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.
Family:

Lecythidaceae
Description:

Species Description - Canopy trees, to 35 m tall, often with low, steep buttresses. Bark smooth, somewhat scalloped, the outer bark ca. 2 mm thick, the inner bark 10 mm thick, yellow, with vertically oriented whitish streaks. Leaves: petioles 10-16 mm long; blades elliptic to widely elliptic or oblong to widely oblong, 10-24 x 5-9 cm, chartaceous, glabrous, with 9-12 pairs of lateral veins; base acute, obtuse, or rounded; apex acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, less frequently axillary, simple racemes or, less frequently, of once-branched paniculate arrangements of racemes; pedicels 7-15 mm long, glabrous. Flowers 4-5 cm diam., turning bluish green when bruised; calyx-lobes imbricate, 6-7 x 5-6 mm; petals 6, white; androecial hood yellow; ovary 2-locular, the style not well differentiated from summit. Fruits cup-shaped, turning bluish green when bruised, 3.5-4 (excluding operculum) x 4.5-5 cm, the calycine ring inserted above middle, the exocarp lenticellate, the pericarp ca. 5 mm thick; operculum flat to slightly convex, without umbo. Seeds with lateral aril.

Discussion:

Phenology. Flowers in Aug. Common name. Matamatá azulada. This common name is selected as most appropriate because it describes the bluish green spots that develop on the flowers and fruits when they are bruised or cut. Comments. This species is characterized by its (1) bright yellow slash, (2) flowers and fruits that turn bluish green when bruised, (3) imbricate, relatively broad calyx-lobes, and (4) cup-shaped fruits.
Distribution:

Brazil South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America|