Taxon Details: Couratari atrovinosa Prance
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Protologue of Couratari atrovinosa.
Protologue of Couratari atrovinosa.Family:
Lecythidaceae (Magnoliophyta)
Lecythidaceae (Magnoliophyta)
Scientific Name:
Couratari atrovinosa Prance
Couratari atrovinosa Prance
Primary Citation:
Brittonia 28: 300. 1976
Brittonia 28: 300. 1976
Accepted Name:
This name is currently accepted.
This name is currently accepted.
Description:
Author: Scott A. Mori, Ghillean T. Prance & Nathan P. Smith
Type: Brazil. Amazonas: Reserva Experimental INPA, Manaus, Caracarai highway, km 60, 21 May 1975 (fl), Prance, Anderson & Ramos 23444 (holotype, INPA; isotypes, F, K, MO, NY, S, U, US).
Description: Trees, to 35 m tall, without buttresses, the young branches glabrous, rugulose. Leaves: petioles 14-32 mm long, glabrous, slightly canaliculate, rugulose; blades oblong to oblong-elliptic, 8-18 x 4.5-8.5 cm, chartaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, the base subcuneate, the margins undulate and slightly crenulate, the apex rounded to acute or rarely bluntly acuminate; midrib prominulous above, very prominent beneath, with a few hispid hairs beneath; secondary veins in 12-16 pairs, prominulous above, prominent beneath. Inflorescences of terminal or axillary racemes, the rachis shortly tomentose, 1-9 cm long; bracts triangular, membranous, caducous, 0.5-2 mm long; pedicels 25-33 mm long, slender, glabrous to sparsely puberulous. Flowers present in almost leafless condition; hypanthium campanulate, ca. 7 mm long; calyx-lobes 6, ovate triangular, acute, sparsely puberulous on both surfaces, the margins ciliate; petals oblong, unequal, 2.5-3.5 cm long, sparsely and shortly puberulous and punctate on exterior, glabrous, dark red-wine colored; androecium zygomorphic, ca. 4 cm long, the staminal ring 15-18 mm diam., the stamens ca. 35-40, tightly clustered in two rows, not extending up ligule, purple with yellow at base of exterior, the hood exterior rugulose-pustulate; gynoecium with 3-locular ovary, the style 1 mm long, thick. Fruits and seeds unknown.
Common names: Brazil: ripeiro, tauarí.
Distribution: Known from forests in the vicinity of Manaus (in Amazonas Brazil), western Rôndonia (Brazil), and northern Peru.
Ecology: Found on non-flooded soil.
Phenology: Flowers have been collected from Mar-Oct.
Pollination: The following is from the original publication of this species (Prance & Anderson, 1976): "Observations on pollinators were made from the type tree on May 30-31 and June 3, 1975. The flowers of Couratari atrovinosa open in the early evening shortly after dark. At this time they exude no noticeable scent. Observations were made during the entire night, and no animal visitors were observed. Night observations were made because the terminal inflorescences flowering in the leafless condition in the crown of the forest gave the appearance of the bat pollination syndrome. During the nights of observation many bats were flying, but none visited the flowers of C. atrovinosa. The flowers begin to exude a faint scent at about midnight. At exactly 5:45 a.m., just as twilight began, a large bee (Eulaema meriana Oliv., Tribe Euglossini) began visiting the flowers. Soon two other bee species appeared: a medium-sized species (Bombus sp., Tribe Bombini) and a small species (Tetragona sp., Tribe Meliponini). The most intensive bee activity then continued until around 6 a.m.; thereafter the bees made occasional visits until 6:30 a.m., but only rarely did they actually enter the flowers after 6 a.m. During the rest of the day no bees were observed visiting the flowers. During the period of most intensive activity (5:45 to 6:00 a.m.), there were a total of five arrivals of the large Euglossine bees, each visiting an average of 8 flowers and withdrawing large amounts of pollen. These large bees were especially effective in opening the large androphore. The flowers are borne erect, with androphore upward. The bees land on the outer surface of the androphore then push it open as they enter the center of the flower in the sternotribic (inverted) position. The medium-sized Bombus species was represented by a total of four arrivals during the same period, and these bees visited approximately the same number of flowers as the Eulaema. However, it was observed that these bees took nearly twice as long to effect each visit as did the large Euglossine bees, probably due to greater difficulties in opening the androphore, which the larger Euglossine bees could open with ease. It was also observed that the Bombus visitors obtained considerably less pollen. A small amount of nectar is produced in the apex of the androphore. The small bee was represented by a total of four arrivals during the period of most intensive activity, but these were never actually observed prying open and entering the androphore. Therefore, the Meliponine bee is not believed to be an effective pollinator of this species of Couratari. Undoubtedly both the Bombus and the Eulaema bees are responsible for pollination of this species, the latter being the more effective pollinator of the two. After the flowers have been visited, the androphore and petals fall off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. leaving the calyx and receptacle on the tree. Only one or two flowers open each day on each inflorescence, thus prolonging the flowering period over about three weeks."
Dispersal: No reports of dispersal have been recorded.
Predation: No observations recorded.
Field characters: This species can be recognized by the following: leaf blades 8-18 cm long; pedicels 2.5-3.3 cm long; and flowers with dark, wine colored petals, a staminal ring with 35-40 stamens, and a non-echinate hood.
Taxonomic notes: This species is morphologically similar to Couratari multiflora. See discussion about Couratari section Microcarpon in Mori & Prance (1990) for additional information.
Conservation: IUCN Red List: Endangered B1+2d ver 2.3 (Pires O'Brien, J. 1998. Couratari atrovinosa. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 11 March 2014.).
Uses: None known.
Etymology: The name "atrovinosa" refers to the dark, wine colored petals that this species has.
Source: This species page is based on Prance in Mori & Prance (1990) and Prance & Anderson (1976).
Acknowledgements: We are grateful to William Moye for allowing us to use his line drawing to illustrate the characters of this species.
Author: Scott A. Mori, Ghillean T. Prance & Nathan P. Smith
Type: Brazil. Amazonas: Reserva Experimental INPA, Manaus, Caracarai highway, km 60, 21 May 1975 (fl), Prance, Anderson & Ramos 23444 (holotype, INPA; isotypes, F, K, MO, NY, S, U, US).
Description: Trees, to 35 m tall, without buttresses, the young branches glabrous, rugulose. Leaves: petioles 14-32 mm long, glabrous, slightly canaliculate, rugulose; blades oblong to oblong-elliptic, 8-18 x 4.5-8.5 cm, chartaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, the base subcuneate, the margins undulate and slightly crenulate, the apex rounded to acute or rarely bluntly acuminate; midrib prominulous above, very prominent beneath, with a few hispid hairs beneath; secondary veins in 12-16 pairs, prominulous above, prominent beneath. Inflorescences of terminal or axillary racemes, the rachis shortly tomentose, 1-9 cm long; bracts triangular, membranous, caducous, 0.5-2 mm long; pedicels 25-33 mm long, slender, glabrous to sparsely puberulous. Flowers present in almost leafless condition; hypanthium campanulate, ca. 7 mm long; calyx-lobes 6, ovate triangular, acute, sparsely puberulous on both surfaces, the margins ciliate; petals oblong, unequal, 2.5-3.5 cm long, sparsely and shortly puberulous and punctate on exterior, glabrous, dark red-wine colored; androecium zygomorphic, ca. 4 cm long, the staminal ring 15-18 mm diam., the stamens ca. 35-40, tightly clustered in two rows, not extending up ligule, purple with yellow at base of exterior, the hood exterior rugulose-pustulate; gynoecium with 3-locular ovary, the style 1 mm long, thick. Fruits and seeds unknown.
Common names: Brazil: ripeiro, tauarí.
Distribution: Known from forests in the vicinity of Manaus (in Amazonas Brazil), western Rôndonia (Brazil), and northern Peru.
Ecology: Found on non-flooded soil.
Phenology: Flowers have been collected from Mar-Oct.
Pollination: The following is from the original publication of this species (Prance & Anderson, 1976): "Observations on pollinators were made from the type tree on May 30-31 and June 3, 1975. The flowers of Couratari atrovinosa open in the early evening shortly after dark. At this time they exude no noticeable scent. Observations were made during the entire night, and no animal visitors were observed. Night observations were made because the terminal inflorescences flowering in the leafless condition in the crown of the forest gave the appearance of the bat pollination syndrome. During the nights of observation many bats were flying, but none visited the flowers of C. atrovinosa. The flowers begin to exude a faint scent at about midnight. At exactly 5:45 a.m., just as twilight began, a large bee (Eulaema meriana Oliv., Tribe Euglossini) began visiting the flowers. Soon two other bee species appeared: a medium-sized species (Bombus sp., Tribe Bombini) and a small species (Tetragona sp., Tribe Meliponini). The most intensive bee activity then continued until around 6 a.m.; thereafter the bees made occasional visits until 6:30 a.m., but only rarely did they actually enter the flowers after 6 a.m. During the rest of the day no bees were observed visiting the flowers. During the period of most intensive activity (5:45 to 6:00 a.m.), there were a total of five arrivals of the large Euglossine bees, each visiting an average of 8 flowers and withdrawing large amounts of pollen. These large bees were especially effective in opening the large androphore. The flowers are borne erect, with androphore upward. The bees land on the outer surface of the androphore then push it open as they enter the center of the flower in the sternotribic (inverted) position. The medium-sized Bombus species was represented by a total of four arrivals during the same period, and these bees visited approximately the same number of flowers as the Eulaema. However, it was observed that these bees took nearly twice as long to effect each visit as did the large Euglossine bees, probably due to greater difficulties in opening the androphore, which the larger Euglossine bees could open with ease. It was also observed that the Bombus visitors obtained considerably less pollen. A small amount of nectar is produced in the apex of the androphore. The small bee was represented by a total of four arrivals during the period of most intensive activity, but these were never actually observed prying open and entering the androphore. Therefore, the Meliponine bee is not believed to be an effective pollinator of this species of Couratari. Undoubtedly both the Bombus and the Eulaema bees are responsible for pollination of this species, the latter being the more effective pollinator of the two. After the flowers have been visited, the androphore and petals fall off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. leaving the calyx and receptacle on the tree. Only one or two flowers open each day on each inflorescence, thus prolonging the flowering period over about three weeks."
Dispersal: No reports of dispersal have been recorded.
Predation: No observations recorded.
Field characters: This species can be recognized by the following: leaf blades 8-18 cm long; pedicels 2.5-3.3 cm long; and flowers with dark, wine colored petals, a staminal ring with 35-40 stamens, and a non-echinate hood.
Taxonomic notes: This species is morphologically similar to Couratari multiflora. See discussion about Couratari section Microcarpon in Mori & Prance (1990) for additional information.
Conservation: IUCN Red List: Endangered B1+2d ver 2.3 (Pires O'Brien, J. 1998. Couratari atrovinosa. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 11 March 2014.).
Uses: None known.
Etymology: The name "atrovinosa" refers to the dark, wine colored petals that this species has.
Source: This species page is based on Prance in Mori & Prance (1990) and Prance & Anderson (1976).
Acknowledgements: We are grateful to William Moye for allowing us to use his line drawing to illustrate the characters of this species.
Flora and Monograph Treatment(s):
Couratari atrovinosa Prance: [Article] Mori, S. A. & Prance, Ghillean T. 1990. Lecythidaceae - Part II: The zygomorphic-flowered New World genera (Couroupita, Corythophora, Bertholletia, Couratari, Eschweilera, & Lecythis). With a study of secondary xylem of Neotropical Lecythidaceae by Carl de Zeeuw. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21: 1-376.
Couratari atrovinosa Prance: [Article] Mori, S. A. & Prance, Ghillean T. 1990. Lecythidaceae - Part II: The zygomorphic-flowered New World genera (Couroupita, Corythophora, Bertholletia, Couratari, Eschweilera, & Lecythis). With a study of secondary xylem of Neotropical Lecythidaceae by Carl de Zeeuw. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21: 1-376.
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