Lathrophytum peckoltii Eichler
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Authority
Hansen, Bertel. 1980. Balanophoraceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 23: 1-80. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Balanophoraceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Peckolt sn, Brazil, near Canta Gallo, Rio de Janeiro, 1867 (holotype, BR).
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Description
Species Description - Fleshy parasites forming tubers on the roots of trees. Total length up to 16 cm. Tuber up to 4.5 cm long and 4.6 cm wide, ellipsoid to subspherical, with a rough surface caused by numerous warts about 0.5 mm diam., with a few larger warts 1.5 mm diam. Volva adnate to stem in lowermost 1-3.5 cm, completely enveloping young inflorescences, surface as on tuber except for larger warts, later bursting into a few long-persistent obtuse lobes; 2.5 cm long and 2.4 cm wide at base. Stem above insertion of volva-lobes 1.6-3.2 cm long, 1.6-2 cm diam., cylindrical. Inflorescences when young ellipsoid, 4.3-6.2 cm long, 3.3-4.0 cm diam., later becoming 8-10 cm long and 1.4-2 cm wide incl. flowers, lower female part 0.9-3 cm long with 30-50 branches, upper male part 1.4-7 cm long with about 200 flowers. Bracts in lower part of inflorescence up to 7.1 mm long with a narrow petiole 0.7-1.2 mm wide and a fleshy pelta, which is rhombic or irregular-polygonate, about 4.5 mm diam., with irregularly fringed border, upwards on the inflorescence decreasing in size but getting a relatively thicker petiole, each bract subtending either one female branch or one male flower. Male flower without a perianth, inserted on an obtuse, conical axis about 3.5-4 mm wide and 3.5 mm long. Stamens 2, filaments absent; anthers inserted laterally about 1 mm apart a little below the blunt top of axis, length 1.3 mm, lateral width 1.6 mm, median width 1.1 mm, dehiscing laterally by two longitudinal slits, 2-celled and 4-locellate. Longitudinal axis of the anther in its natural position horizontal with one slit facing upwards and one downwards, later on deflexed with walls of loculi completely recurved. Pollen grains spheroidal to suboblate, tricolporate, nuclei 2. Female branch 6-8 mm long and 1 mm wide with top part extended to a subcircular pelta 4-5 mm diam. Female flowers 50-100 densely arranged on narrow part of branch, more or less hidden by the pelta, without a perianth, about 1-1.2 mm long and 1 mm wide, truncate, with 2 (rarely 3) styles inserted at top. Style 0.3 mm long and 0.1 mm wide with slightly swollen, stigmatic top part. Fruit a small, 1-seeded achene.
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Distribution
In dense forests, parasitizing roots of trees. Hosts recorded: Senefeldera sp., (Euphorbiaceae), Myristica bicuhyba Schott (Myristicaceae). Flowering Oct.-Nov.
Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America|