Gnetum camporum

(Markg.) D. Stevenson et T. Zanoni 1991

Common names

Taxonomic notes

Syn: Gnetum urens (Aubl.) Blume var. camporum Markgraf 1971 (Stevenson and Zanoni 1991).

"There are several characters, mainly vegetative, that are unique to G. camporum within Gnetum and support its recognition at the species level. Leaf characters include the small size, rounded to obtuse apex, strongly coriaceous texture, and very wide prominent primary and secondary veins that are unique to G. camporum. Stem characters include internodes 10 cm or less and the light gray color of the smooth bark. Reproductive characters are less well known but the orange seed color of G. camporum is distinctive. Finally, G. camporum is found in dry habitats at elevations greater that 1000 m and is geographically isolated from G. urens which only reaches 500 m in elevation in mesic habitats. Moreover, no intermediates are known between G. camporum and G. urens" (Stevenson and Zanoni 1991).

Description

"Woody vine; twigs tan, smooth to slightly striated, internodes often less than 10 cm. Leaves very coriaceous, ovate to oblong-ovate, up to 6 × 4 cm, rounded to obtuse at apex, truncate to subcordate at base, olive to olive-green, upper and lower surface densely fibrous, the latter with primary and secondary veins more than 2 mm wide, submarginal connections between secondary veins prominent. Microsporangiate axes profusely branched, ultimate units much condensed and internodes less than 2 mm between bract collars at anthesis, pollen bearing organ barely exserted from enclosing collar. Ovule-bearing branches usually unbranched, ovules few. Mature seed orange, ellipsoid, 30 mm long, 15 mm in diameter, obtuse at apex, outer layer papyraceous" (Stevenson and Zanoni 1991).

Distribution and Ecology

"At present known only from the vicinity of the type locality in the Gran Sabana, Venezuela at 1350-1500 m. It is expected that it will be collected in a similar habitat in contiguous Guyana" (Stevenson and Zanoni 1991).

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.03.03.

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

The epithet camporum means "meadows".

Citations

Markgraf, F. 1971. Una Nueva Variedad de Gnetum en Venezuela. Acta Bot. Venez. 6: 371.

Stevenson, D. and T. Zanoni. 1991. Flora of the Guianas, Series A: Phanerogams, Fascicle 9, Section 209 Gnetaceae. USA/Germany: Koeltz Scientific Books.

See also

Markgraf, F. 1965. New discoveries of Gnetum in tropical America. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 52: 379-386. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2021.12.22.