Phthirusa stenophylla
Content
Description
Slender, sparsely branched plants, with few epicortical roots from stem; internodes to 8 cm long, terete, glabrous. Petiole 0.1-0.2 cm long; blade thin, very narrowly lanceolate, to 4 x 0.8 cm, apex acute, apiculate, base acute; obscure venation except for midrib. Inflorescence to 1.5 cm, peduncle 0.2-0.5 cm, followed by 1 or 2 pairs of triads; triad peduncle ca. 0.4 cm; bracts and bracteoles short and blunt, persistent. Fruit greyish green with white dots, ellipsoid, 0.6 x 0.3 cm.
Notes
Inclusion of this species is based on a single collection (Henkel et al. 762 (LEA)), providing the above diagnosis which closely parallels the protologue, in which the stamens are shown to be of the same type as that in, for example, P. pyrifolia . It is clearly an extremely rare species, of uncertain distribution; its type originated in southern Amazonas. The species may be confused with the very narrow-leaved form of Cladocolea micrantha which, however, has furfuraceous stems and 4-merous flowers.