Oryctanthus florulentus
Content
Description
Rather small-leaved plant, sparsely branched; stems sharply angular until older, when becoming more or less terete; internodes usually 3 cm long or less; youngest twigs with very conspicuous furfuraceous lines continuing along lower midrib of each leaf into apex or nearly so. Petiole 0.3 cm long; blade rather thin, broadly lanceolate, mostly about 4 x 2 cm, rarely to 7.5 x 3.5 cm, rounded at apex, acute at base; venation pinnate. Spikes axillary only, 1-3 per axil, 2-4 cm long; peduncle less than 0.2 cm, floriferous portion rather slender, about 24 or more flowers per spike; bracteoles extending above bract. Flowers greenish, orange, or light red, somewhat angular, ca. 0.2 cm long; anthers strongly dimorphic, 4-loculate, lower anthers nearly touching nectary, upper anthers at about middle of petal, connectival horns of 2 anther series little different; stigma reaching above upper anthers. Fruit orange-red, rather bluntly elliptical, nearly perpendicular to axis.
Distribution
Amazonian lowlands of Ecuador present, Guianas present, Southern America: Colombia (Colombia present); Peru (Peru present)
From Colombia and Amazonian lowlands of Ecuador and Peru through Brazil and the Guianas; 100+ collections studied, ca. 67+ from the Guianas (GU: ca. 25; SU: 30+; FG: 12).