Schiekia timida
Schiekia timida M.Pell., E.J.Hickman, Rhian J.Sm. & Hopper
Schiekia timida is a perennial herb in the Haemodoraceae family, native to parts of South America including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela. It was described in 2020 by M.Pell., E.J.Hickman, Rhian J.Sm., and Hopper. The species is characterized by its rhizomatous growth, fibrous roots, and distichously-alternate leaves with impressed veins. Its inflorescences are terminal and pedunculate, with narrowly tubular and cleistogamous flowers. The species is distinguished from Schiekia orinocensis by features such as the straight tepal apex, lack of nectar guides on upper tepals, and cleistogamous flowering habit.
Description
Schiekia timida is a herbaceous plant growing to 40–100 cm tall, with thick, fibrous, orange to red roots and rhizomes that are reddish-orange to red externally and orange to red internally. Leaves are distichously-alternate, equitant, and have impressed secondary veins. The inflorescences are terminal and consist of a many-branched thyrse. Flowers are narrowly tubular and cleistogamous, opening only slightly. Tepals are light to medium green with a straight apex, and the upper tepals lack nectar guides. The medial filament is inflated, and the staminode-like projection is one-third the length of its subtending tepal. The capsules are slightly longer than broad or as broad as long. The species is named for its shy, cleistogamous flowers, a first for the Neotropical Haemodoraceae.
Distribution
BR · Bolivia · Brazil Northeast · Brazil North · Brazil West-Central · Colombia · Guyana · Venezuela