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BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 39
400 ra., August 2, 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 57629.
In some respects this presents an intermediate position between
B. junciformis with its many-flowered inflorescence and some of the
monocephalous species having dense hairiness around the orifice of
the leaves at the base of the culms. In a note received from Dr.
Svenson, regarding his opinion of the species, he writes as follows:
"This is close in appearance to B. papillosa Kiikenthal, but I think
it is a distinct species, differing from B. papillosa in the fuzzy culm
bases, pale spikelets, and especially in the nearly smooth, small
pale achenes (0.6 mm. long), approximately half the size of those of
B. papillosa.
It is probably the same as Pittier 9009 (except in
fuzzy base) from vicinity of Valencia, Carabobo, alt. 400-800 m.,
which is noted by N. E. Brown as 'not matched at Kew'."
Fimbristylis tamaensis Steyermark, sp. nov.
Culmi compressi, marginibus scabridulis, 40-55 cm. alti, 2-3 mm.
lati, basi foliati; foliis basalibus planis, marginibus scabris, 30
cm. longis, 3-3.5 mm. latis, culmo brevioribus; involucre 1-2 umbella
breviore, 3.5-5 cm. longo; umbella composita pluriradiata; spicis
pluribus ovato-vel oblongo-lanceolatis, 4-4.5 mm. longis, 1.25-1.5
mm. latis; squamis castaneis ovatis, 1.5-2.25 mm. longis, carina
pallida breviter excurrente; stylo 3-fido; achaenio pallido vel stramineo,
trigono obovoideo, transversim lineato-reticulato, tuberculis
prominentibus, 0.75-1 mm. longo, 1.25-1.5 mm. lato.
Culms thickened at margins, ancipital, slightly winged; leaves
thickened on the margins, linear, subacute or obtusish; bracts of
involucre 1.75-2 mm. wide; umbel with usually 3-4 longer rays with
a few shorter ones at base, 7.5-8 cm. long, 3-3.5 cm. wide; spikelets
numerous, 50-100 in an inflorescence; scales chestnut-brown with
narrow pale hyaline margins, about 10-11 to a spikelet, all the
flowers fertile (Fig. 5, b, c).
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected between Las Delicias
and Paraguita, along Rio Tachira, by Colombian-Venezuelan boundary,
state of Ta'chira, alt. 1675-1980 m., July 17, 1944, Julian A.
Steyermark 57422.
This species is at once distinguished by its tuberculate achene,
and is further well-marked by its relatively broad, flattened, ancipital
culm and 3-fid style. It is apparently related to F. tenuis and F.
autumnalis, which have only reticulate and not tuberculate achenes.
Tribe
Rhynchospora aristata Boeckeler
RHYNCHOSPOREAE
Rhynchospora immensa Kuk. Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 56: Beibl. 125:
17-18. 1921.
Forested southwest-facing quebrada near Rondo'n Camp, Mount
Roraima, state of Bolivar, alt. 2040 m., Steyermark 58665. This