Ilex abscondita

Ilex abscondita is a rare Stechpalmenart, which is endemic in the National Park Serranía La Neblina in Venezuela.

Description

Ilex abscondita is a shrub or small tree that reaches a height of 3 to 5 meters. The 5-9 cm long and 4-6 cm wide leaves are halbledrig, broadly ovate, broadly rounded at the apex and wedge-shaped at the base. They are entire, glabrous and covered at the bottom with black dots. At the midrib and the lateral veins are located on the upper leaf surface grooves with a fine downy hair. The smooth petioles are 7-13 mm long. The axillary, arranged laterally male inflorescence consists of three flowers. The axillary female inflorescence consists of a single flower. Inflorescence axis and flower stems are finely hairy. The fruit stalk is 6.5 mm to 11 mm long. The egg-shaped young fruits are 7-9 mm long and have a diameter of 6 mm.

Occurrence and status

Ilex abscondita was discovered in 1984 on the southern slopes of the Cañon Grande in 1900 m altitude in the National Park Serranía La Neblina in the state of Amazonas in southern Venezuela. Outside this region, this species has not been established.

Ilex abscondita is classified as " endangered" by the IUCN. The distribution area covers an area of ​​less than 100 km ².

System

The first description by the American botanist Julian Alfred Steyermark was published in 1988.