Montanoa quadrangularis  

A commanding tree species with leaves up to 90 cm long (including petiole). These large leaves are not present all the time, particularly at anthesis when the leaves are much smaller. The mature pales also vary in size ranging from 7-11 mm long but all maintaining the same obtrullate shape. Montanoa quadrangularis is extremely showy with very dense single or double panicles bearing hundreds of small heads per branch. No other species in the genus can match this display. The species is distinguished on herbarium sheets by the herbaceous parts of the stems which collapse when pressed although they are never known to be flat when living.

REPRESENTATIVE SPECIMENS: COLOMBIA. ANTIOQUIA: Rionegro, Aug 1937, Daniel 1504 (COL); Rionegro, 16 Dec 1933, Daniel 137 (US). CALDAS: 2 km N of Neira, 29 Jul 1979, SF 5699 (COL, OS); 49 km N of Aranzazu, 29 Jul 1979, SF 5704 (COL, OS); Pereira, s.d., Duque 1840 (US); 14 mi N of Manizales, 3 Nov 1965, Breteler 4470 (NY). CUNDINAMARCA: Sasaima, 6 Jan 1970, Garcia-Barriga 20025 (COL); 5 km from Pacho on rd to Zipaquir;i, 14 Ju1 1979, SF 5570 (COL, OS); near Anolaima, Jan 1954, Augusto & Daniel 4611 (COL); Pacho, 13 Jan 1944, Huertas & Camargo 985 (F); Zipac6n, 24 Dec 1953, Idrobo & Hemandez 1558 (COL); near Sasaima, 10-11 Jan 1946, Garcia-Barriga 11907 (COL, US); Pacho, Patasfa, 28 Jan 1965, Uribe 5061 (COL). RUILA: N of Palacio, 12 Jan 1944, Little 7094 (COL, F, US); SE of Neiva, 19 Jan 1945, Little 9093 (COL, F, US); Pitalito, Calamo, 30 Dec 1942, Schultes & Villarreal 5135 (DS, GR, NY); below Galilea, 28 Dec 1942, Fosberg 19640 (F, NY, US). NORTE DE SANTANDER: around Ocana, 1846--1852, Schlim 347 (BR, BR, G). SANTANDER: 3 km ENE of Cordoba, 19 Jul 1979, SF 5631 (COL, OS); near California, 11-27 Jan 1927, Killip & Smith 17026 (A, F, GR, NY, US); near Charta, 1-11 Feb 1927, Killip & Smith 19253 (GR, NY, US). TOLIMA: E1 Libano, 10 Dec 1939, Garcia-Barriga 8442 (COL, US); canon del rio Coello,S Mar 1969, Cuatrecasas & Echel'erry 27717 (US); 53 km E of Armenia,S Aug 1979, SF 5784 (COL, OS). VALLE: EI Cairo, btw Darien and Mediacanoa, 6--7 Jan 1943, Cuatrecasas 13949 (COL, F). VENEZUELA. DISTRITO FEDERAL: Serranias del Avila, Dec 1943, Lasser 968 (US, VEN); EI Avila, Los Venados, Badillo 1093 (VEN); S slope of Cerro Avila, 25 Jan 1940, Vagi 54 (F); just above Caracas, 27 Dec 1943, Se 55012 (F, US); Caracas, .Tan-Apr 1842, Linden 33 (BM, G, K, OXF, P, US frag of BM). MERIDA: btw La Azulita and La Carbonera, 24 Apr 1944, Se 56063 (F, US); near Merida, 27 Jan 1928, Pittier 12749 (G, GR, M, NY, US, VEN); near Timotes, 22 Jan 1928, Pit tier 12663 (LL, US, VEN); La Mucuy, 15 km ENE of Merida, 19 Dec 1963, Breteler 3464 (COL, G, M, MO, NY, S, US, VEN); near Merida, Dto. Libertador, 20 Dec 1972, Badillo 5632 (MY); around Merida la Axulita, 20 Dec 1972, Badillo 5634 (MY); btw EI Molino and Capuri, 23 Dec 1972, Badillo 5850 (MY); near Las Cruces, 6 Mar 1962, Tmjillo 5215 (MY); Rio MilIa, near Merida, 29 Dec 1969, Rinero 74627 (VEN); btw Tabay and Mucuruba, 15 Dec 1968, Obenvinkler 13907 (M, VEN); Jagi, near Ejido, 11 Feb 1939, Alston 6988 (BM, NY, S, US); I'd from Bailadores to EI Delgadito, 19 Dec 1972, Badillo 5200 (MY); Bailadores, 20 Sep 1942, Tamayo 2399 (VEN); Las Chorreras, Bailadores, 19 Sep 1942, Tamayo 2445 (VEN); La Mucuy, Dec 1956, Bernardi 5966 (MY, VEN); btw Morro and Aricagua, 15 Feb [957, Bernardi 6111 (VEN); Mucuruba, 2 Jan [973, Romero 166 (MY). TRACHIA: above EI Cobre, 25 Dec 1972, Badillo 5938 (MY); Abejales, 30 Mar 1972, Belli!ez 1255 (MY); btw Las Delicias and Pm-aguita, 17 Jul 1944, Se 57424 (F, US); Capacho, 8 Apr 1971, Guevara 1295 (MY); near las Porqueras, 24 Dec 1972, Badillo 5920 (MY); Paramo La Negra, Dto. Jauregui, 22 Oct 1972, Badillo 5315 (MY). TRUJILLO:Tuiiame-Jaj6, Aug [958, Aris!eguie!a 3696 (NY, VEN).