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
Synonyms:
Lecythis wachenheimii Benoist
Lecythis wachenheimii Benoist
Description:
Description - Small to medium-sized trees, to 25 m tall. Bark reddish-brown, with irregular depressions, lenticellate. Leaf blades elliptic, 10-16 x 4-6 cm, glabrous, chartaceous, with 6-11 pairs of lateral veins; apex long acuminate; base acute, obtuse or rounded; margins entire; petiole 6-10 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescences terminal in leaf axils, or from twigs, usually unbranched, occasionally once-branched, the principal rachis 0.5-7 cm long, pubescent, the pedicel poorly defined or 35 mm long, puberulous. Flowers 2-2.5 cm diam.; calyx with six lobes, the lobes widely to very widely ovate, 2-2.5 x 2-2.5 mm, not imbricate, thick, abaxially convex to carinate, slightly gibbous at base; petals six, widely obovate, 14-17 x 10-12 mm, yellow or white; hood of androecium ca. 9 x 12 mm, with distinct double coil; staminal ring asymmetric, with ca. 200 stamens, the filaments 1-1.5 mm long, not clavate, the anthers 0.5 mm long; hypanthium either more or less cuneate and tapered into poorly defined pedicel or abruptly tapered into well-defined pedicel, puberulous; ovary 2-locular, with 3-10 basally attached ovules. Fruits small, depressed globose, 2-2.5 x 3 cm (including operculum), the base cup-shaped, the calycine ring inserted near middle, the pericarp 2-5 mm thick, its exterior light brown, rough; operculum domeshaped, ca. 1 cm high.
Description - Small to medium-sized trees, to 25 m tall. Bark reddish-brown, with irregular depressions, lenticellate. Leaf blades elliptic, 10-16 x 4-6 cm, glabrous, chartaceous, with 6-11 pairs of lateral veins; apex long acuminate; base acute, obtuse or rounded; margins entire; petiole 6-10 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescences terminal in leaf axils, or from twigs, usually unbranched, occasionally once-branched, the principal rachis 0.5-7 cm long, pubescent, the pedicel poorly defined or 35 mm long, puberulous. Flowers 2-2.5 cm diam.; calyx with six lobes, the lobes widely to very widely ovate, 2-2.5 x 2-2.5 mm, not imbricate, thick, abaxially convex to carinate, slightly gibbous at base; petals six, widely obovate, 14-17 x 10-12 mm, yellow or white; hood of androecium ca. 9 x 12 mm, with distinct double coil; staminal ring asymmetric, with ca. 200 stamens, the filaments 1-1.5 mm long, not clavate, the anthers 0.5 mm long; hypanthium either more or less cuneate and tapered into poorly defined pedicel or abruptly tapered into well-defined pedicel, puberulous; ovary 2-locular, with 3-10 basally attached ovules. Fruits small, depressed globose, 2-2.5 x 3 cm (including operculum), the base cup-shaped, the calycine ring inserted near middle, the pericarp 2-5 mm thick, its exterior light brown, rough; operculum domeshaped, ca. 1 cm high.
Discussion:
Eschweilera wachenheimii is characterized by its relatively small leaves, flowers, and fruits; long acuminate leaf apices; non-imbricate Calyx-lobes; and fruits with a rough, light brown exocarp. The Guyana population has an annular furrow between the calycine ring and the opercular opening. The seedlings (Forest Dept. British Guiana 4218) have very pronounced, narrowly attenuate apices to 2.5 cm long.This species is morphologically similar to E. micrantha from which it differs by having an unbranched, short inflorescence and by lacking the anterior furrow of the androecial hood common to E. micrantha.There is considerable variation in petal color and pedicel length in our circumscription of this species. Some individuals have white petals and others have yellow ones, and some individuals have a cuneate hypanthium which grades into a poorly defined pedicel whereas others (e.g., Mori et al. 8225, 8226, 8228\ Sandwith 280) have well-defined pedicels. There is a general tendency for white petals to be associated with well-developed pedicels and for yellow flowers to be found in individuals with subsessile flowers. However, at least one collection (Forest Dept. British Guiana JB.42), has yellow petals and well-defined pedicels. Consequently, two taxa may be included in our concept of E. wachenheimii, a problem which can only be resolved with additional collections.
Eschweilera wachenheimii is characterized by its relatively small leaves, flowers, and fruits; long acuminate leaf apices; non-imbricate Calyx-lobes; and fruits with a rough, light brown exocarp. The Guyana population has an annular furrow between the calycine ring and the opercular opening. The seedlings (Forest Dept. British Guiana 4218) have very pronounced, narrowly attenuate apices to 2.5 cm long.This species is morphologically similar to E. micrantha from which it differs by having an unbranched, short inflorescence and by lacking the anterior furrow of the androecial hood common to E. micrantha.There is considerable variation in petal color and pedicel length in our circumscription of this species. Some individuals have white petals and others have yellow ones, and some individuals have a cuneate hypanthium which grades into a poorly defined pedicel whereas others (e.g., Mori et al. 8225, 8226, 8228\ Sandwith 280) have well-defined pedicels. There is a general tendency for white petals to be associated with well-developed pedicels and for yellow flowers to be found in individuals with subsessile flowers. However, at least one collection (Forest Dept. British Guiana JB.42), has yellow petals and well-defined pedicels. Consequently, two taxa may be included in our concept of E. wachenheimii, a problem which can only be resolved with additional collections.
Distribution:
Guyana South America| French Guiana South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|
Guyana South America| French Guiana South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|
Common Names:
fine-leaved black ka-karalli, fine-leaved kakaralli
fine-leaved black ka-karalli, fine-leaved kakaralli