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)
Family:

Lecythidaceae
Description:

Latin Diagnosis - Ab E. tessmannii foliis 15-32 x 6.5-10.5 (nec 8-11 x 3.5-4.5) cm et fructibus magis turbinatis; et ab E. paniculata floribus 3 (nec 1.5) cm diam., lobis calycis 6-9 x 4.5-7 (nec 5 x 2.5) mm, petalis flavis (nec albis), et ovulis 10-12 (nec 6) per loculum differt.

Description - Trees, to 25 m tall. Leaf blades elliptic to narrowly obovate, 15-32 x 6.5-10.5 cm, glabrous, without distinct punctae, chartaceous, with 8-13 pairs of lateral veins; apex short acuminate to acuminate; base usually obtuse, infrequently rounded; petiole 12-22 mm long. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, unbranched or weakly once-branched paniculate arrangement of racemes, the principal rachis 10-22 cm long, the lateral rachises 1.5-5.5 cm long, all rachises densely ferrugineous pubescent, the pedicel 7-9 mm long, densely ferrugineous pubescent. Flowers ca. 3 cm diam.; calyx with six lobes, the lobes widely ovate to ovate, 6-9 x 4.5-7 mm, imbricate for ¼ to ½ length, flat to convex abaxially, flat to concave adaxially; petals 6, widely obovate, 12-18 x 8-13 mm, yellow; hood of androecium ca. 12 x 11 mm, with distinct double coil, yellow; staminal ring asymmetrical with 245-290 stamens, the filaments ca. 1 mm long, the anthers 0.4-0.5 mm long; hypanthium ferrugineous pubescent, constricted into well-defined pedicel; ovary 2-locular, with 10-12 ovules attached to base of locule, the style well-differentiated, geniculate, ca. 2 mm long. Fruits poorly known, turbinate, the calycine ring inserted above middle, 6-7 cm diam.

Discussion:

Eschweilera rufifolia is morphologically similar to the sympatric E. tessmannii and the allopatric E. paniculata. These species are characterized by leaves that often dry reddish-brown abaxially; densely ferrugineous inflorescence rachises and pedicels; and well-defined geniculate styles.

Eschweilera rufifolia differs from E. tessmannii by its larger leaves (15-32 x 6.5-10.5 cm versus 8-11 x 3.5-4.5 cm). The fruits of these two species may have a different shape and size as those of E. rufifolia appear to be larger and more turbinate. However, these fruit differences need to be confirmed with more complete collections, especially of E. rufifolia.

Eschweilera rufifolia differs from E. paniculata in its larger flowers (ca. 3 versus 1.5 cm); larger Calyx-lobes (6-9 x 4.5-7 versus 5 x 2.5 mm); yellow instead of white petals; and more ovules per locule (10-12 versus 6). The fruits of E. paniculata are unknown.
Distribution:

Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America|

Common Names:

machimango bianco