1963] 



BOTANY OF THE GUAYANA HIGHLANDS PART V 



225 



the involutions ; leaves oval, stiff, opposite; 24 Nov 1927, Tate 388 (NY) ; summit 

 of Mount Roraima ; corolla with spreading-reeurving lobes, white within, without 

 white with deep rose-red on one margin; corolla-tube pale green; flowers very 

 fragrant ; leaves coriaceous, shining and deep green above, margined brick or 

 dull reddish; corolla lobes in bud reddish; 27 Sep 1944, Steyermark 58860 (F, 

 NY, VEX) : Ptari-tepui; Bonnet ia roraimae forest on southwest-facing shoulder; 

 alt. 2000-2200 m ; shrub 3 ft tall ; flowers sweet-fragrant ; corolla-tube pale brick, 

 lobes white; 2 Nov 1944, Steyermark 59740 (F, NY) ; Ptari-tepui; south-facing 

 forested slopes vicinity of "Cave Rock"; alt. 1800-1900 m; 2 Nov 1944, Steyer- 

 mark 59801 (NY, YEN) ; summit of Serra do Sol; occasional: alt. 2300 m; shrub 

 1-1.5 m tall; petals white, rose-margined; 28 Dec 1954, B. Maguire & C. K. 

 Maguire 40392 (NY); Mount Auyan-tepui; alt. 2200 m; Dec 1937, Tate 1179 

 (holotype of Chalepophyllum coriaceum NY, isotype YEN) ; Chimanta Massif, 

 headwaters of Rio Tirica ; frequent ; rocky and swampy savanna ; alt. 2120-2210 

 m; depressed shrub 1 m tall; 11 Feb 1955, Steyermark & ^Yurdack 743 (F, NY, 

 YEN) ; Chimanta Massif, vicinity of Summit Camp along Rio Tirica; frequent; 

 alt. 1925 m ; 20 Feb 1955. Steyermark & Wurdack 1004 (F, NY, YEN) ; Chimanta 

 Massif, Apacara-tepui ; swampy savanna; alt. 2000-2100 m: 20 Jun 1953, Steyer- 

 mark 75781 (F, NY, YEN) ; Chimanta Massif, Abacapa-tepui ; Bonnetia forest ; alt. 

 2125-2300 m ; 13 Apr 1953, Steyermark 74881 (F, NY, YEN) ; Auyan-tepui; alt. 

 2300 m; Apr 1956, Yareschi & Foldats 4858 (VEN) ; Auyan-tepui; dominante 

 en la formacion arbustiva ; alt. 1900 m; Apr 1956, Foldats 2603 (YEN) ; Auyan- 

 tepui ; alt. 2100 m ; Enero 1949, Carclona 2669 (VEN) ; Chimanta Massif, north- 

 west cumbres, Churi-tepui (Muru-tepui); occasional: alt. 2250-2300 m; 26 Jan 

 1953, WurdaQk 34209 (NY): Chimanta Massif, lower part of lower cumbre, 

 Churi-tepui (Muru-tepui) ; alt. 2100-2200 m ; 24 Jan 1953. Wurdack 34178 (NY). 



At the time Gleason described Chalepophyllum coriaceum (Brittonia 3: 192. 

 1939), he contrasted it with C. speciosum N. E. Brown of Mount Roraima. Gleason 

 attempted to differentiate C. coriaceum on the basis of its longer internodes, 

 shorter erect-appressed prolongation of the stipule, leaf-blades more cuneately 

 narrowed at the base, and broader corolla-lobes less attenuate at the apex. These 

 differences do not hold, however, as evidenced by an examination of all avail- 

 able material. 



In his original description of Chalepophyllum speciosum N. E. Brown states 

 that the leaves are "euneate at the base'' (Trans. Linn. Soc. II. 6: 33. pi. 5, fig. 

 10-17. 1901). This condition may be largely observed in the original plate accom- 

 panying the description as well as in the photograph of the holotype collection 

 by Mc Connell d* Quelch from the summit of Mount Roraima (NY). However, 

 there is considerable variation in the character of the leaf-base, even in topo- 

 typical material. For example, Tate 388, a topotype from the summit of Roraima, 

 has the base of the leaf-blades obtuse to obtusish, while Steyermark 58860, also 

 a topotype, has a euneate leaf -base on one of the sheets at NY, but a duplicate 

 specimen at VEN and on another sheet at NY shows the leaf-base obtuse or 

 obtusish. There appears to be no fundamental difference between the cuneate- 

 based leaves of the Roraima C. speciosum and those of the Auyan-tepui C. 

 coriaceum. Both taxa show overlapping variations in shape and apex of the leaves. 



Similarly, with respect to variation in length of internode and prolongation 



X 3. G, stamen in dorsal and ventral positions, X 3. H, corolla spread open, x 1.5. I-J, 

 Platycarpum maguirei. I, vertical section through ovary, showing attachment of calyx-tube, 

 with part of calyx and calyx-lobes removed, X 3.5. J, corolla spread open, X 1.5. 



