Phoradendron granvillei
Content
Description
Internodes sharply keeled, to 5 cm long; basal cataphylls 1 pair, very low (0.2-0.3 cm), apparently soon deciduous; all scale leaves with conspicuous, light-colored margin. Petiole ca. 0.3 cm long, strongly winged; blade very thin, lanceolate, to 6.5 x 3 cm, apex acute or nearly so, base long-tapering into very indistinct petiole; venation pinnate but lowest lateral veins strong. Dioecious. Female inflorescence ca. 1.5 cm long at anthesis, elongating to 3-3.5 cm, extremely slender; peduncle 0.2-0.3 cm long; 2 sterile internodes, lower one very short, fertile internodes 5-8; flower 1 per fertile internode, placed in middle at anthesis, rarely with 1 or 2 additional flowers in lateral series, lower portion of internode elongating, placing fruit at distal end. Fruit white, ovoid, 0.25-0.3 x 0.15-0.2 cm, perianth segments closed.
Notes
Similar, and closely related to, P. laxiflorum Ule from the eastern Amazonian area, but immediately different in having no intercalary cataphylls. Additionally, P. laxiflorum has a very different leaf shape and venation, and its petals are erect (Kuijt 1986: 31). The male inflorescence of P. laxiflorum has 5-9 flowers per fertile bract in either 2- or 3-seriate pattern, even on the same plant, and we may expect a similar male inflorescence in P. granvillei .