Monographs Details:
Authority:
Cuatrecasas, José. 1961. A taxonomic revision of the Humiriaceae. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 35: 25-214. pl. 1-24.
Cuatrecasas, José. 1961. A taxonomic revision of the Humiriaceae. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 35: 25-214. pl. 1-24.
Family:
Humiriaceae
Humiriaceae
Description:
Description - Large tree with 60 cm. thick trunk, young branchlets puberulous. Leaves firm, coriaceous. Petiole very short (1-2 mm. long). Blade obovate-elliptic, abruptly cuneate at base, rotundate and abruptly and obtusely acuminate at apex, margin slightly and remotely crenate, 5.5-8.5 cm. long, 2.5-5.5 cm. broad; above dark green, glabrous, midrib marked, filiform lateral nerves little conspicuous; beneath with prominent midrib, lateral nerves ascendent, little prominent or inconspicuous, spread with minute, fine, strigose, inconspicuous hairs. Inflorescences terminal, dichotomous-paniculate, corymbiform, longer than leaves (8-15 cm. long), branches robust, articulate, subangulate, pubescent. Bracts small, ovate, ciliate, pubescent, deciduous. Pedicels very short. Sepals 1-1.2 mm. long, suborbicular, pubescent. Petals 2.2 mm. long, elliptic-oblong, appressed, estivation quincuncial. Stamens 20, glabrous, filaments connate at base, unequal, longer 1.2 mm. alternating with shorter of 0.9 mm. length. Anthers 0.8 mm. long, connective very thick, ovoid-lanceolate, obtuse, 2 thecae elliptic, basal. Disk formed by 0.2 mm. long scales. Ovary subpyriform 1 mm. high, hirsute (at base glabrescent) . Style short. Stigma 5-lobate.
Description - Large tree with 60 cm. thick trunk, young branchlets puberulous. Leaves firm, coriaceous. Petiole very short (1-2 mm. long). Blade obovate-elliptic, abruptly cuneate at base, rotundate and abruptly and obtusely acuminate at apex, margin slightly and remotely crenate, 5.5-8.5 cm. long, 2.5-5.5 cm. broad; above dark green, glabrous, midrib marked, filiform lateral nerves little conspicuous; beneath with prominent midrib, lateral nerves ascendent, little prominent or inconspicuous, spread with minute, fine, strigose, inconspicuous hairs. Inflorescences terminal, dichotomous-paniculate, corymbiform, longer than leaves (8-15 cm. long), branches robust, articulate, subangulate, pubescent. Bracts small, ovate, ciliate, pubescent, deciduous. Pedicels very short. Sepals 1-1.2 mm. long, suborbicular, pubescent. Petals 2.2 mm. long, elliptic-oblong, appressed, estivation quincuncial. Stamens 20, glabrous, filaments connate at base, unequal, longer 1.2 mm. alternating with shorter of 0.9 mm. length. Anthers 0.8 mm. long, connective very thick, ovoid-lanceolate, obtuse, 2 thecae elliptic, basal. Disk formed by 0.2 mm. long scales. Ovary subpyriform 1 mm. high, hirsute (at base glabrescent) . Style short. Stigma 5-lobate.
Discussion:
Humiriastrum diguense is an important species of the rain forests of the Pacific slopes of Colombia and can be found from the bills at low altitude up to about 1,200 m. elevation. It stretches northward to Costa Rica where a subspecies is common in the forests near Esquinas. Its wood is very hard and can be used for construction.
Humiriastrum diguense is an important species of the rain forests of the Pacific slopes of Colombia and can be found from the bills at low altitude up to about 1,200 m. elevation. It stretches northward to Costa Rica where a subspecies is common in the forests near Esquinas. Its wood is very hard and can be used for construction.