Phoradendron pteroneuron
Content
Description
Young stems slightly keeled, soon becoming terete, percurrent; internodes to 7 cm long; intercalary cataphylls absent; laterals with 1 or 2 (3) pairs of rather large basal cataphylls, to 2 cm or more above axil. Petiole ca. 1 cm long; blade (ob)ovate to elliptic, to 9(-12) x 6 cm, apex rounded, base abruptly tapered into petiole. Monoecious? (spikes of all 3 specimens identical). Inflorescence to 5 cm long, with 1-6 sterile internodes, fertile internodes 3-6, crowded; flowers (3)5(7) per fertile bract, 2-seriate. Fruit ovoid, 0.4 x 0.25 cm, smooth, perianth segments closed.
Distribution
Guyana present, Southern America: Bolivia (Bolivia present); Brazil Southeast (Rio de Janeiro present); Colombia (Colombia present); Venezuela (Venezuela present), Suriname present
Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Bolivia; 60+ collections studied (GU: 4; SU: 1).
Notes
Similar in general appearance, especially leaf shape and size, to P. racemosum , which ranges through the Guianas, the Caribbean, and northern Brazil. P. racemosum , however, is consistently dichotomous (through abortion of its apex), while P. pteroneuron is percurrent; and the inflorescence of the former has a peduncle of no more than 2 sterile internodes, while up to 6 are present in P. pteroneuron .