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40 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 28
plant matches Kiikenthal's description of R. immense, based on
Vie 8541 from the forests of Mount Roraima at an elevation of 1400
meters. The present collection was taken at 2040 meters near the
base of the high line of sandstone bluffs. Apparently R. immense is
synonymous with R. aristata, since the two do not appear to be
separable.
Since the leaves of R. immensa were not adequately described in
the original description, an emended description of them, based upon
Steyermark 58665 is given: culmus 1 m. altus, foliatus; foliis
anguste lineari-lanceolatis; vaginis 8-8.5 cm. longis, 8 mm. latis,
glabris praeter pilos adpressos paucos prope ore concavo.
Rhynchospora bolivarana Steyermark, sp. nov.
Perennis caespitosa; culmis 30-35 cm. altis; foliis marginibus
scabris, 15-30 cm. longis, 1.7-2 cm. latis; corymbis 2-3 axillaribus
terminalibusque, 1.5-2 cm. longis, 1.2-5 cm. latis; pedunculis tenuibus,
2-5.5 cm. longis; spiculis 3-6, fusiformi-lanceolatis, 1 cm.
longis, 2 mm. latis, 6-floris, 6-carpis; squamis ovatis vel lanceolatis
breve aristatis pallido-stramineis; setis 6 antrorse hispidulis, fructu
longioribus 7-8 mm. longis; achaenio obovoideo longe stipitato, 2.25-
2.5 mm. longo,
1 mm. lato, subtilissime puncticulato; tuberculo anguste
conico, 1.5 mm. longo, glabro foveolato; stylo bifido, ramis
brevibus.
Leaves plane, crowded at base of culm; bracts foliaceous, the
lowest up to 15 cm. long, the uppermost 2-10 cm. long, equaling or
exceeding the inflorescence; spikelets with 10 scales; lowest scales
ovate, the upper lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 4-8 mm. long;
stipitate part of achene 0.6-1 mm. long, stramineous or pale brown
on body of achene, superficially marked with numerous, small, subquadrate
puncticulations; beak long-conic, 2/3 width of achene,
conspicuously foveolate with rather large, elongate foveolae; short
branches of style shorter than or equaling the style proper
(Fig. 5, j, k).
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected by edge of waterfall,
Salto de Iwaracaru-meru', at western end of Sororopan-tepiu, state of
Bolivar, alt. 1615 m., November 15, 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 60206.
Also collected along rocky stream bank, Ptari-tepuf, of forested
slopes along fast-running stream of "Large Lunch River" below
"Misia Kathy Camp", alt. 1500 m., October 27, 1944, Steyermark
59448.
This is a member of Series Diplostyleae, Div. E u-Rhynchospora,
Sect. Fuscae (as defined by Clarke), and is probably most closely
related to R. comata Schultes. It is characterized by the pale buff
10- or more-scaled spikelets in 2-3 slender-peduncled inflorescences,
long-stipitate achenes, the elongate bristles greatly surpassing the
achene, and the slender, glabrous, tufted leaves.