Licania couepifolia Prance
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Authority
Prance, Ghillean T. 1972. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9: 1-410. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Chrysobalanaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. A.C. Smith 2839, Guyana, Shodikar Creek, Essequibo River, fl (holotype, NY; isotypes, A, F, K, MAD, S, U, US).
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor parva, ramulis juvenilibus tomentellis mox glabris lenticellatis. Folia alternata petiolata; petiolo circa 4.0 mm longo, dense villoso-pubescens, eglanduloso, tereti; laminae oblongae vel oblongo-lanceolatae, coriaceae, 10.0-17.0 cm longae, 2.8-6.5 cm latae, basi rotundatae, apice in acuminem 8.0-15.0 mm longum contractae, supra glabrae nitidae, subtus lanato-pubescens, venulis profunde reticulatis, parallelis, hirsutis; costa media impressa, dense pubescente; costis secundariis subtus prominentibus, hirsutis, supra impressis. Stipulae lanceolatae, tomentosae, 5.0-6.0 mm longae, coriaceae, persistentes, cum basi petioli adnatae. Flores 6.5-7.0 mm longi, solitarii, breviter pedunculati, in paniculis racemosis axillaribus vel in ramis lignosis dispositi, rachi ramisque rufo-tomentellis. Bracteae bracteolaeque 1.0-2.5 mm longae lanceolatae, extus tomentellae. Receptaculum campanulato-urceolatum, pro genere magnum, extus brunneo-tomentosum. Calycis-lobi acuti, extus tomentosi, intus puberuli. Petala nulla. Stamina 8, in orbem completum insertum; filamenta calycis-lobos aequantia, ad medium connata, pubescentes. Ovarium ad basim receptaculi insertum, villosum. Stylus e basi ovarii ortus, calycis-lobos aequans, arachnoideo-pubescens. Fructus mihi ignoti.
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Discussion
This species is distinct from all other species of Licania in the flower and inflorescence. However, both the basal insertion of the ovary and the absence of the petals indicate that it belongs to Licania. The leaves strongly suggest those species of Couepia in the C. canomensis complex, but this type of leaf with parallel venation also occurs in several other species of Licania.