Monographs Details:
Authority:
Prance, Ghillean T. 1989. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9S: 1-267. (Published by NYBG Press)
Prance, Ghillean T. 1989. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9S: 1-267. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Chrysobalanaceae
Chrysobalanaceae
Description:
Description - Tree to 15 m tall, the young branches tomentellous, becoming glabrous with age. Leaf lamina orbicular to elliptic, coriaceous, 2.5-6 cm × 1.5-4.5 cm, rounded to subcordate at base, rounded to apiculate at apex, glabrous above, tomentose and with stomatal cavities beneath; midrib slightly impressed on upper surface, prominent beneath; primary veins 9-14 pairs, plane above, prominent beneath; petioles 2-6 mm long, terete, tomentose. Stipules axillary, lanceolate, 1-3 mm long, caducous. Inflorescences of terminal and subterminal panicles to 8 cm long, the rachis and branches gray-brown-tomentellous. Receptacle subcampanulate-turbinate, tomentose on exterior, densely pilose within and around throat and sparsely puberulous at base; pedicels 0.5 mm long. Petals five, equalling calyx lobes. Stamens 6-7, unilateral, with short tooth-like staminodes opposite them. Ovary inserted at mouth of receptacle, pilose; style long-hirsute. Fruit ellipsoid, 4-5 cm × 3-3.5 cm; exocarp verrucose; mesocarp thin, fleshy; endocarp hard, thick, externally fibrous and granular, densely lanate within. Habitat. Collected in savanna margin and gallery forest.
Description - Tree to 15 m tall, the young branches tomentellous, becoming glabrous with age. Leaf lamina orbicular to elliptic, coriaceous, 2.5-6 cm × 1.5-4.5 cm, rounded to subcordate at base, rounded to apiculate at apex, glabrous above, tomentose and with stomatal cavities beneath; midrib slightly impressed on upper surface, prominent beneath; primary veins 9-14 pairs, plane above, prominent beneath; petioles 2-6 mm long, terete, tomentose. Stipules axillary, lanceolate, 1-3 mm long, caducous. Inflorescences of terminal and subterminal panicles to 8 cm long, the rachis and branches gray-brown-tomentellous. Receptacle subcampanulate-turbinate, tomentose on exterior, densely pilose within and around throat and sparsely puberulous at base; pedicels 0.5 mm long. Petals five, equalling calyx lobes. Stamens 6-7, unilateral, with short tooth-like staminodes opposite them. Ovary inserted at mouth of receptacle, pilose; style long-hirsute. Fruit ellipsoid, 4-5 cm × 3-3.5 cm; exocarp verrucose; mesocarp thin, fleshy; endocarp hard, thick, externally fibrous and granular, densely lanate within. Habitat. Collected in savanna margin and gallery forest.
Discussion:
This species, described from two fruiting collections from Guyana, has now been collected in flower in nearby Venezuela. The new collections have characteristic small orbicular leaves with a blunt apex which distinguish it from all other neotropical species of Parinari. The inflorescence is rather lax in one collection (Steyermark et al. 117824) and compact and clustered in the other (Steyermark et al. 117792). However, there is no reason to believe that this represents any diversification since neither collection has a complete, intact inflorescence. The flowers of this species are typical for any Parinari, the only notable feature being the extremely long pubescence of the style.
This species, described from two fruiting collections from Guyana, has now been collected in flower in nearby Venezuela. The new collections have characteristic small orbicular leaves with a blunt apex which distinguish it from all other neotropical species of Parinari. The inflorescence is rather lax in one collection (Steyermark et al. 117824) and compact and clustered in the other (Steyermark et al. 117792). However, there is no reason to believe that this represents any diversification since neither collection has a complete, intact inflorescence. The flowers of this species are typical for any Parinari, the only notable feature being the extremely long pubescence of the style.
Distribution:
Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America|
Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America|