Naucleopsis humilis C.C.Berg

  • Authority

    Berg, Cornelius C. 2001. Moreae, Artocarpeae, and (Moraceae): With introductions to the family and and with additions and corrections to Flora Neotropica Monograph 7. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 83: 1-346. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Moraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Naucleopsis humilis C.C.Berg

  • Type

    Type. Ecuador. Pastaza: Río Curaray, nr. Laguna Garzayacu, 20-26 Aug 1985 ([male]), Neill et al 6663 (holotype, QCNE; isotypes, BG, MO, QAME, QCNE).

  • Description

    Species Description - Treelet, to 3 m tall; internodes often distinctly different in length, the parts with short internodes only bearing stipules. Leafy twigs 3-5 mm thick, appressed-puberulous; periderm flaking off. Lamina subobovate to oblanceolate, (9.5-)20-45 × (2-)5-10 cm, coriaceous; apex subcaudate to acuminate; base subacute to obtuse (to rounded to subcordate); margin entire; upper surface glabrous; lower surface puberulous on the base of the midrib; lateral veins ca. (15-)25-30 pairs; tertiary venation largely scalariform to largely reticulate; petiole 1-2.5 cm long, minutely puberulous; stipules 0.5-1.5 cm long, striate, yellowish appressed-puberulous, subpersistent or caducous. Staminate inflorescences on to 0.4 cm long spurs, ca. 0.2-0.3 cm diam.; peduncle ca. 0.2 cm long, bracteate; involucral bracts in ca. 5 series, broadly ovate to oblong, the inner ones glabrous; flowers 4-6; perianth 2-2.5 mm long; tepals 3-5, basally connate, glabrous; stamens 1 or 2; filaments 3-3.5 mm long, thick; anthers elliptic, 0.5-0.6 × 0.3-0.4 mm. Pistillate inflorescences solitary in the leaf axils, ca. 1 cm diam., sessile; involucral bracts in ca. 6 series, broadly ovate, minutely puberulous; flowers few; free parts of the tepals subulate to aculeate, 0.3-0.6 cm long, minutely puberulous; stigmas band-shaped, ca. 3 mm long. Infructescences subglobose 2-3 cm diam., yellow at maturity; free parts of the tepals 0.5-0.7 cm long; fruits 3-6, ca. 0.6-0.7 cm long.

  • Discussion

    Naucleopsis humilis is closely related to N. ulei, from which it differs, e.g., in the small size of the trees, the smaller stipules, and the smaller inflorescences. In most of the collections the base of the lamina is acute to obtuse. In some collections, Pipoly et al 13044 and Romero-Castaneda 4151, the base of the lamina is subcordate or narrowly cordate, and they are regarded as belonging to this species largely because of the length of the stipules.

  • Distribution

    In the northwestern Amazon Basin (Napo region); in riverine, often periodically inundated forest, or in non-inundated forest.

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