Family: Rapateaceae Dum.
Distribution: This South American species is endemic to the Guiana Shield, it occurs on summit of Mount Roraima.
Ecology: It grows on wet rocks and rocky slopes, on acidic soils, especially in the highest parts of the mesas, often together with Orectanthe sceptrum.
Description: Perennial herb with a short rhizome. Stem from the remnants of old leaves, erect, short, leaves arranged in two rows, alternate, lanceolate, up to 150 cm long, entire, dark green. Flowers in a terminal capitulum on up to 2 m long stalk, calyx 13–15 mm long, corolla trimerous, regular, petals 20–22 mm long, usually yellow, sometimes to pale orange. The fruit is a capsule.
Note: The family Rapateaceae includes about 17 genera and 80 species, which occur in Paleo- and Neotropis. The genus Stegolepis contains about 30 species.
These images were taken in Venezuela, Roraima (by Jindřiška Vančurová, September 18, 2008).
