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BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 153
Known locally as "Suelda con sue Ida".
Characterized by the glabrous filaments, small white petals, tiny
sparsely pilosulous sepals, small size of seeds, strongly inequilateral
base of leaves, small bracts subtended on one side by a leaf,
and short pedicels, this species is related to Tradescantia commelinoides
Roem. & Sch. of Central America and Mexico. From this
species, it differs, among other respects, in its white petals.
It is
related to T cymbispatha Clarke, from which it differs in the much
smaller seeds, more densely pubescent bracts, smaller petals and
sepals, inequilateral leaves, shorter pedicels, and filaments all
glabrous. From T. anagallidea Seub. and T. fluminensis Veil, it may
be distinguished by the asymmetric narrowed leaf base, smaller
flowers, shorter pedicels, and glabrous filaments.
LILIACEAE
Excremis coarctata (R. & P.) Baker, forma alba Steyermark,
f. nov.
A typo recedit petalis alb is.
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected on ascent of Pico de
Naiguata, above Los Chorros, state of Miranda, alt. 2200-2765 m.,
June 16-17, 1945, Julian A. Steyermark 62963.
This differs from typical E. coarctata in the white, instead of blue,
petals.
Nietneria paniculate Steyermark, sp. nov.
Herba perennis; foliis erectis, caeruleo-viridibus, linearibus,
falcatis, angustate acuminatis, firmiter 10-costulatis, 7-17 cm.
longis, 1.5-3.5 mm. latis, vaginis equitantibus; inflorescentia paniculata,
1.5-7.5 cm. longa, 1.5-2 cm. lata, pedicellis 8-13 mm. longis,
erectis; bracteis infimis 4.5-6 mm. longis; perianthio superne flavo,
parte inferiore olivaceo-viridi, hypanthio late conico, 2 mm. longo,
segmentis 5 mm. longis, exterioribus 1.5 mm. latis, interioribus
1.75-2 mm. latis, marginibus scariosis albidis 0.5 mm. latis, subaequalibus,
lanceolatis, acutis, apice paullo incurvatis, 5-7-nervatis;
filamentis subulatis, 3 mm. longis; antheris oblongis, 1.1 mm.
longis; ovario late conico, 3mm. longo sursum sensim angustato.
Tips of leaves long- or narrowly acuminate; the 2-3 bracts of the
scape above the lowest folia ceous bract poorly developed and reduced
in size; inflorescence elongated paniculate, the flowers rather
remotely separated; perianth segments 6, the inner 5-7-nerved with
scarious whitish margins, the outer 7-nerved; bracts at base of lowest
flowering branches 4.5-6 mm. long; stigmas subcapitate; styles
1 mm. long.
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected in Gran Sabana,
between Mission of Santa Teresita de Kavanayen northwest to Rio
Karuai, on large mesa, state of Bolivar, alt. 1220 m., October 26,
1944, Julian A. Steyermark 59362.