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BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 89
apex prolonged into a slender filiform tip about 3-4 cm. long, asymmetric
at base, the lower surface of the main nerves with lines of
persistent brown scales, which also tend to persist in patches along
the leaf rachis, on the lower surface, and on the sides; spadix 11 cm.
long in anthesis, 15-20 cm. in fruit, 5-20 cm. in diameter, the peduncle
finely granule se-tuberculate with dark brown scales interspersed
along the axis, the branches of the spadix 7-11, the simple
ones 7, the two lowest sometimes forked, spinose at apex, 9-15 cm.
long, densely or sparsely short-pubescent, finely granulose-tuberculate,
the hairs darkening in age; flowers with foveolae 3-4 mm. apart
on the same side, but only 2 mm. apart between those nearest each
other; fruit small, blackish when dried, deep olive green in life.
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected along Rio Karuai, at
base of Sororopan-tepui^ west of La Laja, state of Bolivar, alt. 1220
m., November 29, 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 60789.
This species is characterized by having few (4) pairs of broad
leaf segments which on the nerves of the lower leaf surface and
along the lower surface of the leaf rachis have lines of brown scurfiness,
relatively small fruits, minutely pilose rachillae of the flowering
branches, spinose tips of the branches, and relatively small
spathes.
Hyospathe maculata Steyermark, sp. nov.
Caudex solitarius, 1.3 m. altus, 8 mm. crassus; lamina 55-65 cm.
longa, 4-6-juga fere concolori firme membranacea; petiolo 12.5 cm.
longo, 4 mm. crasso; rhachi 19-28 cm. longa utrinque irregulariter
fusco-maculata; segmentis falcatis inaequalibus, late lanceolatis
anguste acuminatis, 35-43 longis, jugis infimis 1.5-3 cm. latis,
mediis 3.5-4.5 cm. latis, supremis 4.5-6 cm. latis, infra glabratis,
nervis pluribus; segmentis intermediis angustioribus linearibus vel
lineari-lanceolatis, 35-38 cm. longis, 1-1.5 cm. latis, anguste acuminatis,
apicibus filiformibus; vagina fusco-maculata leprosa; spadice
parvo; spatha non visa; pedunculo 3*9-4 cm. longo, 3 mm. lato;
inflorescentiae rhachi pallid o-viridi, parte florifera 9 cm. longa, 18
cm. lata, ramis 12, simplicibus, 5.5-10 cm. longis, 1.5-2 mm. crassis;
floribus masculinis sessilibus: calyce 1.25 mm. longo, 1 mm. lato,
lobis 4 parce inaequalibus late triangularibus, 0.3-0.4 mm. longis,
apice 0.2 mm. latis; petalis 4, 2.8-3 mm. longis, 0.9-1 mm. latis,
oblongis vel lanceolaco-oblongis, obtusis, tenuiter pluristriatis;
staminibus 4-7; antheris 0.8-0.9 mm. longis; filamentis 1 mm. longis;
fructu non viso.
Rachis of frond irregularly dotted or splotched on all sides, especially
prominent on lower side, with dark brown scales or masses
of scales; segments of frond glabrate on the lower surface or somewhat
brown-scaly near base, deep green above, dull green below;
leaf sheath dark brown, mottled with tiny patches of persistent
scales, less densely so on older spathes; flowering rachis arising
on trunk just below leafy shoot, divergent; flowers dull yellow.