Caraipa

Authority

Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.

Family

Clusiaceae

Scientific Name

Caraipa Aubl.

Discussion

Caraipa is, with the next, the largest genus of the Bonnetiaceae, having evolved more than 30 taxa. The genus is characteristic of low or middle altitudes, and cannot be considered to be of montane prominence. Some 20 taxa have been described from Amazonian Brazil. The type localities of the remainder are Colombia, the Guianas, and Venezuela. The genus in Guayana is represented primarily in the lowlands.

Caraipa has been attributed to the Clusiaceae (Engler 1888, Metcalfe & Chalk 1950, Melchior 1964). It was assigned to the Bonnetieae by Wawra (1888) and the Bonnetiaceae by Hutchinson (1959). I concur in the disposition of Hutchinson. A critical review of the genus is greatly needed.