Cremospermopsis cestroides (Fritsch) L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist, type species
Novon 12: 262 - 269 (2002), Fig. 1, line drawing by Cathy Pasquale, original illustration
Full name and orig. publication: Cremospermopsis L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist, Novon 12: 262 - 269 (8 July 2002)
Etymology: Composed of the generic name Cremosperma and the Greek suffix όψις, -opsis = looking like, similar to, for the similarity with that genus.
Synonyms: -
Infrafamilial position: Gesnerioid Gesneriaceae (Gesnerioideae) - Beslerieae (?).
Description: Perennial herbs to subshrubs, stem usually erect. Leaves opposite, those of a pair ± equal, petiolate, lamina mostly ovate. Cymes axillary, pedunculate, usually congested to umbel-like aggregates, mostly with 4 lanceolate to ovate bracteoles. Sepals 1/2 to 2/3 connate, subequal to strongly unequal with 3 to 4 lobes usually lanceolate and the remaining 1 or 2 much wider and ovate (often variable within the same inflorescence and even more unequal in fruiting stage). Corolla small, white or yellow, funnelform to tubular, outside glandular hairy, especially on the limb; limb ± bilabiate. Stamens 4, filaments adnate to corolla tube at least 2/3 of their length, glabrous, anthers coherent, thecae confluent, staminode present or not. Nectary annular or higher on both sides of ovary and low or absent in between. Ovary and style glabrous, stigma capitate. Fruit a dry capsule, compressed and with two grooves, dehiscing irregularly and disintegrating in the persistent calyx which may function as a splash-cup. Seeds very numerous, more or less regularly spherical, very small, surface papillate.
Chromosome number: Unknown.
Species number: 2 [C. cestroides (Fritsch) L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist, C. parviflora L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist].
Species names (incl. publication and synonyms): See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005: World checklist of Gesneriaceae: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Checklist.
Type species: Cremospermopsis cestroides (Fritsch) L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist
Distribution: Colombian departments of Antioquia and adjacent Bolivar.
Ecology: In humid (probably low elevation cloud) forests, in shady places and often close to streams, from (0-)500-900(-1550)m.
Notes: The genus exhibits an unusual combination of characters: zygomorphic calyx, corolla limb with glandular trichomes, and spherical papillate seeds. As indicated by the name, the greatest similarity is with Cremosperma (tribe Beslerieae), but the presence of bracteoles places the genus outside of Beslerieae, and a tribal affiliation is presently not possible.
Bibliography: See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005. Bibliography of the Gesneriaceae. 2nd edition: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Bibliography.
Illustrations:
|
Cremospermopsis cestroides (Fritsch) L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist, type species Novon 12: 262 - 269 (2002), Fig. 1, line drawing by Cathy Pasquale, original illustration |
 |
Cremospermopsis parviflora L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist Novon 12: 262 - 269 (2002), Fig. 2, line drawing by Cathy Pasquale, original illustration |
last modified: 2007-07-13