Gesneria onychocalyx L. E. Skog

Gesneria onychocalyx L. Skog

Gesneria sp. B., Adams, Fl. Pl. Jamaica 681, 1972.

Plantae fruticosae, caule lignoso erecto usque ad 3 m alto, cortice ferrugineo verruculoso, ramulis alternis 4 mm in diametris viridi-brunneis glabris resinosis, internodiis 0.5–1.0 cm longis, nodis tumidis, gemmis resinosis. Folia alterna, petiolus sulcatus 0.8–2.2 cm longus 1–2 mm in diametro viridi-brunneus glaber, lamina elliptica vel oblanceolata, interdum falcata 8.4–15.5 cm longa 2.8–5.6 cm lata ad basim anguste acuta, secus margines dentata, ad apicem acuminata vel cuspidata, pagina adaxiali atrovirenti praeter glandulas secus costam glabra, pagina abaxiali pallide viridi glabra, costa prominenti et verrucosa. Inflorescentiae uniflorae, pedunculis teretiusculis 1.3–3.6 cm longis 1.0–1.5 mm in diametris ferrugineis glabris resinosis, bracteis 1–2 reductis, pedicellis teretibus, 1.1–1.3 cm longis 1 mm in diametris, ferrugineis glabris resinosis; tubus floralis turbinatus, ca 5 mm longus 5 mm ad apicem latus ferrugineus glaber resinosus, calycis lobis 5 erectis, ad basim 1 mm connatis, ad basim sulcatis, ad sulci apicem calcar usque ad 4 mm longo instructis, superne aristis ad apicem introrsum curvis armatis unguem avis similibus 2.0–3.5 cm longis ad basim 5–7 mm latis ferrugineis extus glabris et resinosis intus glandulosis, costis carinatis; corolla campanulata, tubus 1.1–1.3 cm longus, ad basim 5 mm latus, ad orem 1.5 cm latus, extus viridis ferrugineus vel obscure roseus (fide Proctor) glaber glanduloso-resinosus intus viridis glaber glanduloso-resinosus; limbus leviter expansus, 5-lobatus, glandulosus, lobis superioribus suborbicularibus, ca 7 mm longis 8 mm latis ad margines dentatis, lobis lateralibus obtusis ca 7 mm longis 1.0 cm latis ad margines integris, lobo basali rotundo ca 6 mm longo 6 mm lato ad margines integro; stamina 4, ad corollae orem extensa, filamentis linearibus ca 2.3 cm longis rubris glabris resinosis, antheris oblongis 2–3 mm longis 2 mm latis rubris binatim conniventibus; ovarium inferum, apice pubescenti, disco annulari, stylo stamina aequanti rubro glabro, stigmate stomatiformi 2–3 mm lato. Capsula turbinata, ca 1 cm longa 8 mm lata viridis vel cinerascenti-brunnea glabra, costis 5 alatis; semina fusiformia torta 1 mm longa 0.25 mm lata ferruginea, apicibus elongatis.

TYPE-COLLECTION.—East slope of the John Crow Mts., Jamaica, G. Proctor 9799 (BM, holotype, Figure 74b; GH, isotype).

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY.—Apparently endemic to eastern Jamaica (Figure 72) on the east slope of the John Crow Mountains in the parish of Portland, Gesneria onychocalyx is found on moist limestone slopes in thickets.

Gesneria onychocalyx has only been collected in flower in January. Flower-feeding bats, Brachyphylla pumila and Phyllonycteris aphylla, may effect pollination in this species.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—JAMAICA. PARISH OF PORTLAND: John Crow Mts., 1.5–2.5 mi SW of Ecclesdown, 1500–2500 ft, 24 January 1956, R. Howard, G. Proctor & W. Stearn 14780 (A, BM): east slope of the John Crow Mts., 1.5–2.0 mi SW of Ecclesdown, 1500–2000 ft, 14 January 1955, G. Proctor 9799 (BM, holotype of Gesneria onychocalyx L. Skog; GH, isotype); John Crow Mountains, ca 1.3 mi SW of Ecclesdown, 1500–2000 ft, 24 August 1954, G. Webster 5570 (A, BM).