Wildflowers: Shrub or Small Tree, Colombia

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by Pitter, Feb 24, 2013.

  1. Pitter

    Pitter Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Yumbo, Valle, Colombia
    The plant is about two and a half to three meters high with opposite leaves. Cream white flowers are fairly large. Can anyone ID it? Thanks.
     

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  2. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    It's in the Solanaceae, but the name escapes me at the moment. My field guide has it marked as an Iochroma, but I can't find any reference to one with such belled flowers. Trianaea is similar, but not quite right either....
     
  3. Tony Rodd

    Tony Rodd Active Member

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    With opposite leaves and the suggestion of stipular scars across the nodes unlikely to be Solanaceae. Also, the flowers appear to have an inferior ovary. My hunch would be Rubiaceae. But neotropical Rubiaceae are a vast and diverse group, about which I know very little!
     
  4. Andrey Zharkikh

    Andrey Zharkikh Well-Known Member 10 Years

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  5. Tony Rodd

    Tony Rodd Active Member

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    Andrey, that's great work! I would go for the Chelonanthus, the corolla, stamens, etc look virtually identical. And a scar across the node is consistent with some Gentianaceae, I think.
     
  6. Pitter

    Pitter Active Member 10 Years

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    Chelonanthus alatus does indeed appear to be my plant. Thanks so much for the identification help.
     

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