Resumen

SANOJA, Elio. DIAGNOSIS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIOLOGY OF CATOSTEMMA LEMENSE, NEW BOMBACACEAE OF VENEZUELA . Acta Bot. Venez. [online]. 2004, vol.27, n.2, pp.83-94. ISSN 0084-5906.

A diagnosis and some architectural and ecological aspects of a new species of Bombacaceae from the Venezuelan Guayana are given. Catostemma lemense is an endemic and frequent tree of the Sierra de Lema and Ptari-tepui (Bolívar State) cloud forests upper 1200 m asl. Unfortunately all the herbaria specimens were sterile. A complete qualitative architectural analysis was done. For seven years, reproductive phenology survey was carried out and also the growth dynamic (radial and apical) on different tree stages. Like the others species of this genus, its architectural unity respects Massart’s model, nevertheless it seems to be the only one that does not reiterate in the adult crown. C. lemense seems unable to attain the canopy and its reproductive phenology activity was very low during the seven years control. C. lemense possesses the greateast seeds of all Catostemma species. A discussion about this species’ reproductive biology and a comparison with its relatives is attempted.

Palabras clave : architecture; Bombacaceae; Catostemma; C. lemense; growth; Guayana; reproductive biology; Sierra de Lema; Venezuela.