Orectanthe sceptrum
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Orectanthe sceptrum |
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| ( F.Oliv. ) Maguire |
Orectanthe sceptrum is aplant species from the genus Orectanthe nativeto the Roraima-Tepui in South America .
description
Orectanthe sceptrum is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of over 2 m. The caudiciform stem is short and rarely longer than 20 cm. The numerous, up to 40 cm long, hardened, pointed leaves are distributed around the stem in a strong basal rosette. The edge is discolored red-brown. With the flowering a long shoot up to 2 m long forms, on which mostly three bracts form on which the flowers sit.
The basic color of the flowers is bright yellow. The three sepals are lanceolate and strongly curved; the three petals are fused into a lip up to 6 cm long.
The anthers are about 1 cm long; the filaments are longer than the anthers. The stylus is stretched and bent at the end, ending in a papillary scar .
The seeds mature in about 1.5 to 2 cm long oval, three-part seed capsules.
distribution
Orectanthe sceptrum is on the Mount Roraima , a 2810 m high Table Mountain in the border triangle of countries Venezuela , Guyana and Brazil , endemic . The species is widespread all over the Tepui and can be found on the territory of all three neighboring states. It grows there on stony, nutrient-poor scree slopes at altitudes of 500 to 2700 m above sea level . The soil can also be extremely moist.
Systematics
In addition to the nominotypical taxon Orectanthe sceptrum var. Sceptrum, there is another described variety : Orectanthe sceptrum var. Occidentalis . This is smaller overall, has shorter bracts and the leaves lack the bluish tinge. Overall, however, the two subspecies are difficult to distinguish and their justification is controversial.
literature
- Robert Kral: Xyridaceae in Flora of the Guianas , pages 25-27, Koeltz Scientific Books, 1994, ISBN 3-87429-350-5
