Stenomesson leucanthum explained

Stenomesson leucanthum is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is native to Peru.[1] Pierfelice Ravenna, the Chilean botanists who first formally described the species, using the basionym Pucara leucantha, named it after its white (Latinized form of Greek Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: λευκός, leukós) flowers (Latinized form of Greek Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἄνθος, ánthos).

Description

It is a perennial herb with a round bulb that is 3.7-4.8 centimeters in diameter. Its leaves are often solitary and are 10-12 by 2-3 centimeters with pointed tips. Its inflorescences are on a stem-like stalk that is 15-50 centimeters long. The flowering stalk is 5 millimeters at its apex. The flowering stalk is circular in cross section. Its flowers occur in clusters at the top of the stalk. The cluster of flowers is subtended by narrow, papery bracts that are 2.5-3.1 centimeters long and come to a point at their tips. Each flower is on a 3-6 millimeter long pedicel. The white, bell-shaped flowers are 1.2-1.4 centimeters in diameter. Atop the floral tube are 6 tepals arranged in two rows. The elliptical outer tepals are 12-14 by 4 millimeters and come to a point at their tip. The elliptical inner tepals are 14 by 5 millimeters. Its anthers are 3.6-5.8 millimeters long. Its flowers have a single thread-like style that is 1.9-2 centimeters long and topped by a 3-lobed stigma. Its flowers have an ellipsoid ovary that is 3.8-4 by 1.5-2 millimeters with 3 chambers. Its fruit are round.[2] [3]

Distribution and habitat

It grows in northern Peru on rocky slopes and sandy places at elevations of 990-1,650 meters above sea level.

Reproductive biology

The yellow pollen of S. leucanthum is shed as permanent tetrads.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stenomesson leucanthum (Ravenna) Meerow & van der Werff . . n.d. . Plants of the World Online . The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . December 21, 2018.
  2. Meerow . Alan W. . van der Werff . Henk . Pucara (Amaryllidaceae) Reduced to Synonymy with Stenomesson on the Basis of Nuclear and Plastid DNA Spacer Sequences, and a New Related Species of Stenomesson . Systematic Botany . 29 . 3 . 2004 . 511–517 . 0363-6445 . 10.1600/0363644041744400. 85742067 .
  3. Ravenna . Pierfelice . 1972 . Pucara, Genero Nuevo de Amaryllidaceae del Norte de Peru . Pucara, New Genus of Amaryllidaceae from Northern Peru . Spanish, Latin . Anales del Museo de Historia Natural de Valparaiso . 5 . 85–90.
  4. Meerow . AW . van der Werff . H . Pucara (Amaryllidaceae) Reduced to Synonymy with Stenomesson on the Basis of Nuclear and Plastid DNA Spacer Sequences, and a New Related Species of Stenomesson . . 2004 . 29 . 3 . 511–517 . 10.1600/0363644041744400. 85742067 .