Anacardium corymbosum Barb.Rodr.
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Authority
Mitchell, D. J. & Mori, S. A. 1987. The cashew and its relatives (Anacardium: Anacardiaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 42: 1-76. (Monograph of the genus Anacardium (Anacardiaceae).)
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Family
Anacardiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Brazil. Mato Grosso: Rio da Casca, Serra da Chapada, cited in Barbosa Rodrigues, no extant collection (Lectotype, Tabula 5 in Barbosa Rodrigues, here designated). Local names and uses. Brazil: Cajú rasteiro, cajuzinho. The hypocarp is eaten raw by local people.
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Description
Species Description - Subshrub, 50 to 150 cm tall, with large underground trunk and rigidly ascending branches. Leaf blades oblanceolate to broadly obovate or elliptic, 4.5-20.3 x 2.2-10 cm, coriaceous, villous abaxially, glabrous to puberulous adaxially, with 8-17 pairs of lateral veins, prominent abaxially, prominulous to prominent adaxially, the midrib very prominent abaxially, impressed to prominulous adaxially; base usually auriculate, occasionally attenuate or obtuse, frequently asymmetrical; apex rounded or obtuse, occasionally retuse, emarginate, or truncate; petiole lacking. Inflorescences densely congested, 16-22 x 6-15 cm, villous, the peduncle 1-4 cm long, the upper bracts lanceolate to narrowly ovate, sepal-like, the lower bracts obovate or elliptic, leaf-like, villous abaxially, often cream or light green adaxially, the bracts subtending cymes spathulate, the pedicels 2-3 mm long, densely pubescent to villous. Bisexual flowers: corolla cylindric, 2-3 mm diam.; sepals lanceolate, (2.5-)3-4.5 x 0.8-1.3 mm, densely pubescent to villous abaxially, puberulous adaxially; petals reflexed, linear to lorate, 6-7.2 x 0.9-1.5 mm, densely pubescent abaxially, puberulous adaxially, white or light yellow, occasionally pale green, often with pink or red lines at anthesis, turning dark red after fertilization; stamens 4-6, with one stamen much larger, the largest filament 4.5-5.5 mm long, the remaining filaments shorter, 1-2 mm long, with no apparent thecae, their apices globose; staminal tube 0.2-0.3 mm long; ovary 1.3 x 1.2 mm, the apex sparsely puberulous, the style central, awl-shaped, 5.5 mm long, the stigma punctiform. Staminate flowers with pistillode 0.2-1 mm long. Hypocarp obconical to pyriform, 2.5 x 2 cm, red. Drupe subreniform, 1.5-2 x 1-1.7 cm, dark brown at maturity.
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Discussion
Ecology. A subshrub of savannas (campo and cerrado) between 100 and 800 m alt. Although a species with a restricted range, it is very abundant where it occurs. It often grows in association with A. humile. Flowering occurs from June through October and fruiting commences in October. The hypocarps, according to local informants, are eaten by birds and mammals.