Monographs Details:
Authority:
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. (Published by NYBG Press)
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. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Lecythidaceae
Lecythidaceae
Description:
Description - Tree, the young branches tomentellous, becoming glabrous with age. Leaf blades oblong, broadest well above mid-point, 22-24 x 9-11 cm, chartaceous, appressed tomentellous above, mostly with simple hairs and a few stellate ones, hirsutulous beneath and with many stellate hairs and few simple ones; midrib prominulous above, prominent beneath; secondary veins 28-35 pairs, prominulous above, prominent beneath, the terFIG. 48. Distributions of Couratari asterophora, C. asterotricha, C. atrovinosa, C. calycina, C. longipedicellata, C. prancei, and C. pyramidatatiary venation prominently reticulate on both surfaces, hirsutulous beneath; apex obtuse; base rounded; margins undulate; petiole 9-11 mm long, appressed puberulous, winged, slightly canaliculate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, simple racemes or once-branched paniculate arrangements of racemes, the rachis and rachillae densely tomentellous; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 10-14 cm long, subpersistent, densely tomentose on exterior; pedicels 2-3 mm long, densely tomentose. Flowers with hypanthium campanulate, 5-6 mm long; calyx lobes ca. 5 mm long, densely tomentose on exterior, tomentellous within; petals obovate, tomentellous on exterior, the margins ciliate; androecium glabrous, ca. 2.5 cm long, the staminal ring 14-17 mm diam., the exterior of hood with numerous dense echinate appendages giving the whole a cerebriform appearance, the stamens ca. 30, inserted around outer side of basal ring and scattered up lower portion of ligule; ovary 3-locular. Fruits not seen.
Description - Tree, the young branches tomentellous, becoming glabrous with age. Leaf blades oblong, broadest well above mid-point, 22-24 x 9-11 cm, chartaceous, appressed tomentellous above, mostly with simple hairs and a few stellate ones, hirsutulous beneath and with many stellate hairs and few simple ones; midrib prominulous above, prominent beneath; secondary veins 28-35 pairs, prominulous above, prominent beneath, the terFIG. 48. Distributions of Couratari asterophora, C. asterotricha, C. atrovinosa, C. calycina, C. longipedicellata, C. prancei, and C. pyramidatatiary venation prominently reticulate on both surfaces, hirsutulous beneath; apex obtuse; base rounded; margins undulate; petiole 9-11 mm long, appressed puberulous, winged, slightly canaliculate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, simple racemes or once-branched paniculate arrangements of racemes, the rachis and rachillae densely tomentellous; bracts and bracteoles ovate, 10-14 cm long, subpersistent, densely tomentose on exterior; pedicels 2-3 mm long, densely tomentose. Flowers with hypanthium campanulate, 5-6 mm long; calyx lobes ca. 5 mm long, densely tomentose on exterior, tomentellous within; petals obovate, tomentellous on exterior, the margins ciliate; androecium glabrous, ca. 2.5 cm long, the staminal ring 14-17 mm diam., the exterior of hood with numerous dense echinate appendages giving the whole a cerebriform appearance, the stamens ca. 30, inserted around outer side of basal ring and scattered up lower portion of ligule; ovary 3-locular. Fruits not seen.
Discussion:
This species is most closely related to Couratari pyramidata and most of the differences between these two species are given in the discussion of the species of sect. Echinata. The pubescence of the upper surface of the leaves (an unusual feature in Lecythidaceae), the fewer stamens, and the different arrangement of the stamens on the ligule of the androecium characterize this species. The collector’s notes record that the flowers are yellowish-rose and weakly scented.
This species is most closely related to Couratari pyramidata and most of the differences between these two species are given in the discussion of the species of sect. Echinata. The pubescence of the upper surface of the leaves (an unusual feature in Lecythidaceae), the fewer stamens, and the different arrangement of the stamens on the ligule of the androecium characterize this species. The collector’s notes record that the flowers are yellowish-rose and weakly scented.
Distribution:
Bahia Brazil South America| Brazil South America|
Bahia Brazil South America| Brazil South America|
Common Names:
embirema
embirema