13. Lonchostephus Tulasne
Lonchostephus Tulasne, Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. 6: 198 (1852).
Roots insufficiently documented; holdfasts ± 1 cm long, 0.2--0.5 cm wide; stems very short. Leaves in basal rosettes, very irregular in shape and size, 1--8 cm long, usually somewhat flabellate, blades smooth on both surfaces, repeatedly forked, ultimate segments capillary, narrowed below into short, flattened petiole. Spathellas 4--10 mm long, splitting radially. Flowers 3--6, alternating with bracts in a slightly flattened, 2-sided, simple, raceme-like inflorescence, borne on an up to 8 cm long naked peduncle; pedicels 0.5--2.5 cm long; bracts ± 5 mm long, borne between 2 flowers, with double sheaths, double boat-shaped; tepals linear to lanceolate, ± 0.5 cm long, free, reflexed; stamens 5--8, in one whorl; filaments free, flat, widened and wing-like, ellipsoidal, 3--5 mm long, membranous, persisting in fruit; anthers introrse. Capsules ovoid, 3--6 mm long; valves equal, each with 3 ribs; stigmas flattened, crested, persisting in fruit. One sp., L. elegans Tulasne, upper Amazon, Brazil. This genus is close to Mourera and Tulasneantha. |
