1963] 



BOTANY OF THE GUAYANA HIGHLANDS PART V 



39 



Fig. 23. Navia splendens (Tillett 45841). a, apex of leal!, X 0.5; b, margin of leaf, X 5; 

 c, inflorescence, X 0.5; d, posterior sepal, X 1. Fig. 24. Navia barbcllata (Tillett 45557). a, 

 apex of leaf, X 0.5; b, margin of leaf, X 5; c, inflorescence, X 0.5; d, posterior sepal, X 1. 



Navia splendens L. B. Smith, sp. nov. Fig. 23, a-d. 



Caulescens ad 2 dm ( ! Tillett) ; caule 15 mm diametro, basibus foliorum 

 vetustorum dense obtecto; foliis in rosula terminale ad 37 cm longis, vaginis 

 brevibus, inconspicuis, laminis ligulatis, acuminatis pungentibusque, basi paulo 

 contractis et roseis, ad 35 mm latis, obscurissime punctulato-lepidotis, dense 

 serrulatis, axillis spinarum albo-barbellatis ; scapo minimo ; inflorescentia hem- 

 isphaerica, densissime corymbosa, multiflora; bracteis exterioribus late ovatis, 

 acuminatis, sepala subaequantibus, serrulatis, lepidibus albis stellatis adpressis 

 dense obtectis ; bracteis florigeris angustissime triangularibus, sepala subaequan- 

 tibus, subchartaceis, glabrescentibus, minute serrulatis; floribus sessilibus, flavis; 

 sepalis liberis, anguste triangularibus, longe acuminatis, 45 mm longis, sub- 

 coriaceis, nervatis, integris, mox glabris, posterioribus late alato-carinatis ; petalis 

 quam sepala paulo longioribus, apice paulo spiraliter recurvatis; staminibus 

 styloque exsertis ; ovario super o. 



Type. Upper Mazaruni River Basin, top of Utschi Falls, Kamarang River, 

 British Guiana, alt. 820 m ; stem to 2 dm, clothed in old blackened leaf -bases ; 

 leaves medium green, shading to yellow and red above, pink at very base, brittle ; 

 bracts of inflorescence the same but with white t omentum at base ; floral bracts, 

 perianth, filaments and style light yellow, anthers orange; locally common on 

 rock faces, 28 Oct 1960, S. S. & C. L. Tillett 45841 (holotype NY). 



