Staurogyne trinitensis Leonard (1937: 401)

Braz, Denise Monte & Monteiro, Reinaldo, 2017, Taxonomic Revision of Staurogyne (Nelsonioideae, Acanthaceae) in the Neotropics, Phytotaxa 296 (1), pp. 1-40 : 34-35

25. Staurogyne trinitensis Leonard (1937: 401) . Type : — TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. Arima: "onthe road to Carone State, Arima, Trindad, April 5, 1866 ", unknown collector s.n. (holotype: NY 115009 !; isotype: TRIN). ( Fig. 22 )

Staurogyne versteegii Bremekamp (1938: 144) . Type: — SURINAME. August 1903, G.M. Versteeg 109 (holotype: U!).

Creeping herb, branched, densely pilose with simple trichomes. Petiole 4 − 6 mm long; blade suborbicular to broad-ovate, 1.2 − 2.2 × 0.7 − 1.6 cm, apex acute to broad-acute, base ovate to abruptly cuneate, sparsely simple pilose on both surfaces. Inflorescence in dense, terminal, subcapitate, bracteate spike, 0.8 − 1.0 cm long, sessile; flowers opposite; rachis, bracts and bracteoles with sparse simple trichomes; bracts and bracteoles green, bract broad-elliptic to elliptic-ovate, 7 − 12 × 2.7 − 7 mm, slightly 1-nerved, bracteoles elliptic,4.3 − 5.7 × 1.2 − 1.3 mm. Flowers sessile; calyx green, sparsely simple pilose, rare glandular, non-ciliate, posterior segment 4 − 5.9 × 0.8 − 1 mm, 3-nerved, lateral pair of segments 3.4 − 5 × 0, 4 − 0.5 mm, anterior pair of segments 3.8 − 5 × 0.4 − 0.5 mm; corolla white, 6.3 − 7.2 mm long, basal tube 2 − 5 mm long, anterior lobe 1.7 − 2 mm long, externally with sparse glandular trichomes, internally glabrous; posterior stamens 2.3 − 2.7 mm long, anterior stamens 2.4 − 3 mm long, staminode 0.3 − 0.4 mm long; ovules 24 − 25 per locule, posterior lobe of the stigma deeply concave. Capsule 4.7 − 4.8 × 1.8 mm, sparsely glandular pilose.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: without locality, May 1911, Hoehne & Mildbread 4225 ( RB) . GUYANA. Without locality, July 1824, Poiteau s.n. ( K). TRINIDADAND TOBAGO. Trinidad : “1877-80”, Fendler 532 ( BM, K) . SURINAME. Tumuc-Humac : 27 July 1972, Sastre 1472 ( U) ; Tossokreek : without locality, 26 November 1950, Florschütz & Florschütz 473 ( U) ; August 1903, Versteeg 109 ( U) . VENEZUELA. Miamo: Altiplanicie de Nuria , 12 January 1961, Steyermark 88389 ( VEN) .

Distribution and habitat:— Staurogyne trinitensis has distribution restricted to northern South American, occurring in Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, the Guianas ( Wasshausen1995) and Venezuela at elevations between 200- 400m.

Phenology:— Flowering specimens were collected in January, April and August and fruiting ones in August.

Taxonomic notes:— Staurogyne trinitensis is a delicate plant, characterized by the creeping habit, the broad-ovate leaves and the terminal subcapitate inflorescence. Based on the habitb and the infundibular corolla it approaches S. miqueliana , but differs by the petiolate (not sessile) leaves, the terminal subcapitate (not axilary and terminal elongated) inflorescence, and the calyx ciliate (not no-ciliate).

Figures

FIGURE 22. Staurogyne trinitensis. A.Flowering branch. B. Flower and bracteoles. C. Bract and bracteole. D. Calyx. E. Anther in dorsal view. F. Staminode. G. Corolla lobes. H. Stigma in lateral view. (from Steyermark 88389).