PDF - University Library

BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 107
Petals 8.5 mm. long, the blade 6 ram. long, 4 mm. wide, broadly
elliptic-ovoid, subobtuse, margins erase from tip to near base, claw
3 mm. long; anther linear, 2.5 mm. long; filament 1 mm. long; staminodium
long penicillate-plumose at apex with hairs 2 mm. long;
style branches 3, 3 mm. long, slightly penicillate and truncate at
tip (Fig. 16, a-b).
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected on Ptari-tepui^
Bonnetia roraimae forest on southwest-facing shoulder, state of
Bolivar, alt. 2000-2200 m., November 2, 1944, Julian A. Steyermark
59734. Also collected in swamp, Ptari-tepuf, on plateau portion of
southeast-facing slopes, alt. 1600 m., November 1, 1944, Steyermark
59683.
Apparently a member of Sect. XII (X. spe eta biles Malme) [published
as Stirps X. spectabilis, but undoubtedly intended as plural, as all
other sections are so designated by Malme with plural endingsj, and
most closely related to X. decussata Gleason of Mount Roraima,
which it resembles in the falcate-incurved rounded or obtuse leaf
tips, pubescent margins of leaves and scapes, and decussate darkcolored
bracts lacking a definite dorsal area. It differs from that
species in the white instead of dark brown hairs of the margins of
scapes and leaves, recurved-falcate inequilateral leaf tip, much
longer leaves and scapes, more robust habit, larger heads, bracts,
and lateral sepals, and longer sheaths of an orange-brown to dark
castaneous brown color.
In its strongly flattened, broad scape with pubescent margins of
the leaves and scapes,
it is reminescent of X, eriophylla Reichenb.,
but that has a definite dorsal area on die bracts, densely villous
upper part of the lateral sepal, and transversely rugose leaves.
Xyris c a pillar is Steyermark, sp. nov.
Caespitosa; foliis rubrescentibus planis setaceis, acutis, 0.5-3
cm. longis, 0.1-0.2 mm. latis, omnino glaberrimis; vagina circiter
tertiara vel feredimidium partemfolii occupante, basin versus pallidobrunnea,
scariosa, eciliata; scapo subtereti tenuissimo, glabro,
1.5-1.9 cm. alto; spicis anguste ellipticis, 1-floris, 3-4 mm. longis,
0.8-1 ram. latis; bracteis membranaceis brunneis, 2 infimis brevissimis,
anguste lanceolatis, 2-2.1 mm. longis, glabris, bracteis intermediis
et superioribus lanceolatis, 3-4 ram. longis, albido-maculatis,
marginibus scariosis; ovario et capsula uniloculari; seminibus
plerumque 2.
Leaves copper-colored; placentae basal-central, ovules numerous,
attached to long, ascending funicles; seeds 2 or more, minute,
ellipsoid, reddish-brown.
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected between Esmeralda
Savanna and southeastern base of Cerro Duida, Territorio Federal
Amazonas, alt. 200 m., August 22, 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 57835.