Heteropsis steyermarkii, G. S. Bunting, Phytologia, 1986

16. HETEROPSIS STEYERMARKII G. S. Bunting ,

Phytologia 60: 306. 1986.

— TYPE: VENEZUELA. Depto. Río Negro, Territorio Federal do Amazonas, Río Yatua , Cerro Aruicua , 1 35 ' N, 66 10 ' W, ca. 125 m, 11–12 Apr 1970, J. A. Steyermark & G. S. Bunting 102607 (holotype: VEN; GoogleMaps isotypes: K!, MO! ster). GoogleMaps

Plant a scandent hemi-epiphyte; stem much-branched, internodes 0.7–5 cm long, 3–6 mm diam, subcylindric, longitudinally striate, greyish green, glossy, asperate when dried; axillary buds 1–3 mm long, apex rounded. Petiole 4–9 cm long including the sheath, free petiole 2–8 mm long, 1.6– 3 mm diam, sheath with membranaceous margin, chestnut brown, paler than blade when dried; geniculum 0.5–1.7 cm long, dark brown; leaf blade 16–38 cm long, 3–11 cm wide, oblong to elliptic, subcoriaceous, fragile, adaxial surface dark brown when dried, subglossy, abaxial surface glaucous, lustrous, margin revolute, young leaf blade bronze to vinaceous on adaxial surface, silvery on abaxial, 0.12–0.35 mm thick, apex acute to acuminate, 0.75–1.5 cm long, base truncate to rounded, midrib sulcate on adaxial surface, prominent on abaxial surface, yellowish when dried, lateral veins numerous, arched, infra-marginal collective vein prominent, 0.25 mm from the margin, external marginal vein absent. Inflorescence terminal and axillary, flowering shoot 3–10 (–15) cm long, cataphylls, when present at the apical nodes, 1–2, linear, 3.5–9 cm long, caducous after anthesis, internodes 0.5–2 cm long, 1.6–3.6 mm diam, dark brown when dried, cylindric, buds usually present on the first and second internodes; peduncle 0.7–2.3 cm long, 1.4–5 mm diam, cylindric, green; spathe (young, still closed) 2–5 cm long, 1.4–2 cm diam, fusiform to inflated, apex acuminate, 1–2 cm long, expanded when mature, 6–7.5 cm long, ca. 6 cm wide, convolute, yellowish-green externally, cream to rose or violet internally; spadix 2–5 cm long, 0.3–1 cm diam, ellipsoid, apex obtuse to rounded, greyish to pale green, rose to violet, stipitate, stipe 5–10 + 1.2 –3 mm, pale green, cylindric. Stamens 1.6 mm long, 0.8 mm wide, anthers ellipsoid; gynoecium 1.5– 2 mm long, 1.5–1.75 mm diam, obpyramidal to truncate, apex 1.5–2.5 mm diam, ovary ca. 1.3 mm long, 1 mm wide, locules 2 per ovary, ovules 2 per locule, 0.5–0.6 mm long, anatropous, subsessile, placentation axile, stigma discoid to oblong. Infructescence: 4.5–7.5 cm long, 1.5–3 cm diam when mature; berry 4–8 + 3–7 mm, green when immature, orange when mature, subcylindric; seed 5–13 + 3–5 mm, 2 per berry, testa foveolate. Figures 3 View FIG , 4A, 4E View FIG , 7I, 7J View FIG , 8E, 8F View FIG , 27 View FIG .

Common Names— The following common names have been recorded for this species: bejuco ( Guiana); guambe de cuamate, hoja de diablo ( Venezuela).

Habitat and Distribution— Heteropsis steyermarkii is known from dense ombrophilous terra firme forest, usually in lower-lying terrain, in Brazil (Roraima and Amazonas), Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, and Venezuela, occurring between 10–1,000 m alt.

Phenology— Flowering specimens have been collected in January, March, April, May, September, and November and fruiting material in May and September.

Conservation Status— Using guidance from the Geocat (2012) online tool, the preliminary conservation assessment of H. steyermarkii is least concern (LC), based on 19 localities and a 50 km cell width (auto value cell size option for area of occupancy).

Etymology— The specific epithet honors Julian Steyermark, renowned for his botanical explorations of the tepuis of Venezuela, among many other outstanding achievements.

Notes— Heteropsis steyermarkii is easily recognized without flowers by its long, sheathed petiole and the leaf blade with its glaucous (greyish) abaxial surface. Its vinaceous flowering spadix is also highly characteristic. This species differs markedly from the rest, except in the case of H. melinonii , which may be conspecific. Although H. steyermarkii and H. spruceana both have roots of smaller diameter than the others of the Ducke Reserve, both have a density similar to that of the wood of ten common Amazonian timbers, as do the roots of the other species of Heteropsis studied anatomically by Soares Morais (2008). H. steyermarkii is also similar to H. spruceana ecologically in its preference for low-lying terrain within forest.

Additional Specimens Examined— BRAZIL. Amazonas: Borba , BR 230 , 8 May 1985, Henderson et al. 366 ( INPA fl) ; Manaus, Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke, 22 Feb 1996, Sothers 794 ( INPA ster) ; Costa et al. 738 ( INPA fl) ; 22 Nov 1995, Soares et al. 240 ( INPA ster) ; 26 Nov 2002, Soares et al. 504 ( INPA fl) ; 8 May 2003, Soares et al. 505 ( INPA fl) ; Manaus, estrada Manaus-Porto Velho , 14 Jul 1972, Silva et al. 748 ( INPA fl) ; Santa Isabel do Rio Negro , 29 Sep 1999, Soares & Amaral 425 ( INPA fl, fr) ; Feb 1959, Rodrigues et al. 1013 ( INPA ster). Roraima: s. d., William 2409 (K ster) .

COLOMBIA. 2 12 ' N 68 12 ' W, 8 Sep 1992, Cortez et al. 318 (MO ster). Caquetá: 0 37 ' S 72 24 ' W, 9 Nov 1991, Duivenvoorden et al. 941 (MO ster).

ECUADOR. Pastaza: 0 50 ' S 71 50 ' W, 25 Nov 1991, Duivenvoorden 1625 (MO ster).

FRENCH GUIANA. Acarouany , 28 Mar 1905, Benoist 658 (P fl) ; 20 Nov 1914, Benoist 1113 (P fl); 5 31 ' N 53 33 ' W, 17 Jan 1997, Cremers 14560 (MO fl); 20 Dec 1920, Wachenheim s.n. (P fl). Crique Cyathea, 17 Jan 1997, Cremers 14560 (MO, U fl).

GUYANA. Siparuni, Essequibo River, 19 Mar 1996, Hoffman & Allicock 5069 (U ster).

VENEZUELA. Amazonas: 3 45 ' N, 66 45 ' W, 125– 400 m, 3 May 1970, J. A. Steyermark & G. S. Bunting 103056 (MO fr, VEN not seen). 01 56 ' 14 '' N 67 03 ' 37 '' W, 26 Mar 2000, Berry & Aymard 7214 (MO fl). Atabapo: 3 36 ' N 66 34 ' W, 8 May 1979, Davidse et al. 17453 (K, MO fl). Cassiquiare, arredor Javita, 6–19 Jul 1969, Bunting et al. 3907 (U ster) GoogleMaps ; Rio Cunucunuma, 3 43 ' 40 '' N 65 48 ' 40 '' W, 29 Jan 1993, Perez & Sosa 655 (MO fl). Rio Negro , 17 Apr 1970, Steyermark & Bunting 102742 (MO fl) GoogleMaps ; 1 56 ' N 67 03 ' W, 7 Apr 1979, Liesner 6347 (MO fr); 1 56 ' N 67 03 ' W, 12 Apr 1979, Liesner 6565 (MO fl); 01 56 ' N 67 03 ' W, May 1979, Liesner 7516 (MO ster); 0 50 ' N 66 10 ' W, 21 Feb 1984, Liesner 16156 (MO ster); Rio Siapa , 01 49 ' N 65 44 ' W, 4 Nov 1987, Liesner & Carnevali 22799 (MO ster) GoogleMaps ; 01 51 ' N 67 03 ' W, 11 Nov 1987, Liesner & Carnevali 22986 (MO fl); 03 44 ' N 65 44 ' W, 10 Oct 1988, Liesner 24641 (MO ster); 03 34 ' N 65 32 ' W, 27 Oct 1988, Liesner 25500 (MO fl); Rio Mawarinuma , 0 50 ' N 66 10 ' W, 26 Nov 1984, Croat 59335 (MO fl) GoogleMaps ; 1 57 ' N 67 02 ' W, 6 Dec 1984, Croat 59646 (MO ster); 0 50 ' N 66 10 ' W, 20 Mar 1984, Liesner 16853 (MO fl).