From Huang et al. (in review)

Lecythis ollaria clade (100% BS; Figs. 2A, 5)—The three species of this clade have a narrow distribution limited to northwestern South America (Huang, 2010). Lecythis ollaria is the type of the genus and, thus, if this clade is recognized as a distinct genus it would be called Lecythis. The three species were included in Lecythis section Lecythis by Mori (1990b) in which he placed another 11 species.

A morphological synapomorphy for the Lecythis ollaria clade is the presence of a single coiled ligule with vestigial stamens found only on the exterior part of the coil (Figs. 2A, 4A; character 26). In addition, the style is short and erect (Fig. 4G; not coded), the seeds have a well-developed basal aril (Figs. 4J, 8A–B; character 48), and the major seed veins are plane or slightly impressed and the areas between the veins appear to be free of connecting veins and are smooth (Figs. 4J, 8; see Huang et al., 2011: 407).