Cyclostigma Phil. in Anal. Univ. Chile 36: 197 (Sert. Mendoc. 
Alterum: 39). Sept. 1870. 
Leptofeddea Diels in Repert. Sp. Nov. 16: 193. 1919. (Monotypic: 
L. lomana Diels). 
Type species: Leptoglossis schwenckioides Bentham 
Small South American genus of seven xerophytic species 
inhabiting a disjunct area: six in Peru, one in Argentina. This 
group of species was considered only a section of Sa/piglossis by 
Wettstein (/.c.) and his followers. Recently, however, very strong 
arguments (Hunziker, 1977: 46; D’Arcy, 1978: 708) support its 
reinstatement to generic status: for example, the anthers are 
ventrifixed, the corolla tube has a distal expansion, the distal 
portion of the gynoecium is spoonshaped and the calyx shows a 
unique venation, with five longitudinal stripes without vasculari- 
sation between the main veins. Closely allied to Hunzikera 
D’Arcy (a disjunct from southern United States, Mexico and 
Venezuela), its calyx form and venation are altogether different 
(see key). The flowers in the related genera Salpiglossis and 
Revesia show a different insertion of the anthers (dorsal in Sa/pi- 
glossis: Pl. 11, D, M, basal or dorso-basal in Revesia: Pl. VIII, E, 
H), in addition to other peculiarities as indicated in the key. The 
androecium of Leptoglossis is somewhat variable, but within a 
definite pattern: the “anterior” stamen (Robyns, 1931: 78) is 
always aborted, being represented by a small staminode®. Lep/o- 
glossis schwenckioides appears to be the most variable and less 
advanced species in the genus showing not infrequently the two 
“lateral” stamens with anthers smaller than the two “posterior” 
ones, but with all four being fertile, the remaining five species 
however, exhibit a normal androecium, i.e. the two posterior 
stamens are fertile, while the other three are reduced to stamin- 
odes.°. 
Another striking feature of the androecium of Lepfoglossis, is 
>It may be worth pointing out that we apply the term “staminode”™ to a structure derived 
froma partially or almost totally atrophied stamen, usually consisting of a filament and a 
tiny distal sterile vestige of an anther: in most cases, this vestige appears merely as an apical 
swelling of the filament, but in extreme cases it disappears, and the only structure left is the 
filament itself. 
