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:

Latin Diagnosis - A L. lurida ramulis angularibus (nec teretibus), foliis maioribus (16-22 x 6-9.5 nec 9-18 x 4.59 cm) margine integris (nec crenulatis) et corolla plerumque lutea vel alba (nec albo-rosea) differt.

Description - Trees, to 35 m tall. Twigs glabrous, smooth, angled, especially below leaf attachment, with vertically oriented lenticels, 4.5-7 mm thick. Leaf blades elliptic or oblong, 16-22 x 6-9.5 cm, glabrous, coriaceous, with 14-18 pairs of lateral veins; apex acute to acuminate; base obtuse; margins entire, slightly revolute, with reddish-brown scars; petiole 12-22 mm long, glabrous, canaliculate. Inflorescences racemose, unbranched, terminal or in axils of uppermost leaves, the rachis 3.5-16 cm long, with 4-15 flowers, glabrous, rimose, angled; pedicels short, ca. 1 mm long, the bract and bracteoles caducous. Flowers 4 cm diam.; calyx with six widely ovate to ovate, green lobes, 9-14 x 6.5-10 mm, ± keeled; with longitudinally oriented mucilagebearing ducts; petals six, the posterior ones larger than others, usually yellow, less frequently cream-colored; hood of androecium, 20 x 15 mm, pale yellow, the appendages antherless, coiled inwards, yellow; staminal ring with 170-260 stamens, the filaments yellow, dilated at apex, 2.83 mm long, the anthers 0.5 mm long; hypanthium glabrous, cuneate at base; ovary 4-locular, with 3-6 ovules in each locule, the ovules inserted on lower part of septum, the summit truncate, the style bent toward anterior end of flower, 5-8 mm long. Fruits globose, 6.5-9 x 7.5-15 cm, the pericarp 5 mm thick, the operculum slightly umbonate, dehiscent. Seeds 1-2 per fruit, hemispherical or circular in cross section, large, 5-6 x 4-6 cm, the veins not markedly raised above the surface of the testa.

Discussion:

This species is morphologically similar to L. lurida from which it differs in its angular, sometimes winged, vs. terete twigs; larger leaves (1622 x 6-9.5 cm vs. 9-18 x 4.5-9 cm) with entire instead of crenulate margins; and usually yellow or white, instead of white tinged with pink, petals and androecial hoods.

I am pleased to dedicate this species to G. T. Prance with whom I have collaborated on a study of Lecythidaceae since 1975. His collection of this and countless other Amazonian species of Lecythidaceae have been instrumental in our understanding of the family.
Distribution:

Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|

Common Names:

Castanha jarana, jarana, jarana-da-folha-grande