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BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 101
apparently none on upper surface, faintly numerous, dense, and
strongly ascending on lower surface (Fig. 14).
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected "en los sitios
sorabreados, humedos, a lo largo de la margen de la selva, Yavita,
Territorio Federal Amazonas, alt. 128 m., January 23, 1942, Llewelyn
Williams 13922.
Philonotion has been known hitherto as an obscure monotypic
genus, based upon the single species P. Spruceanum Schott, collected
by Spruce along the Rio Panure' in the Upper Amazonas region
of Brazil. It is remarkable, therefore, to encounter a second species
of this genus, occurring in the Amazonian drainage of Venezuela.
This new species differs from P. Spruceanum in the much narrower,
smaller, linear-lanceolate leaves with a pronounced filiform-caudate
tip, a larger spathe with long filiform tip, the peduncles and inflorescence
exceeding the leaves, and shorter petioles, which in P
Williamsii are sheathed 1/2-3/4 their length, whereas in P. Spruceanum
the petiole is sheathed only in its lower portion.
Spathicarpa duidae Steyermark, sp. nov.
Herbe terrestris e rhizoma crassiuscula; caule adscendenti vel
decumbenti, 6-9 dm. alto; foliorum petiolo 20 cm. longo, longe vaginato;
lamina elliptico-ovata, apice acuminata, basi acuta, 30-35 cm.
longa, medio 16-17.5 cm. lata, nervis primariis utrinque 14-15 angulo
circ. 30 adscendentibus, nervis secundariis tenuibus; spatha viridi
anguste lanceolata, 8 cm. longa, paullo infra mediam constricta,
lamina expansa circ. 2.2 cm. lata; spadice lineari, 4 cm. longo, quam
spatha breviore, tota longitudine spathae adnato; inflorescentia
foeminea 3 cm. longa; pistillo subgloboso, 1.5 mm. longo, apice
1
mm. lato, stigmate disco umbonato; ovario uniloculari; ovulo orthotropo,
unico.
Leaf blades coriaceous, deep green above, pale green beneath.
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected on Cerro Duida,
southeastern-facing slopes along Cano Negro (tributary to CarTo
Iguapo), Terriotrio Federal Amazonas, alt. 970-1150 ra., August
25-26, 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 57994.
Local name:
"picaton".
This species is a common one at this elevation on Mount Duida.
It
appears to be referable to Spathicarpa in possessing a spadix
adnate on one side for its entire length with the spathe, and in its
unilocular ovary with an apparently single orthotropous ovule. It is
readily distinguished from other species of the genus by the large
Dieffenbachia-like leaves. The flowering part of the specimen
is in
poor condition.
Stenospermatium Pittieri Steyermark, sp. nov,
Planta terrestris vel subepiphytica; caudice erecto tereti, 9 dm.