Anomospermum grandifolium Eichler

  • Authority

    Barneby, Rupert C. & Krukoff, Boris A. 1971. Supplementary notes on American Menispermaceae. VIII. A generic survey of the American Tricilisisae and Anomospermeae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 22: 1-89.

  • Family

    Menispermaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Anomospermum grandifolium Eichler

  • Description

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution (26 collections): Guiana; Brazil (Para, Amazonas, Acre); Peru (Loreto, Huanuco, San Martin); Ecuador (Napo-Pastaza); Bolivia (Pando). In the State of Para it has been collected in the basins of Rio Amazonas and Rio Trombetas; in the State of Amazonas in the basins of Rio Solimoes (Igarapes Belem, Jandiatuba, and Comitian), Rio Negro and upper Rio Jurua; in the State of Acre in the basins of Rio Jurua and Purus. Doubtless occurs also in Amazonian Colombia and Venezuela. PERU. Huanuco: prov. Vachiiea, Schunke 1226 (F), 1969/5. BOLIVIA. Pando: basin of Rio Madeira, Prance et al. 6600.This is the first record of the species from Bolivia.

  • Discussion

    Abuta macrocarpa Moldenke in Krukoff & Moldenke, Brittonia 3:51. 1938.

    Schunke 1969/5 is voucher for a sample of wood for chemical studies. For the chemical studies of this plant see Mem. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 20(2): 33.

    At an early stage of our revision of fruiting structures in the family we became aware that Abuta macrocarpa had been assigned to the wrong genus, and in several herbaria we have used an unpubhshed binomial indicating transfer to Anomospermum. In its new generic context, Abuta macrocarpa was recognized as closely allied to Anomospermum grandifolium, but seemed adequately distinct because of its elUptic, 3-pUnerved, rather than ovate, 5-plinerved leaf-blades, these moreover generaUy of thinner texture and having the costa sulcate above rather than bluntly prominent. No staminate flower of A. macrocarpa had been collected so that no contrast could be demonstrated in this important feature. As more material became available, especially from Amazonian Peru, we encountered increasing difficulty in separating two entities by leaf-characters, and have finally reached the reluctant conclusion that only one species is involved. Fruits of the two supposed entities are essentially alike, showing only some variation in size and in thickness of the testa, but this no greater than established in, for example, A. reticulatum.

    The composite A. grandifolium is related to A. solimoesanum, and is not easily separated in sterile condition. The leaf-blade of A. solimoesanum is on the average much smaller, and the smallest mesh of veinlets on the reverse side is shghtly impressed, not shghtly prominent. Fruits of the two species are very similar, but the staminate inflorescences totally different, the conspicuous ovate bracts subtending each flower, internally pubescent petals, and erect (not distally incurved) filaments of A. solimoesanum being recognized at a glance.

  • Distribution

    Distribution (26 collections): Guiana; Brazil (Para, Amazonas, Acre); Peru (Loreto, Huanuco, San Martin); Ecuador (Napo-Pastaza); Bolivia (Pando). In the State of Para it has been collected in the basins of Rio Amazonas and Rio Trombetas; in the State of Amazonas in the basins of Rio Solimoes (Igarapes Belem, Jandiatuba, and Comitian), Rio Negro and upper Rio Jurua; in the State of Acre in the basins of Rio Jurua and Purus. Doubtless occurs also in Amazonian Colombia and Venezuela.

    Guyana South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Bolivia South America|