Microtea maypurensis

<<<Inflorescences>Bracts>Shape>Length

ca. 0.8 mm long1

1. 004-005-001-001

<<<Tepals>Ovary>Stigma>Length

ca. 0.2 mm2

2. 005-004-002-002

<<<Tepals>Ovary>Stigma>Segment number

3(5-6)-partite3

3. 005-004-002-001

<<<Tepals>Stamens>Anthers>Width

ca. 0.2 mm wide4

4. 005-003-002-001

<<Akenes>Shape>Length

ca. 1.5 mm5

5. 006-002-001

<<Akenes>Spinelets>Apical bristle number

46

6. 006-003-002

<<Akenes>Spinelets>Growth form

recurved7

7. 006-003-001

<<Inflorescences>Bracteoles>Length

ca. 0.3 mm long8

8. 004-006-002

<<Inflorescences>Bracteoles>Position

inserted at base of pedicel9

9. 004-006-003

<<Inflorescences>Bracteoles>Shape

linear-subulate10

10. 004-006-001

<<Inflorescences>Bracts>Shape

lanceolate, , acute11

11. 004-005-001

<<Inflorescences>Growth form>Length

to 10 cm long12

12. 004-003-001

<<Inflorescences>Pedicels>Length

ca. 1.5 mm long13

13. 004-004-001

<<Leaves>Petiole>Length

ca. 1 cm long14

14. 003-003-001

<<Leaves>Shape>Dimensions

ca. 3.5 x 0.3-1 cm15

15. 003-001-001

<<Tepals>Midveins>Colour

green16

16. 005-002-001

<<Tepals>Ovary>Length

ca. 0.5 mm17

17. 005-004-001

<<Tepals>Ovary>Stigma

stigmas , .18

18. 005-004-002

<<Tepals>Shape>Length

ca. 1.5 mm long19

19. 005-001-001

<<Tepals>Stamens>Anthers

anthers ;20

20. 005-003-002

<<Tepals>Stamens>Stamen number

6-921

21. 005-003-001

<Akenes>Colour

black22

22. 006-001

<Akenes>Shape

globose, , acute, echinulate in a honeycomb pattern23

23. 006-002

<Akenes>Spinelets

spinelets glochidiate, with apex and retrorse apical bristles24

24. 006-003

<Habit>Height

to 50 cm tall25

25. 001-001

<Inflorescences>Bracteoles

bracteoles , , .26

26. 004-006

<Inflorescences>Bracts

bracts ;27

27. 004-005

<Inflorescences>Growth form

suberect raceme28

28. 004-003

<Inflorescences>Pedicels

pedicels ;29

29. 004-004

<Inflorescences>Position

terminal, rarely axillary30

30. 004-001

<Inflorescences>Shape

pedunculate, elongate31

31. 004-002

<Leaves>Hairs

glabrous32

32. 003-002

<Leaves>Petiole

petiole .33

33. 003-003

<Leaves>Shape

lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, rarely elliptic-lanceolate, , acute at apex and base34

34. 003-001

<Stems>Growth form

suberect35

35. 002-002

<Stems>Hairs

glabrous, angular36

36. 002-001

<Tepals>Midveins

with midvein37

37. 005-002

<Tepals>Ovary

ovary ,38

38. 005-004

<Tepals>Shape

elliptical, , acute39

39. 005-001

<Tepals>Stamens

stamens ,40

40. 005-003

Akenes

Achenes exceeding tepals, , , .41

41. 006

Description

Erect to decumbent herb to 50 cm tall. Stem slender, glabrous, angular, suberect. Leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, rarely elliptic-lanceolate, ca. 3.5 x 0.3-1 cm, acute at apex and base, glabrous; petiole ca. 1 cm long. Inflorescence a terminal, rarely axillary, pedunculate, elongate, suberect raceme to 10 cm long; pedicels ca. 1.5 mm long; bracts lanceolate, ca. 0.8 mm long, acute; bracteoles linear-subulate, ca. 0.3 mm long, inserted at base of pedicel. Tepals elliptical, ca. 1.5 mm long, acute, with green midvein; stamens 6-9, anthers ca. 0.2 mm wide; ovary ca. 0.5 mm, stigmas 3(5-6)-partite, ca. 0.2 mm. Achenes exceeding tepals, black, globose, ca. 1.5 mm, acute, echinulate in a honeycomb pattern, spinelets glochidiate, with recurved apex and 4 retrorse apical bristles.

Distribution

Guianas present, tropical South America present

Tropical South America; 26 collections studied, 8 from the Guianas (GU: 5; SU: 3).

Habit

Erect to decumbent herb .42

42. 001

Individuals Association

Suriname, Paramaribo, Agricultural Experiment Station, Samuels 8 Guyana, Essequibo R., Ro. Schomburgk ser. I, 116 Guyana, Lower Rupununi R., Appun 2459 Suriname, Paramaribo Gardens, Stockdale s.n. Suriname, Paramaribo, van Hall 100 Guyana, Rupununi Dist., Lethem, bank of Takutu R., Irwin 788

Inflorescences

Inflorescence a , , ;43

43. 004

Leaves

Leaves , ;44

44. 003

Notes

Differences between the two Microtea species are most evident under magnification (see ). The reticulate (honeycomb, waffle) pattern on the fruit of M. debilis exhibits protuberances which are very pale brown or cream, chartaceous, often irregularly bent or crisped, non-glochidiate at the apex, and to 0.2 mm long. By contrast, the (superficially) similar pattern on the fruit of M. maypurensis exhibits protuberances which are dark brown, hard (or at least stiff-looking), straight, glochidiate with 4 minute bristles at the apex, and to 0.5 mm long. The apex of the barb-like protuberance is provided with 4 retrorse, acicular bristles ca. 0.1 mm long, and an inner set of even shorter bristles. In addition, leaves from near the base or middle of the plant of M. maypurensis are often linear or narrowly elliptical, 0.3-1 cm wide, whereas leaves of the common M. debilis are usually wider (to 3 cm wide).

Stems

Stem slender, , .45

45. 002

Tepals

Tepals , ;46

46. 005

Uses

Same as those given for Microtea debilis (Ostendorf, 1962).

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