Martius, Fl. Bras. 8: 269, t. 44 (1862), as Russelia alata
Full name and orig. publication: Cubitanthus Barringer, J. Arnold Arbor. 65: 145 (11 Jan. 1984).
Etymology: From the Greek κυβιτος kubitos = bearded, and άνθος, anthos = flower, alluding to the densely villous lower lip of the corolla.
Synonyms: -
Position: see Notes.
Description: Perennial herb, with indumentum of long multicellular hairs. Stem decumbent, 4-winged , with adventitious roots at the nodes. Roots fibrous. Leaves opposite; petiole slightly winged; blade serrate, venation pinnate. Flowers solitary in leaf axils; peduncle slightly winged at base, ebracteolate. Sepals free, lanceolate-acute. Corolla cylindrical, limb bilabiate, upper lip subentire, not reflexed, lower lip 3-lobed, densely villous at base. Stamens 4, geniculate, adnate to corolla base; anthers bilocular, coherent in pairs. Nectary entire, annular. Ovary superior,with parietal placentae, style elongate, stigma entire, slightly enlarged. Capsule septicidal, 2-valved, included within persistent calyx. Seeds ovoid, slightly striate.
Chromosome number: Unknown.
Type and only species: Cubitanthus alatus (Cham. & Schltdl.) Barringer
Species names (incl. publication and synonyms): See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005: World checklist of Gesneriaceae: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Checklist.
Distribution: Brazil (Bahia).
Ecology: Found as a weed in cacao plantations; the natural habitat is probably the coastal forest zone.
Notes: The species was originally described as Russelia alata Cham. & Schltdl. and assigned to Scrophulariaceae. Bentham (1876) then transfered it to Gesneriaceae, placing it in the genus Anetanthus. Barringer (1984) established the monotypic genus Cubitanthus and placed it in Gesneriaceae. The morphological characters are not decisive, but rather in favor of a scrophulariaceous position.
Selected references: Chautems, Rev. Brasil. Bot. 14: 51-59 (1991), reg. rev. (Cocoa region of Bahia, Brazil).
Bibliography: See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005. Bibliography of the Gesneriaceae. 2nd edition: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Bibliography.
Illustrations:
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Cubitanthus
alatus (Cham. & Schltdl.) Barringer
Martius, Fl. Bras. 8: 269, t. 44 (1862), as Russelia alata |
last modified: 2007-07-13