Aphelandra scabra (Vahl) Smith

(Acanthaceae)

Masís, A, Pérez, D., Chavarría, F., Espinoza, R. and Guadamuz, A. 1998. Species Page de Aphelandra scabra (Acanthaceae), 12 january 1998. Species Home Pages, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. http://www.acguanacaste.ac.cr

I. Identification:

Woody herb up to 2 m tall.

Flower:

The flowers are zigomorphic (with bilateral simetry), red and tubular; they are subtended by green bracts that are toothed at the apex. The corolla is aproximately 3 cm long (Durkee 1986).

 

Inflorescence

Flowers are bisexual or perfect (both male and female reproductive structures present in the same flower). The inflorescences are terminal spikes. Flowers all year round.

Terminal spike

 

 

Dissected flower

 

Spike

Fruit:

Leafs:

Leafs are simple, opposite and subsesile (the petiole is very short given the impression that the lamina comes out directly from the twig).

 

Upper surface

 

Under surface

Both surfaces are tomentose (covered by thick hairs). The leafs are 7-13 cm long. The petiole y flattened on the upper surface and it is 1 cm long.

Detail of upper surface

Detail of under surface

 

Node

Bark and wood:

The bark is light brown, smooth and with visible lenticels. The wood is white. 

 

 

Bark

Similar species:

Justicia aurea is common on the road to the Estación biológica Cacao, but it has yellow flowers.

Aphelandra aurantiaca is found in the lowland rainforests. Eventhough Roberto Espinoza has colected it in the Sector Santa Rosa (in a locality known as Bosque Humedo) (Pers. Com.). It is easily distinguished by its large bracts (4-5 cm long) with toothed margin (that look like spines but are soft). The corola varies from red to orange-red, tube up to 4 cm long (Durkee 1986).

Aphelandra tridentata is distinguished by having 3 teeth in the bracts. The lower flower lip is about 2-3 cm wide.

Verification:

Identification, Nelson Zamora.

II.Geographic distribution:

International:

South of Mexico to north of South America (Durkee 1986).

In Costa Rica:

Pacific watershed. From sea level up to 1100 m.

In the Area de Conservación Guanacaste:

It is commonly found in TACOTALES VIEJOS??? on the margins of roads and rivers of semideciduos and deciduos lowland forests according to the clasification of macro-types of vegetation by Gomez 1986.

Macro-habitat maps of the ACG

III. Natural history:

It grows on the sides of roads where it is exposed to sun and shade. In other words, areas where canopy cover is not very dense and so it allows the penetration of sunlight.

Because of its flower color and tubular shape, its possible that this specie is polinated by hummingbirds (Trochilidae).

IV. How to find:

The inflorescense is very conspicuous and easy to encounter on the sides of the roads in Sector Santa Rosa, on the margin of the Cuajiniquil river in Santa Rosa and in Sector El Hacha.

Acknowledgments:

This project was carried out by the Area de Conservación Guanacaste/CR, with help from INBio/CR, ICBG from the Foggarty center, NIH/USA and NSF/USA. We particularly thank N. Zamora for his verification of the taxonomy of this specie.

Literature cited:

Durkee. L.H. 1986. Family#200 Acanthaceae. Publication 1372. Fieldiana. Field Museum of Natural History.

Espinoza.R. 1998 Progrma de Investigación, Area de Conservación Guanacaste. Costa Rica. Com.Pers.

Gómez, L. D. 1986.Vegetación de Costa Rica. EUNED, San José, Costa Rica, pp. 273-277.