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108 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 28
Also collected in savanna and shrubby growth bordering forest of Rio
Karuai, between Santa Teresita de Kavanaye'n and base of Ptariteput,
state of Bolivar, alt. 1220 m., November 18, 1944, Steyermark
60306.
So far as known, this is the species having the most delicate and
slender leaves and flowers in the genus.
It is most closely related
to X. filiscapa Malme of Manaos, Brazil, from which it differs in the
shorter, narrower, entirely glabrous leaves, shorter and more slender
scapes or culms, and 1-flowered inflorescence.
At first, it was thought that this species might represent a reduced,
starved, or dwarf state of X filiscapa, but, in addition to the more
slender and shorter leaves, scapes, and spikes, the leaves themselves
are completely glabrous, lacking the ciliation characteristic
of X. filiscapa, as exhibited, for example, in Williams 13996. Since
our material possesses mature capsules and seeds,
it cannot be
considered as representing immature or dwarfed plants.
Xyris culmenicola Steyermark, sp. nov.
Caespitosa; foliis subcoriaceis ensiformi-linearibus, apice acutis
vel pauilo falcato-incurvatis, valde nervoso-striatis, margin ibus
dense ciliatis pilis alb id is instructis, 15-30 cm. longis, 2-3.5 mm.
latis; vagina quartam vel quintam partem folii occupante, inferne
atro-castanea nitida, eciliata; scapo erecto ancipiti, ecostato, omnino
glabro, 35-45 cm. longo, 1.5-2 mm. lato, aciebus obtusis; spicis
elliptic o-ovatis, basi pauilo contractis, multifloris, 14 mm. longis,
7-11 mm. crassis; bracteis coriaceis, nigricantibus vel fusco-nigris,
concoloribus, opacis, ovalibus vel late oblongis apice pauilo laceratis,
inferioribus et intermediis apice emarginatis, sub apice rotundatis
et pauilo carinatis, 7-8 mm. longis, 3.8-4.5 mm. latis, area
dorsali nulla; sepalis lateralibus liberis, lineari-oblanceolatis,
acutis, 7 mm. longis, 1.1-1.2 mm. latis, dorso castanea, ala carinali
angusta, in parte dimidia superiore ciliato-scabrida.
Heads somewhat thicker in dried state; carinal wing of lateral
sepals ciliolate in upper half, the cilia longer near the tip; ovules
on basal placentae; seeds few (2-9), elongated, tailed at one end
wkh whitish appendages 0.5 mm. long; body of seed linear-oblong,
2.25 mm. long. 0.4 mm. wide, pale brown, the surface smoothish.
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected around small stream
on dry rocky slopes, summit of Cerro Duida, Brocchinia Hills,
Territorio Federal Amazonas, alt. 1700-1980 m., September 1, 1944,
Julian A. Steyermark 58798; also collected in Savanna Hills, summit
of Cerro Duida, alt. 1025-1200 m., September 2, 1944, Steyermark
58233.
Closely related to A", lugubris Malme, also from the summit of
Duida, but differing from that species in having the margins of the
leaves conspicuously densely white-ciliate, the leaves strongly