Monographs Details:
Authority:
Mori, S. A. & Lepsch da Cunha, Nadia M. 1995. The Lecythidaceae of a central Amazonian moist forest. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 75: 1-55.
Mori, S. A. & Lepsch da Cunha, Nadia M. 1995. The Lecythidaceae of a central Amazonian moist forest. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 75: 1-55.
Family:
Lecythidaceae
Lecythidaceae
Description:
Species Description - Canopy trees, to 30 m tall, unbuttressed. Bark very deeply fissured, the outer bark as thick or thicker than inner bark, the inner bark red. Leaves: petioles robust, usually >1.5 mm thick, 7-19 mm long; blades elliptic, 15-25 x 6-10.5 cm, with 10-16 pairs of secondary veins; base obtuse to rounded; apex acuminate; margins entire to serrulate. Inflorescences terminal or in axils of uppermost leaves, paniculate arrangements of spikes with 2 orders of branching, usually >10 cm wide. Flowers ca. 2.5 cm diam.; calyx of 6 broadly ovate or triangular lobes, not imbricate at bases, rounded or acute at apices; petals 6, 5-13 x 4-8 mm, green; hood of androecium flat, only slightly expanded dorsiventrally, white to yellow, the appendages with yellow anthers, the staminal ring with 50-70 stamens; ovary 2-locular, with 4-7 ovules attached at base of locule, the style not differentiated from summit of ovary. Fruits campanulate, 8-12 x 8-11 cm. Seeds elongate, 3.5-4 x 1.5-1.7 cm.
Species Description - Canopy trees, to 30 m tall, unbuttressed. Bark very deeply fissured, the outer bark as thick or thicker than inner bark, the inner bark red. Leaves: petioles robust, usually >1.5 mm thick, 7-19 mm long; blades elliptic, 15-25 x 6-10.5 cm, with 10-16 pairs of secondary veins; base obtuse to rounded; apex acuminate; margins entire to serrulate. Inflorescences terminal or in axils of uppermost leaves, paniculate arrangements of spikes with 2 orders of branching, usually >10 cm wide. Flowers ca. 2.5 cm diam.; calyx of 6 broadly ovate or triangular lobes, not imbricate at bases, rounded or acute at apices; petals 6, 5-13 x 4-8 mm, green; hood of androecium flat, only slightly expanded dorsiventrally, white to yellow, the appendages with yellow anthers, the staminal ring with 50-70 stamens; ovary 2-locular, with 4-7 ovules attached at base of locule, the style not differentiated from summit of ovary. Fruits campanulate, 8-12 x 8-11 cm. Seeds elongate, 3.5-4 x 1.5-1.7 cm.
Discussion:
Phenology. Flowers most profusely from Mar to Aug (mid wet to early dry season) and drops seed from Aug to Dec (dry to early wet season). Common name. Castanha-jacaré. Comments. This species is characterized by its (1) thick, fissured outer bark, (2) red inner bark, (3) green petals, and (4) campanulate fruits. Subspecies rubra Mori is found in French Guiana and Amapá. The two subspecies differ in their petal color. Subspecies rimosa has green petals; subsp. rubra has red petals. The pollinators of subsp. rubra are robust species of trigonid bees (Mori & Boeke, 1987). The flowers of subsp. rimosa at first were thought to be nocturnal because of their green coloration. However, they are now known to be open during the day, but no pollinators have yet been observed visiting them (Mori & Prance, 1990a).
Phenology. Flowers most profusely from Mar to Aug (mid wet to early dry season) and drops seed from Aug to Dec (dry to early wet season). Common name. Castanha-jacaré. Comments. This species is characterized by its (1) thick, fissured outer bark, (2) red inner bark, (3) green petals, and (4) campanulate fruits. Subspecies rubra Mori is found in French Guiana and Amapá. The two subspecies differ in their petal color. Subspecies rimosa has green petals; subsp. rubra has red petals. The pollinators of subsp. rubra are robust species of trigonid bees (Mori & Boeke, 1987). The flowers of subsp. rimosa at first were thought to be nocturnal because of their green coloration. However, they are now known to be open during the day, but no pollinators have yet been observed visiting them (Mori & Prance, 1990a).
Distribution:
Brazil South America|
Brazil South America|