Schultesia guianensis

Primary tabs

Schultesia guianensis

Description

Herb, (4-)10-60 cm tall, occasionally branched, larger plants robust. Stems and branches 0.05-0.2 cm in diam.; internodes 1-4.5 cm long, same length or shorter at base. Leaves 1/3 to 2 times longer than length of internodes; blade glaucous, narrowly ovate to ovate, lower leaves slightly broader, (0.5-)1-4 x 0.2-1.1 cm, apex acute to slightly obtuse (lower leaves), primary vein and sometimes secondary veins distinct. Inflorescence usually terminal, 1-10-flowered modified dichasia; bracts (12-)20-30 mm long, as long as or longer than upper leaves, bracteoles (8-)10-25 mm long; pedicels 2-51 mm long. Flowers erect to slightly nodding, upper ones sometimes subsessile; calyx green, 8-22 mm long, distinctly 4-winged, connation 1/2-2/3 of its length, lobes narrowly triangular, 5-10 x 1-4 mm, longer than corolla tube, margin entire, membranous, apex acuminate, wings 1-3 mm broad, wing venation prominent, usually densely reticulate, rarely transverse; corolla yellow to brownish red or purple, lobes lighter, throat brown, salver- to funnel-shaped, 12-27 mm long, connation 1/2-2/3 of its length, lobes round to broadly obovate, 4-9(-10) x 3-7(-9) mm, margin entire, slightly undulating, apex broadly rounded, acuminate; stamens ca. as long as corolla tube, 9-15 mm long, longest ones ca. as long as style+stigma, subequal or 2 long 2 short, inserted on corolla tube at 1/3 from base, filaments white, 5-9(-10) mm long, straight, with 2 broad dentate appendages at base, 1/3 to 1/2 of length of filament, anthers yellow, (narrowly) ellipsoid to narrowly oblong, (1.5-)3.5-5 mm long; pistil 16-20 mm long, ovary narrowly ovoid to ovoid, 5-12 x (2.5-)4-6 mm, disk-like ring absent, style 6-13 mm long, white, exserted from corolla tube, stigma yellow, lobes very broadly ovate, 1-2.5 mm long. Fruit ellipsoid-ovoid, 6-13 mm long; calyx and usually corolla persistent, calyx wings 3-5 mm broad in fruit.

Distribution

Apure present, Carabobo present, Cojedes present, French Guiana present, Guianas present, Guyana present, Guárico present, Hispaniola present, N Rupununi Savanna present, Roraima territory present, Southern America: Brazil North (Amazonas present); Cuba (Cuba present); Venezuela (Venezuela present), Suriname present, Trinidad present, along coast, Sipaliwini Savanna present
Cuba, Hispaniola, Trinidad, Venezuela (Amazonas, Cojedes, Apure, Guárico, Carabobo), Guyana (Roraima territory, N Rupununi Savanna), Suriname (along coast, Sipaliwini Savanna), French Guiana (along coast), Brazil; 45 collections studied, of which 35 from the Guianas (GU: 7; SU: 2; FG: 26).

Phenology

Flowering , fruiting .

Uses

Extract frequently used as a febrifuge.

Citation

Aubl. 1775 – In: Hist. Pl. Guiane: tab. 26, fig. 1