NOTES ON CALYCOPHYLLOUS RUBIACEAE - PART IV - THE MONOTYPIC BRAZILIANGENUS BLANDIBRACTEA WERNHAM IS A SIMIRA (RONDELETIEAE)

The identity of Blandibractea (based solely on flowering material) has never been questioned, and it has always been referred to as a monoty pic genus included in the tribe Rondeletieae. Morphological comparison s have revealed that B, brasiliensis is synonymous with Simira glaziov ii (K. Schum.) Steyerm. In addition, what Wernham called the ''Schau-A pparat'' made of ''modified bracts, the calyx-lobes being approximatel y equal'' (an erroneous observation repeated by recent authors), is he re shown to consist of calycophylls inserted on aborted flowers. A com plete description and illustrations of this species are provided.