The Araceae of Venezuela

211 Pages·2009·9.77 MB·English

1986) Croat-Venezuela Araceae 3
The Araceae of Venezuela
by Thomas B. Croat1 and Nancy Lambert2
lMissouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, Sf. Louis, MO 63166
2154 Union Street, Manchester, N.H. 03104
Abstract: An illustrated treatment of 171 Venezuelan Araceae taxa is provided.
Discussion of range, species characteristics and distinction from similar or closely
related species is made for each taxon. Sixteen species, three subspecies and
one variety are described as new, and three new combinations are made.
Until recently the Araceae of Vene trips in recent years have enabled me to
zuela was very poorly known, but that photograph a good percentage of the
has greatly changed with the publication species in the Flora. These trips included
of "Sinopsis de las Araceaes de Venezu a month long trip (July-August) in 1982
ela" by G. S. Bunting (Rev. Fac. Agron. which took me more than 6,000
(Maracay) 10:139-290. 1979). This great kilometers by car and 2,000 kilometers
contribution to our understanding of by air into many parts of the country. A
the South American Araceae is the second 3 week long trip to Cerro
result of about 20 years of work by Bunt Neblina (Nov-Dec, 1985) in the Ter
ing in Venezuela. Since the work was ritorio Amazonas on the Brazilian
published in Spanish, lacks illustrations border was followed by a trip to the
and is likely to be unavailable to most Cordillera de la Costa and the Cordillera
aroid enthusiasts, I will present here de Merida during two weeks in March
some needed commentary on the Vene of 1986. In all, I was able to collect a
zuelan species and will illustrate many high percentage of the 274 aroid taxa
of them for the first time. occurring there.
All described Venezuelan species are The aroid flora of Venezuela is inter
listed in appendix 1. When species are esting in several ways. It is apparently
new to science or recently described much richer in species than the Amazon
elsewhere complete descriptions are basin to the south but less rich than the
provided. The species discussed in the species-rich western Cordillera of
text are generally only those for which Colombia to the west. The aroid flora
illustrations were available. Where of Venezuela is similar to the flora of
species were sufficiently known to the middle Amazon basin, howevPf, in
provide commentary, but where no that it is substantially richer in species
photographs of live material was avail of Philodendron than Anthurium. In
able, photographs of typical herbarium countries throughout most of the
material has sometimes been provided. Western Andes, Anthurium species
While herbarium specimens are generally outnumber Philodendron
generally unsuitable for easy recogni species. For example, in Panama there
tion by horticulturists, they at least are 158 known species of Anthurium
provide some assistance in indentifi and about 75 species of Philodendron.
cation. In contrast, a typical locality in
Many of the Venezuelan species, Amazonian Brazil may have many spe
including many poorly known or rare cies of Philodendron and no represen
species described for the first time by tation of Anthurium. Even when
Bunting, are very attractive and will be Anthurium are present they are often
in demand by horticulturists. Several rare, most being members of section
4 Aroideana (Vol. 9(1-4)
Pachyneurium (bird's nest Anthuriums). the species is known to occur are also
The situation in Venezuela is not nearly listed in an abbreviated manner
as severe, but even so, 66 species of according to the following:
Philodendron are reported by Bunting Amazonas Am
while only 44 species of Anthurium Anzoategui An
were reported. Apure Ap
Venezuela is quite diverse geo Aragua Ar
graphically, with several distinct Barinas Ba
geological components appearing to Bolwar Bo
have arisen at different times, or at Carabobo Ca
least to have been isolated for a con Cojedes Co
siderable time, resulting in distinct Delta Amacuro DA
floristic regions. Bunting (1979) divided Distrito Federal DF
Venezuela into seven floristic zones Falcon Fa
(Fig. 1) in regard to the distribution of G~rioo Gu
aroids. These were: 1. The Atlantic Lara La
coast (territory of Delta Amacuro and Merida Me
the eastern extremes of Sucre and Miranda Mi
Bolivar States). 2. The Cordillera de la Monagas Mo
Costa of the Federal District and States Nueva Esparta NE
of Miranda, Aragua and Carabobo with Portuguesa Po
extentions or subzones in the eastern Sucre Su
states of Sucre and Monagas, as well as Tachira Ta
the western states of Varacuy and Trujillo Tr
Falcon. 3. The Cordillera de Merida Varacuy Va
and the Sierra de Perija, the two moun Zulia Zu
tain chains lying on either side of Lake
Maracaibo. 4. The forested slopes below The legend of those species chosen
the Paramo de Tama in SW Tachira (with for illustration includes more specific
a flora related to the western Andes of information.
Colombia). 5. The Amazon lowland
region. 6. The Guyana Highlands. 7. The
Llanos (flat grasslands and savannas of
the Orinoco drainage).
Relatively few Araceae occur in the
Llanos, which are partially flooded
during the rainy season and very dry
during the dry season. The zone
probably richest in Araceae per unit
area is the Cordillera de Merida, per
haps owing to its much more diverse
array of elevations and habitats.
Appendix 1 lists the 275 taxa of
Araceae trom Venezuela. Each species
has been assigned to one or more of
these floristic regions by number only.
In a few cases, name changes have been
made or have been suggested. Some
taxa have been added to the flora.
These are preceded by an asterisk. The
states or territories of Venezuela where
1986) Croat-Venezuela Araceae S
Fig. 1. the floristic regions of Venezuela: 1." t~e Atlantic ~oast 2. t~~
Cordillera de la Costa 3. the Cordillera de Menda and the SIerra de PenJa
4. SW Tachira below Tama S. the Amazon region 6. the Guyana high
lands 7. the Llanos (not shown).
Anthurium amoenum is apparently
ANTHURIUM endemic to Venezuela, ranging from the
Cordillera de la Costa lEI Avila in
Anthurium acrobates Sodiro, Anales the Distrito Federal to Alto de Choron!
Univ. Centro Ecuador 16: 276. 1902. in Aragua) to the Cordillera de Merida
Anthurium acrobates ranges from
(from Barinas and Merida (La Azulita)
southern Colombia (Meta) along the
to Sierra de San Luis in Falcon) at 1,420-
eastern slopes of the Andes to
2,140 m, generally occurring inSMdy,
Ecuador and Peru at elevations of
wet undisturbed areas. Fig. 4
280-2,SOO m. A recent outlying
The species is characterized by its
collection from southern Amazonas at
terrestrial habit, short internodes (6-20
Cerro Neblina indicates that at one time
mm diam.), deciduous cataphylls, and a
the species may have had a broader
subterete petiole that is weakly and
distribu~ion. Figs. 2-3 narrowly flattened toward the apex,
The species is recognized by its
more consciously so on the geniculum.
appressed-climbing habit with elongate
The blades are thin and veiny, elliptic to
internodes, long-petiolate, narrow,
broadly elliptic, with the principal veins
ovate to ovate-triangular blades, and
mostly sunken above and raised below.
its long-pedunculate inflorescences with
The secondary and tertiary veins are also
a green, lanceolate spathe and usually
raised on the lower surface and the
purplish, long-tapered spadix. lower midrib is often tinged red. The
erect inflorescence has a green spadix
Anthurium amoenum Kunth & with medium green tepals, a green re
Bouche, Ind. Sem. Hort. Berol. flexed spathe, and dark green, early
1848: 1. 1848. emergent pistils.
6 Aroideana (Vol. 9(1-4)
Figs. 2-5. 2-3. Anthurium acrobates Sodiro. Ecuador. Napo: Baeza, 2500 m,
Croat 49437. 2. Habit, x1/12. 3. Inflorescence, x3/10. ----4. A.
amoenum Kunth & Bouche. Venezuela. Merida: Merida - La Azulita,
1590 m, Croat 54875. Habit, xl/5. ----5. A. betanianum Croat. Venezu
ela. Tachira: Tama National Park, 2600 m, Croat 60687A. Inflores
cence, xl/6.
1986) Croat-Venezuela Araceae 7
Engler included A. humile Schott ficial ways from that of Central America,
from Peru as a variety of this species. but considering the widespread nature
Despite the fact that the Schott drawings of the species in Central America, it is
of A. humile look very similar to not surprising to find it in eastern South
A. amoenum, it is unlikely, consider America.
ing known distributional patterns, that The species is distinguished by its
the Peruvian plants are closely related short internodes, long- petiolate, ob
to the Venezuelan species. long-oblanceolate blades with a distinc
tive sunken collective vein, which is
more conspicuous than the primary
Anthurium apaporanum Schultes, Bot.
lateral veins. In this regard, the species
Mus. Leafl. Harvard Univ. 18: 115,
pI. 19. 1958. is close to A. ange/orum Bunting, having
Anthurium apaporanum ranges from similar blades. That species, however,
southern Venezuela to southern Colom dries grayish green and is reported to
bia (Vaup~s) and south along the foot have a greenish yellow spadix (Davidse
hills of the Andes to Ecuador (Napo and et al. 18530), while A. bakeri has blades
Pastaza) and Peru (Amazonas, Loreto, drying yellow-green and has a white
Huanuco and Pasco) at 200-1,000 m. In spadix.
Venezuela, it is known only from Cerro Perhaps the closest relative of A.
Neblina, but it is expected to range bakeri in Venezuela is A. apaporanum
throughout the remainder of southern Schultes. The latter species, repre
Venezuela. Fig. 6 sented by an outlying population in
The species is a member of section Venezuela at Cerro Neblina, ranges
Porphyrochitoniuro and is distinguished from Colombia to Peru. It differs from
by its usually epiphytic habit, short A. baker; in having typically more ellip
internodes, subterete petioles (ca. two tic blades drying more yellow-green and
thirds as long as blades), oblong-elliptic in having a spadix that is typically more
blades, and whitish, slightly tapered spa long-tapered.
dix with tepals that dry with a minutely
warty surface. Particularly characteris Anthurium bernard;; Croat, Aroideana
tic are the blades, which dry yellowish 8(4): 120. 1985 (1986).
green (with an almost golden cast) and Anthur;um bernard;; is endemic to
are glandular-punctate below, have a Venezuela, occurring in the Cordillera
straight collective vein near the margin de Merida at 850-1,900 m in adjacent
and have about 20 primary lateral veins, portions of the states of Barinas and
which are scarcely or not at all more Trujillo.
conspicuous than the numerous inter A member of the section Porphy
primary veins. rochitonium, it is distinguished by its
long-petiolate, thick, ovate leaf blades
that are dark glandular-punctate on
Anthurium bake'; Hook. f., Bot. Mag. t. both surfaces, by its slender stem with
6261. 1876. persistent cataphyll fibers and especially
Anthurium bakeri ra nges from by its unusual flowers which, unlike any
Guatemala to Colombia, Venezuela and other known species of Anthurium,
Guyana from sea level to 1,000 m. The have opposing lateral tepals that are flat
species is rare in Venezuela, having tened and erect with their respective
been collected only in the forest around lateral margins very near one another in
the base of Cerro Neblina. The species bud (much like a pair of folded hands
was first collected in Guyana by A. C. held in prayer with the fingers extend
Smith (3014) in 1938. Material from ed) as in a much flattened bud. At
eastern South America differs in super- anthesis, the tepals are fully extended or
<:
Figs. 6-9. 6. Anthurium apaporanum Schultes. Peru. Barrier s.n., Munich Bot. Card. 79-1100. Habit, xl/s. ----7-8. A. o
betanianum Croat. Venezuela. Ta-chira: Tama National Park, 2600 m, Croat 60687A. 7. Habit, xl/38. 8. Blade,
xl/12. ----9. A. bonplandii Bunting ssp. bonplandii. Venezuela. Amazonas: San Carlos de R(o Negro, 100 m,
Croat 59258. Inflorescence and leaves, xl/6.
1986) Croat-Venezuela Araceae 9
nearly so, perhaps the full length, of sinus mitered to spathulate; upper sur
both the pistil and style, much as in face semi-glossy, dark green, drying
most ordinary flowers. The extended blackish; lower surface somewhat paler
flower parts and epecially the tepals and almost matte to weakly glossy, dry
(which are completely straightened and ing reddish brown; midrib convex
look like round-ended spades), give the above, convex below with 2 sharp ribs
entire spadix a very coarse, asperous on either side; basal veins 10-12 pairs,
appearance. For photos see Aroideana first-third pairs free to the base, 8th and
8(4): 122. higher order pairs coalesced 7.5-12 cm;
posterior rib naked 7.5-12 cm; primary
Anthurium betanianum Croat, sp. nov. lateral veins 8-15 per side, departing
from midrib at 50-55° angle, convex
Type: Venezuela. State of Tachira:
above, reddish and pale below, promi
Tama National Park, along trail to
nently raised with an acute rib, curved
summit beginning ca. 3 km from
to collective vein, drying weakly to
center of population of Betania (7.6
moderately raised above, prominently
km S of Villa Paez, 25.7 km S of Las
raised below; interprimary veins drying
Delicias, 66.7 km S of Rubio) ca, 7°
moderately raised below, inconspicuous
28'N, 72°27' W, 2,600 m, Croat
above; tertiary veins in part sunken
60687A (MO 3234805-3234806, holo
above, raised below, drying slightly
type; B, CAS, K, NY, US, VEN, iso
raised below, inconspicuous above; col
types). Figs. 5, 7-8, 10
lective vein arising from the primary
Planta epiphytica aut terrestris; lateral veins near middle of blade, run
internodia brevia, 3.5-7 cm diam.; ning 3-7 mm from the margin. INFLOR
cataphyllum 3-30 cm longum, per ESCENCES erect, stout, slightly shorter
sistens en fibris tenuibus; petiolus than leaves; peduncle erect, 70-86 cm
teres aut subteres; lamina ovata, long, 3-13 mm diam. when dry, 1-1.5
basiliter cordata, 54-87 cm longa, times as long as petiole; spathe coria
36-66 cm lata; inflorescentia erecta; ceous, semi-glossy, medium green,
pedunculus 70-86 cm longus, 3-13 outer surface tinged purple or pale
mm latus; spath a ovatolanceolata, brick-red suffused yellowish green, dry
vi rid us; spadix stipitatus, purpureus, ing reddish brown, ovate-elliptic, 17-25
13-27 cm longus, 1-1.5 cm diam; cm long, 3.5-6 cm broad, acuminate at
baccae ignotae. apex, obtuse at base; stipe 1-2 cm long;
spadix purplish, scarcely tapered, almost
Epiphytic or terrestrial; stem ca. 3 m
cylindrical, 13-27 cm long, 1-1.5 cm
long; internodes short, 3.5-7 cm diam.;
diam. at base, 4-9 mm diam. at apex,
cataphylls coriaceous, 3-30 cm long,
pendent, held at ca. 90° angle from
acuminate, drying reddish brown, per
peduncle. Flowers (dried) rhombic, 2.3-3
sisting as fibers, LEAVES erect; petiole
mm long, 1.7-2 mm wide, ca. 17 flowers
terete to subterete, obtusely 1-ribbed
visible in the principle spiral (when
midway, obtusely flattened toward apex,
live), 11-14 flowers visible when dried;
ca. 1 m long, 1-1.5 cm diam., medium
tepals held semi-erect, lateral tepals ca.
green tinged puplish; geniculum 4 cm
1.3 mm wide, the inner margin broadly
long; blades moderately coriaceous,
rounded, straight or slightly concave on
held perpendicular to petiole, ovate,
drying, the edge turned up, outer mar
acuminate at apex, cordate at base,
gin acute to obtusely rounded; pistils
54-87 cm long, 36-66 cm broad, broadest
somewhat protrudant after anthesis (ca.
at base, the margin broadly undulate;
1.5 mm long on dried plant), ca. 1 mm
anterior lobe 38-60 cm long, the margin
wide; stigma button like with an oblong
convex; posterior lobes 16-24 cm long,
slit ca. 0.6 mm long; stamens ca. 0.7 mm
directed inward to overlapping, the
long, the laterals preceding the alter-
10 Aroideana (Vol. 9(1-4)
Figs. 10-13. 10. Anthurium betanianum Croat. Venezuela. TSchira: TamS
National Park, 2600 m, Croat 60687A. Apex of stem, x1/6. ----11-12. A.
bonplandii Bunting ssp. bonplandii. Venezuela. Amazonas: Cerro
Neblina, 140 m, Croat 59388. 11. Leaves, x1/11. 12. Stem, x3/10. ----13.
A. bonplandii Bunting ssp. bonplandii. Venezuela. Amazonas: San
Carlos de RIO Negro, 100 m, Croat 59260. Infructescence, x1/5.
1986) Croat-Venezuela Araceae 11
nates by ca. 5 spirals, the 3rd stamen ranging from southeastern Colombia to
preceding the 4th by 1-2 spirals; anthers southeastern Venezuela and to the
ca. 0.7 mm long, 0.2-0.5 mm wide, northwestern part of the Brazilian state
oblong to triangular; thecae not at all of Para. In Venezuela, it inhabits the
divergent. INFRUCTESCENCE with the middle and upper RIO Orinoco drain
spathe present; spadix 26 cm long, 2.5 age. It is predominently terrestrial in
cm wide; stipe 1.5 cm long, berries not sandy areas or, less frequently, is found
seen. growing on rocks on in open savanna
Anthurium betanianum is known areas, or in partial shade of the primary
only from Venezuela, on the forested forest. Figs. 9, 11-13
slopes below the Paramo de Tama in the The typical subspecies is recognized
southwestern corner of the state of by its elliptic or rarely oblanceolate,
Tachira, south of San Crist6bal near the coriaceous blades with acute bases and
Colombian border at 2,150-2,600 m. It is by its flowers with raised, caviform stig
expected to also occur in Colombia. mas. It is highly variable and overlaps
The species is characterized by its considerably with two other taxa, which
large overall size, large coriaceous, red are probably only subspecifically dis
dish brown cataphylls (30 cm long) tinct. One of these taxa, A. guayanum
which weather to fibers, its ovate Bunting, occurs in the Guiana High
blades with a cordate base and a col lands, usually at higher elevations
lective vein originating from the primary (above 500 m) and has generally larger,
lateral veins near the middle of the often thicker blades, which are con
blade and especially by its stout inflores spicuously glandular, dotted with plate
cence, with the broad spathe erect and shaped glands. The second taxon, long
the purplish, scarcely tapered spadix confused with A. bonp/andii ssp. bon
turned forward at nearly a 90° angle. p/andii, is here described as a new sub
There are noteworthy differences species of A. bonp/andii.
between the collection from near
Betania (Croat 60687A), which reports Anthurium bonplandii ssp. cuatrecasii
the spathe to be medium green ex Croat, ssp. nov. Figs. 14-17
ternally tinged purple and which has TYPE: Venezuela. Amazonas: Dept.
stamens appearing to have fallen off (or Atabapo: vicinity of Puerto Aya
scarcely exserted) and the collection cucho: along road from Puerto
from Quebrada Agua Azul (Steyermark Ayacucho to Sanariapo, ca. 1 km S
& Liesner 778387) with a younger inflor of airport road, near RIO Cataniapo,
growing on huge granite boulders,
escence having a yellowish green spathe
suffused with pale brick-red and ex Aug. 14, 1982, Croat 55065 (MO
2934844, holotype; B, DUKE, GH,
serted stamens.
NY, RSA, US, VEN, isotypes).
VENEZUElA. TACHIRA: Quebrada Aqua Azul,
Discrepat cum specie typica habens
S of EI Reposa, 14 km SE of Delicias, 7°31'N,
72°24'W, 2,150-2,300 m, Steyermark & Liesner folii basim truncatam vel gradatim
118387, 118620 (MO); Tama National Park, along rotundam, pedunculum longum et
trail to summit beginning ca. 3 km from center of longum stipitem.
population of Betania (7.6 km S of Villa Paez, 25.7
km S of Las Delicias, 66.7 km S of Rubio), ca. 7°28'N, Terrestrial or epipetric, occasionally
72°27'W, 2,600 m, Croat 60687A (B, CAS, K, MO, NY, epiphytic; stem often caespitose, leaf
US, VEN). scars obscured by root mass and cata
Anthurium bonplandii Bunting, Acta phylls; internodes shorter than broad,
Bot. Venez. 10: 267-268. 1975. ssp. 1-4 cm diam.; roots dense, descending,
bonplandii the uppermost ascending, grayish when
Anthurium bonp/and;; is known dried, slender and elongate, to 25 cm
throughout the northern Amazon basin, long, 2-5 mm diam.; cataphylls coria-
12 Aroideana (Vol. 9(1-4)
Figs. 14-17. Anthurium bonplandii. Bunting ssp. cuatrecasii Croat. Venezuela.
Amazonas: Puerto Ayacucho, 100 m, Croat 55065. 14. Habit, xl/12. 15.
Habit, xl/B. 16. Stem, x3/10. 17. Inflorescence, x3/10.