Phthirusa guyanensis
Content
Description
Sparsely branched plants with slender epicortical roots at base; internodes to 7 cm long, terete; all young and inflorescence parts lightly brown- to grey-furfuraceous (especially in inflorescences). Leaves irregularly paired; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm long; blade oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, to 8 x 3.5 cm, apex rounded to very slightly emarginate, minutely apiculate, base acutely tapering to distinct petiole; venation pinnate, with 2 or 4 strong lateral veins from near base, midrib running into apex, its lower side furfuraceous. Dioecious, male inflorescence not seen. Female inflorescence at least 2 cm at anthesis, indeterminate and apparently only axillary (no compound inflorescences seen), elongating to 7 cm in fruit, members of all but distal pair of triads becoming much separated from each other; triads sessile, 2-4 pairs per inflorescence; bracts and bracteoles forming a united greyish-furfuraceous cupule. Female flowers 4-merous, < 0.2 cm long; calyculus coarsely lacerate; petals scarcely or not dimorphic, ca. 0.1 cm long; sterile anthers not discernible; style clavate, 0.1 cm, stigma capitate. Fruit ellipsoid, 0.4 x 0.3 cm, pale orange, base invested by fused bracts.
Distribution
Guianas present, Southern America: Venezuela (Venezuela present), northern Brazil present
Venezuela, Guianas, and northern Brazil; ca. 15 collections studied (GU: 8).
Notes
Van Dam () reports that she has seen the type specimen in B. Its original name is 'Viscum guianensis Klotzsch ', a nomen nudum, published in . R. Vogt (B, pers. comm.) informed me that he could not find this specimen.
See also the comments underCladocolea micrantha , which is often similar in general habit.
See also the comments under