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BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 75
River (Cano Negro), at southeastern base of Cerro Duida, Territorio
Federal Amazonas, alt. 215 m., August 23, 1944, Julian A. Steyermark
57908.
r_
This species is
characterized by the bifid elongate leaves, which
are glabrous on the lower surface, the petiole aculeate near base,
the densely brown-spiny spathe, and the many-branched spadix.
It is apparently related to B. chaetospatha Man. of Amazonas,
Brazil, from which it differs in the glabrous rachis and lower leaf
surface, the aculeate base of the petiole, and the densely spiny
spathe. From B. armata Barb, it differs in the much shorter spines
of the petiole, which are confined near its base instead of scattered
along the length. From other species of similar type, such as B.
longipes Poepp., B. fissifrons Mart., B. Luetzelburgii Burret, and
several others, it differs in the combination of characters mentioned
above.
Bactris duidae is somewhat intermediate between Bactris proper
and the group of species sometimes referred to Pyrenoglyphis (which
is now considered by Bailey, Dahlgren, and others as a section of
Bactris), forming a transition between B. chaetospatha and B. bifida
Mart. The latter has a simple spadix, while the former has a manybranched
inflorescence. Because of the lack of a staminodial ring
in the pistillate flowers and the calyx not duplicate on the interior,
this species should be placed with the section of Bactris relegated
to
Pyrenoglyphis.
Bactris Kamarupa Steyermark, sp. nov.
Caudex 3-3.75 m. altus, 5 cm. crassus, solitarius, aculeis canis
applanatis 20-30 mm. longis 2-3 mm. latis armatus; frondibus 1.75 m.
longis membranaceis; petiolo 70 cm. longo, 6 mm. crasso, supra
canaliculate, fusco-furfuraceo, parte inferiore aculeis inaequalibus
applanatis pallido-brunneis praeter apicem nigrum 0.9-3.5 cm. longis,
0.5-2.5 mm. latis armata; rhachi 1 m. longa, 2-6 mm. crassa, utrinque
dense brunneo-furfuracea inermi; pinnis undique 10 vel 12 per greges
2-4 inaequaliter dispositis, falcato- vel sigmoideo-lanceolatis, ad
apicem longi-acuminatis, terminalibus 27 cm. longis, 6-6.5 cm. latis,
prope apicem dense setulosis, ceteris 30-48 cm. longis, 2.5-6 cm.
latis, costa media prope apices asymmetrica, nervis primariis 6,
supra glabris subtus basi costae mediae et ad nervos primaries et
basi pinnae pallido-furfuraceis; spatha 11-12 cm. longa dense pubescenti
setisnigro-fuscisetpilis atrofuscis et aculeis basi fuscis applanatis
lanceolatis velovato-lanceolatis 7-13 mm. longis intermixtis;
spadicis fructiferae pedunculo pendenti curvato, 14 cm. longo, 7-8
mm. crasso, parte superiore dense atrofusco-setuloso-hispidulo pilis
adpressis tenuibus; spadicis rhachi brevi, 1.5 cm. longa, ramis 9, 5-
7.5 cm. longis, 2.5-3 mm. crassis, brunneo-furfuraceo-pubescentibus
scrobiculatis; calyce fructifera duplico, exteriore minore 3-4 mm.