Genipa

Authority

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

Family

Rubiaceae

Scientific Name

Genipa

Discussion

Type. Genipa americana L.

Of the 18 taxa described under this genus, at least five are congeneric with other genera (Genipa clusiifolia Griseb. = Casasia, Genipa edulis Rich. = Alibertia, Genipa striiflora = Sphinctanthus, Genipa brasiliana Rich. = another genus as yet not definitely identified, and Genipa merianae Rich. = Duroia). Of the remaining 13 described taxa, Standley described four species (G. codonocalyx, G. maxonii, G. venosa, and G. williamsii) from Central America, two of which (G. maxonii and G. williamsii), described from fruiting material, are doubtfully placed by Standley in Genipa, and a third (G. venosa) scarcely distinct from G. americana. Of the taxa described from South American material, all appear to be variations of one taxon, although botanists have attempted to separate the pubescent-leaved G. caruto H.B.K. from G. americana L.

During the course of study of the South American material, it became obvious that material originating from the Guianas, Guayana Highland of Venezuela and Colombia, and Amazonian Brazil possessed floral characters that distinguish it from the common G. americana and G. caruto. This is described below, but was first indicated by Spruce as a new species under two different manuscript names.