-16 mm longis; petalis 5, contortis, late flabelliformi-obovatis, 22-25 mm longis, 28-34 mm latis; staminibus numerosis, pluriseriatis, filamentis liberis; antheris 4-thecatis, oblongis, ca 1.2 mm longis, 0.8 mm latis, lobis anterioribus longioribus; pollinibus tricolporatis, aequatorio isodiametricis, deltoideis, ca 50 µ diam, aspectu polari late orbiculari-ellipticis, sporodermate laevi tenui; ovario 3-loculari, placenta-tione axillari, gemina, 4-seriata; ovulis numerosis, funiculo- deficienti, horizontalibus vel adscendentibus; stylis teretibus, ramis 1.0-1.5 mm longis, teretibus; stigmatibus distalibus cucullate brevi-papilloso-hirsutis, expansis; capsulis septicidalibus, conico-ampullatis, ca 8-10 mm longis; seminibus ignotis.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Known only from the summits of Serranía Yutaje.

  • Discussion

    Type. Shrub or small tree 2-4 m high, on rocky slopes and cliffs to summit, 1800 m alt, 17-19 Feb 1953, Cerro Yutaje, Territorio Amazonas, Venezuela, Bassett Maguire & Celia K. Maguire 35295 (holotype NY).

    Bonnetia celiae is the most ornamental and the finest of all species of Bonnetia seen by me. For that reason, and because my wife, my constant field companion, was a co-collector of this fine plant, I take especial pleasure in giving her name to it.

    Because of its paniculate inflorescence and compressed peduncles, Bonnetia celiae is closely allied to B. paniculata. It is conspicuously distinctive because of its coriaceous, broadly symmetrically elliptic, non-oblique leaves, and larger flowers borne in flat-topped multi flowered panicles.

    Cut off from the main distribution areas of B. paniculata, the most widespread member of the section Paniculata, B. celiae, as do its immediate congeners B. cubensis and B. stricta, both of limited and isolated distribution, maintains its narrow genetic composition and distinctive phenotypic character.