11. Diamantina Novelo, Philbrick & Irgang
Diamantina Novelo, Philbrick & Irgang, Syst. Bot. 29: 109 (2004); Rutishauser et al., Flora 200: 245--255 (2005).
Roots thread-like or slightly flattened, branching; stems arising from lateral margins of root, usually in opposite or subopposite pairs with disk-like holdfasts, branched, erect, (3.5--) 19.5 (--40) mm long, with hardened leaf remains below and leaves above, their bases becoming broadened and disk-like when older. Leaves crowded, clothing the stem; first leaves thread-like, entire or with 2 or 3 segments; later leaves dimorphic, with expanded sheathing base bearing (2) 3--7 (8) digitally arranged segments lacking vascular tissue, segments variable in size and form; 'short leaves' with all segments alike, 0.5--1.5 mm long, rigid, tooth-like, borne towards base of stem or branch; 'long leaves' with 1 or 2 median segments longer than the lateral tooth-like laterals, median segments linear and flexible, up to 10 or more mm long, deciduous, borne towards tip of stem or branch. Spathellas dimorphic; that subtending the subterminal flower scale-like; that of terminal flower tubular, (1.5--) 2.2 (--2.9) mm long, splitting irregularly from top. Flowers 1 or 2 at tip of stem or branch, developing terminally or subterminally, borne on gynophore which elongates during anthesis to (0.5--) 1.8 (--2.5) mm long; pedicels (2.5--) 4.6 (--7) mm long after anthesis; tepals (2) 3 (4), scale-like, alternating with stamens; stamens (1) 2 (3), free; filaments elongating during anthesis but never reaching length of ovary; anthers often rudimentary and sterile; if present, dehiscing introrsely; pollen in tetrads. Capsules spherical or nearly so, with an apical cleft, opening by 2 equal valves, with thickened sutures; valves 3-, or rarely 4- or 5-ribbed; stigmas 2 or rarely 3, equal, simple, horn-like. Seeds unknown. One sp., D. lombardii Novelo, Philbrick & Irgang, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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