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BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 51
Tribe
HYPOLYTREAE
Hypolytrum tepuianum Steyermark, sp. nov.
Viridis; culmis rig id is, erectis, subacute trigonis, glabris, 1.3-1.6
m. altis, 4.5-5.5 mm. latis; foliis rigidis, subcoriaceis, viridibus,
anguste linear!- lanceolatis, undique pluristriatis, marginibus parte
superiore et costa inferiore valide scabrido-serrulatis, raarginibus
parte inferiore glabris, 90-100 cm. longis, 18-21 mm. latis; inflorescentia
subumbellate decomposita vel subcorymbifere-umbellata
10-16-ramosa; ramis simplicibus monostachyis, striatis, angulatis,
minute hispidulis, 1-3-5 cm. longis, 2-2.5 mm. latis, foliaceobracteatis;
bracteis 4-5, inaequalibus, rigidis, subcoriaceis, def
lexis, linear i-lanceolatis, undique pluristriatis, marginibus manifeste
serrulatis, costa infra manifeste serrulata prominenti, 6-24 cm.
longis, 4-15 mm. latis; spicis densifloris, confertis, subglobosocapitatis,
1-1.5 cm. longis, 1.2-1.4 cm. latis; spiculis ovoideis, 6
mm. longis, 3.5 mm. latis; squamis suborbicularibus apice rotundatis
ferrugineis, 3.5-4 mm. longis, 3.5-4 mm. latis; squamulis oblong is
vel elliptico-oblongis, obtusis,liberis, glabris; staminibus 2; achaenio
paullo compresso, subtereti-lenticulari, infra medium paullo
constricto elliptic o-oblongo, nitido, glabro, fulvo-castaneo, superne
vinaceo-maculato, 5-6 mm. longo, 1.2-1.3 mm. lato; rostro tenui,
achaenio aequale, 1.5-3 mm. longo, glabro.
Culms nodulose; leaves deep green above, dull green below;
inflorescence with 10-16 stout, simple branches; spikelets subobtuse,
rufescent; scales subtending spikelets suborbicular, rounded
at apex, membranaceous, rufous-brown with numerous orange-brown
splotches, the margins hyaline; floral glumes 4, free to base, 2 of
them subtending stamens, glabrous, oblong to elliptic-oblong, obtuse
and entire or with hyaline-suberose apex, 4.5 mm. long, 1.2-2 mm.
wide, rufous-streaked below; achene fulvous to dark chestnut brown,
the lower half usually darker brown than the upper half, the upper
half dull purplish-red spotted; stigmatic branches 2 (Fig. 6,
Type in herb. Chi. Nat. Hist. Mus., collected in savanna, vicinity
of "Misia Kathy Camp", on mesa between Ptari-tepui and Sororopantepui,
state of Bolivar, alt. 1615 m., November 15-17, 1944, Julian
A. Steyermark 60238.
Very well marked by the tall culms, broad, stiff, elongated leaves
and bracts subtending the subumbellate inflorescence with simple
thick branches, large smooth achenes with long beak, and glabrous
floral scales.
i-1).