Aniba murçana C.K.Allen
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Authority
Allen, Caroline K. 1966. Contributions to the botany of Guiana. II. Lauraceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 15: 53-95.
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Family
Lauraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Arbor ad 15 m alta, gemmis lato-ovoideis minute sericeo-ferrugineo-tomen-tosis, ramulis robustis minute denseque brunneo-ferrugineo-tomentosis, ad nodos cicatrices numerosos inflorescentiaum et foliarum confertos ferentibus. Folia sub-verticillata, vel ad apicem ramulorum congesta, petiolis percrassis, brunneo-ferrugineo-tomentosis profunde sed obscure canaliculatis ad 2-2.5 cm longis et ad 5 mm latis, laminis supra in sicco opacis subolivaceis, minute sparse pubescentibus et punctulatis, subtus pallidis praecipue ad costam venasque ferrugineo-tomen-tosis, ellipticis, (15-) 20-25 (-30) cm longis et 7-10 (-11) cm latis, ad basin acutis vel longe attenuatis, ad apicem abrupte vel longe attenuato-acuminatis acumine ad 2 cm longo et 4 mm lato, penninerviis, costa supra impressa sed leviter elevata, ad basin canaliculata, glabra, subtus perprominenter elevata, striata dense ferrugineo-pubescenti, nervis 10-12-paribus ad marginem confluen-tibus, supra perconspicue impressis glabris, subtus crassis elevatis, dense ferru-gineo-pubescentibus, sub angulo 70-50-60° divergentibus, rete venularum supra conspicue impresso subtus elevato et pubescenti. Inflorescentiae numerosae, sub-terminales, robustae, brunneo-ferrugineo-tomentosae, plus minusve stricte pani-culatae, multiflorae, ad 12 cm longae et ad ± 4 cm latae, pedunculis ad 3.5 cm longis foliis longioribus. Flores ad 4.5 mm longi, minute denseque ferrugineo-tomentosi constricte urceolati, pedicellis 1.5-2.5 (-6) mm longis; perianthii lobis subrotundatis ferrugineo-pubescentibus ad 1.5 mm longis, tubo subaequalibus; staminibus ser I & II ad 10 mm longis pubescentibus antheris rotundatis, connective obtuse acuto, filamentis robustis duplo brevioribus, ser III obovatis, 1.2 mm longis pubescentibus, antheris subrotundatis gradatim ad basin attenuatis filamentis robustis subaequalibus, biglandulosis, glandulis subcordatis crasse bre-viterque stipitatis, ser IV staminodiis usque ad medium stipitatis, lanceolatis minute cordatis pubescentibus ad basin leviter constrictis ad 0.6 mm longis; gynoecio pubescenti ad 2.5 mm longo, ovario obovoideo vel oblongo ad apicem pubescenti, stylo late filamentoso pubescenti paullo breviori, stigmate obscuro. Infructescentia et fructus ignoti.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Tree to 15 m with large leaves, up to 30 cm long, elliptic, slenderly acuminate, verticillate, the numerous subterminal, densely ferruginous-tomentose inflorescences clustered at the tips of the robust branchlets characterize this species known only from the type locality, and possibly from British Guiana and Venezuela.
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Discussion
Type. Upland tree 15 m high. 20 cm DBH, past flowering, 20 minutes upriver from Camp 5 toward Camp 4, Rio Araguari, Amapa, Brazil, 8 Sept 1961, J. M. Pires, Wm. Rodrigues & G. C. Indue 50713 (holotype, fl. NY).
Vernacular Name. Greenheart Gale (British Guiana).
In general characteristics, this species recalls Aniba simulans C. K. Allen of the Guayana area in Bolivar, Venezuela. It differs, however, in the much larger, more attenuate-acuminate leaves with much more prominent venation and reticulation beneath and more deeply impressed lateral nerves above, as well as more numerous inflorescences. The British Guiana number, earlier determined as possibly Aniba excelsa Kostermans, appears to be conspecific with A. murcana.