1958] 



THE BOTANY OF THE GUAYANA HIGHLAND PART III 



9 



Specimens examined: VENEZUELA: Amazonas: Duida, Tate 1041. (NY); Steyermark 

 58181 (F, NY); Cerro Paru at 2000 m alt., Cowan # Wurdack 31146 (NY). BEAZIL: 

 Campos de Ariramba (in regione medii fluminis Trombetas), in uliginosis frequentissime, Dec 

 4, 1910, Ducke 18967 (holotype S, photo NY, isotype P, photo NY, A. pervaginata Malme). 



Malme (I.e.) wrote of A. pervaginata, "A. grandis Griseb., cui quoad folia 

 similis, peraffinis. Differt praecipue scapo multo altiore et paribus quatuor vagi- 

 narum instructo." The collection from Cerro Paru, Cowan & Wurdack 31146, 

 cited above, has scapes provided with 3-5 pairs of bracts, and exceeds in height 

 those of Ducke 18967. 



2. Abolboda macrostachya Spruce ex Malme, Bih. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl. 26 

 (Afd. 3. No. 19) : 15. 1901. 



This, like A. grandis, is an exceedingly variable species. The ranges of the 

 two are almost coincident, except that the first, A. macrostachya, is not now 

 known to occur in the lowland Atlantic drainage region of Guiana. Three minor 

 infraspecific populations within A. macrostachya (as within A. grandis). have 

 evolved, two of them previously recognized, and a third which occurs locally 

 in the upper Orinoco and Rio Guainia drainages, is herein proposed as new. 



Sussenguth and Beyerle 7 report a third sepal for specimens (or a specimen) 

 examined by themselves. In the review of 48 sheets, I have not been able to 

 demonstrate the presence of a third sepal, and therefore must conclude that it 

 is of exceedingly rare occurrence, and (as also for A. grandis) cannot be con- 

 sidered as characteristic. 



In the examination of numerous unopened flower-buds, there has been de- 

 tected the prevalence of three filiform staminodia, which are alternate with the 

 stamens and attached at the base of the corolla-tube. 



Key to the Varieties of A. macrostachya 



1. Scapes usually several (3-5), 3.0 5.0 dm high, with 2 or sometimes 1 pair of bracts 

 (excluding basal bracts). 

 2. Leaves 10-18 mm broad, commonly 15 cm or less long, sometimes as much as 40 cm 

 long; spikes about 8-10 mm in diameter; low-altitude savannas, drainage of the 

 upper Orinoco and Rio Negro. vnr. macrostachya. 



2. Leaves 3-5 mm broad, commonly 15-30 cm long; spike slender, 5-6 mm in diame- 

 ter; locally confined to marshy savannas, upper Orinoco and Guainia drainages. 



var. angustior. 



1. Scapes usually solitary, 5.0-8.0 dm high, commonly with but 1 pair of bracts (exclud- 

 ing basal bracts); leaves usually 10-25 mm wide, 30-45 cm long; plants of sand- 

 stone of Guayana. var. robustior. 



Abolboda macrostachya var. macrostachya. 



A. macrostachya Spruce ex Malme, Bih. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl. 26. (Afd. 3. 

 No. 19) : 15. 1901. 



Type : prope Esmeralda, ad flumen Orinoco, Dec 1853, Spruce 3229. 



Specimens examined : VENEZUELA : Amazonas : savanna near Base Camp, Cerro Sipapo, 

 at 130 m alt., Maguire 4- Politi £7957, 28043, 28069 ; Yapacana Savanna III, Maguire, Cowan 

 4- WurdacTc 30467, 30888 ; Cerro Moriche, Maguire, Cowan ^ WurdacTc 30928, 30990; Esmer- 

 alda Savanna, Spruce 3229 (holotype S, isotypes NY, F), Tate 244, Steyermark 57838 (F, 

 NY), Maguire $ Wurdack 34697. COLOMBIA: Vaupes: Savanna de Yapoboda, Allen 3205 

 (COL); Kafienda, Garcia-Barriga 15055 (COL), 15061 (COL); Yapoboda, Schultes 18494 

 (COL), 20053 (COL) ; Kafienda, Schultes $ Cabrera 1836 (COL) ; Pichuna, Schultes # Cabrera 

 19905 (COL) ; savanna west of Cacagual, Bio Atabapo, Maguire, Wurdack 4' Bunting 36287 ; 

 Bio Caqueta, Araracuara, Garcia-Barriga 4~ Schultes 14162 (COL). 



7 Bot. Jahrb. 67: 134. 1935. 



