Coussapoa parvifolia Standl.

  • Authority

    Berg, Cornelius C., et al. 1990. Cecropiaceae: Coussapoa and Pourouma, with an introduction to the family. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 51: 1-208. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Urticaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Coussapoa parvifolia Standl.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Amazonas: Mun. São Paulo de Olivença, nr. Palmares, 11 Sep-26 Oct 1936 (female), Krukoff 8273 (holotype, NY; isotypes, A, BM, F, G, K, LE, MO, S, U, US).

  • Synonyms

    Cousspoa cornifolia Standl., Coussapoa microcephala subsp. cornifolia (Standl.) Akkermans & C.C.Berg

  • Description

    Species Description - Tree, up to to 20 m tall, hemi-epiphytic. Leafy twigs 2-5 mm thick, rather sparsely appressed-puberulous, sometimes on the younger parts also longer, brownish, patent (to appressed) hairs, soon disappearing. Lamina coriaceous to subcoriaceous, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, sometimes subobovate, 4-14(-21) × 1.5-5.5(-1 1) cm, apex acute to acuminate, base acute to obtuse, margin entire, towards the base ± revolute; upper surface glabrous, lower surface ± densely appressed-puberulous to glabrous; lateral veins (4-)7-11 pairs, basal pair unbranched, reaching the margin below or in subobovate leaves above the middle of the lamina; intercostal venation slightly prominent; petiole 0.5-3(-4) cm long, appressed-puberulous to glabrous also with longer brownish patent hairs, soon disappearing; stipules 0.4-1 (-1.3) cm long, appressed-puberulous to subsericeous, terminal buds mostly swollen (containing young inflorescences). Staminate inflorescences repeatedly branched; heads ca. 15-30, globose, ca. 2-3 mm diam.; common peduncle 1.5-2 cm long, rather sparsely puberulous or partly hirtellous; perianth ca. 1 mm high, minutely ciliolate; stamens two, filaments just to far exceeding the perianth. Pistillate inflorescences unbranched or branched heads (1-5, globose, 4-8 mm diam.; (common) peduncle 1-2.5 cm long, puberulous perianth ca. 1 mm high, glabrous. Interfloral bracts (sub)spathulate, minutely puberulous.

  • Discussion

    This species belongs to a group with two stamens and leaf margins which mostly are re volute at the base, comprising e.g., C. microcarpa and C. microcephala.

    Prance et al. 9054 is aberrant in having (sub)obovate leaves.

  • Distribution

    Upper Amazon Basin, in Brazil (Amazonas), Peru (Loreto), Venezuela (Amazonas), also in Extra-Amazonian Colombia (Antioquia and Vichada); in non-inundated forest.

    Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Vichada Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|