Calathea liesneri, a New Species of Marantaceae from Venezuela

Abstract

Calathea liesneri, from Territorio Federal Amazonas, Venezuela, is unusual in having the upper side of the lamina pilose throughout. It differs from other species sharing this feature by leaf shape, and bract shape and number. It is herein described as new for inclusion in the Flora of the Venezuelan Guyana treatment. Calathea liesneri Kennedy, sp. nov. TYPE: Venezuela. Territorio Federal Amazonas: Depto. Atabapo, in saddle between Cerro Duida and Cerro Marahuaca near base of Cerro Duida, medium height forest, 1,000 m, 03?34'N, 65?32'W, 25 Oct. 1988, Liesner 25333 (holotype, MO; isotypes, K, UBC, VEN). A Calathea cyclophora lamina superior utrinque pilosa et bracteolis membranaceis differt; a Calathea squarrosa bracteis 7-10, transverse ellipticis ad rotundatis et 22.9 cm longis differt. Acaulescent herb, 35-80 cm high, bearing 2-4 basal leaves. Leaf blade elliptic, apex acuminate, base obtuse to rounded, very shortly abruptly attenuate, 12-40 x 9-14 cm. Leaf blade green above, pilose throughout; leaf surface gray-green, velvety tomentose below. Pulvinus elliptic in cross section, tomentose throughout, 0.5-2.3 cm long. Petiole 029 cm long, tomentose, hairs with cushion of cells at base. Leaf sheath not auriculate, tomentose to subhispid toward base, margins subglabrous, 14.530 cm long. Inflorescence terminal, 1 per shoot, imbricate, ellipsoid, 5-6.5 cm. Peduncle pilose, hairs with cushion of cells at base, 40-64 cm long. Bracts 7-10, spirally arranged, transverse elliptic to rotund, apex rounded with an acumen to obtuse, outer margin and apex patent, margin slightly undulate in upper bracts, 2-2.9 x 2-2.8 cm, each subtending 4 or more flower pairs. Outer surface of bracts lavenderish white (fide Liesner 25654), glabrous; inner surface glabrous. Bicarinate prophyll membranaceous, elliptic, apex obtuse, glabrous, 1.72.5 x 1.2-1.4 cm, 0.6-0.7 cm wide, carina to carina. Secondary bract membranaceous, elliptic, apex acute to obtuse, glabrous, 1.7-2.2 x 1-1.2 cm. Bracteoles 1 per flower pair, channeled, membranaceous, medial, glabrous, ca. 1.2 cm long. Flowers lavenderish white (fide Liesner 25654). Sepals ovate to elliptic, acute, glabrous, 6.5-9.5 x 2.53 mm. Corolla glabrous, ca. 50 mm, tube ca. 30 mm long; corolla lobes subequal, elliptic, obtuse, ca. 15-19 x 5.5-8.5 mm. Outer staminode obovate, ca. 15 mm long. Callose staminode petaloid, ca. 13 x 4 mm. Cucullate staminode ca. 8 mm long. Stamen with lateral petaloid appendage; anther 2.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous, ca. 2 mm long. Capsule smooth, obovoid, glabrous, ca. 10 x 7 mm; crowned by a persistent calyx. Seeds usually 3 per capsule, trigonal, ca. 6-7 x 4 x 3 mm. Calathea liesneri belongs to Calathea sect. Breviscapus Bentham, by virtue of its all basal leaves and inflorescence with spiral bracts borne on the leafy shoot. Paratype. VENEZUELA. TERRITORIO FEDERAL AMAZONAS: Depto. Atabapo, Cerro Huachamacari, E slope, forested, near waterfall, 03?49'N, 65?42'W, 600-700 m, 2 Nov. 1988, Liesner 25654 (MO, UBC, VEN). Acknowledgments. I thank the curators at Missouri Botanical Garden for the loan of material and Paul Berry for help with the Flora of the Venezuelan Guyana project. I thank Fred Ganders for support and Tom Baumann for the use of his computer.