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
Synonyms:

Chytroma schomburgkiana (O.Berg) Miers, Eschweilera schomburgkii (O.Berg) Nied.
Description:

Description - Small trees, to 12 m tall. Leaf blades oblong or elliptic to orbiculate, 5-8.5 x 3-5.3 cm, glabrous except for fine pubescence on abaxial midrib, coriaceous, with 6-10 pairs of lateral veins; apex acute to obtuse, the acumen rounded; base rounded to truncate; margins entire; petiole 410 mm long, minutely puberulous. Inflorescences terminal or in axils of uppermost leaves, simple racemes, the rachises 3-10 cm long, pubescent; pedicels jointed, 1-1.5 mm long below, 2 mm long above joint, the bract and bracteoles caducous. Flowers 3-4 cm diam.; calyx with six, widely ovate lobes, 5-5.5 x 3.5-4.5 mm, with longitudinally oriented mucilage containing ducts (best seen in cross ssection); petals six, widely obovate, 22x15 mm, yellow; hood of androecium 11-14 x 9-16 mm, with antherless, curved inwards appendages; ligule of androecium 6 x 5.5 mm; staminal ring with 150-160 stamens, the filaments dimorphic, the outermost expanded unilaterally at apex, 1.8 mm long, the inner ones not expanded; hypanthium puberulous; ovary 4(-5)-locular, with 4-8 ovules in each locule, the summit truncate; style bent away from ligule, 2-4 mm long. Fruits turbinate, 6 x 5.5 cm, the calycine ring inserted near apex, the exocarp smooth, dotted with white lenticels; operculum flat, slightly umbonate. Seeds 3 x 1.5-2 cm, the major veins connected by a raised reticulum of secondary veins.

Discussion:

Lecythis schomburgkii is one of two species of Lecythidaceae found in the savannas of Roraima. The other, L. brancoensis, bears no affinity to this species as it differs markedly in the size and shape of the leaves, flowers, and fruits. The closest relative of L. schomburgkii is most certainly L. chartacea. The savanna habitat and more rounded, bluntly tipped leaves of the former distinguish it from the latter.
Distribution:

Guyana South America| Brazil South America| Roraima Brazil South America|

Common Names:

macacarecuia