Monographs Details:
Authority:

Prance, Ghillean T. & Mori, S. A. 1979. Lecythidaceae - Part I. The actinomorphic-flowered New World Lecythidaceae (Asteranthos, Gustavia, Grias, Allantoma & Cariniana). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21: 1-270. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:

Lecythidaceae
Description:

Description - Trees to 5 m tall; leaf-bearing branches 3-7 mm in diameter, the leaves tightly grouped at their ends. Leaf blades narrowly ovate to elliptic to oblanceolate, 15-29 x 6-12.5 cm, glabrous, chartaceous, with 13-17 pairs of lateral veins; apices acuminate to long acuminate; bases acute; margins entire to serrulate. Petioles 50-95 mm, slender, 2-4 mm thick, subterete in cross section. Inflorescences suprafoliar, racemose, pubescent, with 1-5 flowers, the rachis 10-30 mm; pedicels 17-35 mm, subtended by a single lanceolate keeled bract 3 x 1.5-2 mm and bearing anywhere from the middle to directly below the hypanthium 2 ovate slightly keeled bracteoles 2-3 x 2-4 mm. Flowers 8-11.5 cm in diameter; calyx with 6 rounded, shallow lobes 2 mm x 5-6 mm, pubescent; petals (6-)8, oblanceolate, 35-45 x 15-25 mm, densely gray-pubescent in bud, puberulous at maturity, white; connate androecium base 10-12 mm high; outermost filaments 12 mm long; anthers 2-3 mm long, yellow; ovary without costae, pubescent, 4-5-locular, the summit densely white-woolly; style very short, 0.5 mm; stigma with 4-5 lobes. Fruits cylindrical, without costae, 40-45 x 30-35 mm, without persistent calyx. Seeds rounded in cross section, carunculate, 15-20 x 10-15 mm, 10 per fruit, with a narrow contorted funicle 10-15 x 2 mm.

Discussion:

This species resembles G. nana in vegetative features. Both are small trees with long petiolate leaves and long petioles in relation to blade length. However, they are easily distinguished by inflorescence and seed characters. Gustavia santanderiensis has terminal inflorescences and funiculate seeds whereas G. nana possesses cauline inflorescences and seeds without funicles.
Distribution:

Colombia South America| Córdoba Colombia South America| Cundinamarca Colombia South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|

Common Names:

Membrillo, Geniparana