Trichilia florbranca T.D.Penn.

  • Authority

    Pennington, Terence D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28: 1-359, 418-449, 459-470. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Meliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Trichilia florbranca T.D.Penn.

  • Type

    Type. Pennington, Mori & Kallunki 10190, Brazil, Bahia, Município de Itabuna, nr. Juçarí, fl (holotype, CEPEC; isotypes, NY, FHO).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Rami novelli minute strigulosi (trichomatibus basifixis), mox glabri, nitide brun-nei, lenticellosi. Perulae nullae. Folia imparipinnata vel pinnata 14-20 cm longa, uno foliolo paris ultimi ad instar folioli terminalis ordinato; petiolus cum rhachide teres, minute strigulosus vel glaber; petiolulus ca. 6 mm longus. Foliola subop-posita usque alterna, 5-7, late oblonga vel elliptica, apice breviter et abrupte cuspidata usque anguste attenuata, basi anguste attenuata, acuta vel rotundata, coriacea, 18-20[19.6] cm longa, 5.9-7[6.5] cm lata, glabra, obscure glanduloso-punctata et -striata; venatio ± brochidodroma, costa plana; nervi secundarii ca. 14 utroque costae latere, adscendentes, recti vel paullum arcuati, ± paralleli, subtus valde elevati; nervi intersecundarii breves usque modici; reticulum tertiarium subtus prominulum. Flores unisexuales (planta dioica); inflorescentia axillaris, 3-4.5 cm longa, in fasciculum thyrsoideum pauciflorum usque multiflorum disposita, minute strigulosa; pedicellus crassus, 0.5-0.75 mm longus. Calyx late cyathiformis, ca. 2 mm longus, 2.5-3 mm latus, fere ad dimidium in 4-5 lobos sat irregulares ovatos, obtusos vel rotundatos fissus, subglaber. Petala 4-5, ad 1/2 longitudinem coalita, valvata, patula, 3.25-4 mm longa, 1.25-1.5 mm lata, lanceolata, apice acuta, vulgo cucullata, extus sparse et minute strigulosa. Tubus stamineus cyathiformis vel breviter cylindricus, extus sparse pubescens sub ap-icem, intus densiuscule et grosse pubescens, filamentis omnino coalitis, 2.25-3 mm longus, ca. 2 mm latis, filamentis alternis paullo brevioribus, margine appen-dulatis, appendiculis 7-8, subulatis, alternantibus cum antheris et earundem longitudinem 1/3-3/4 attingentibus; antherae 7-8, ca. 1 mm longae, glabrae; anthe-rodia non dehiscentia, polline carentia. Nectarium nullum. Ovarium ovoideum, 3-loculare, dense adpresso-pubescens; loculi 2 ovulis collateralibus; stylus brevissimus, crassus, glaber, capitulo capitato-apiculato imas antheras aequante coronatus; pistillodium ± conicum, parvis ovulis abortivis instructum. Fructus (nondum maturus) ovoideus, laevis, adpresso-puberulus. Semen solitarium, arillodio apicali valde ampliato.

    Species Description - A treelet to 5 m. Bark grey, scaling in small thin, rectangular pieces. The young leaves open pink and then the lamina turns green but the midrib and secondary veins remain pinkish-red and contrast strongly with the colour of the surrounding lamina. The species flowers in March, and the flowers are sweet-scented, with a greenish-cream corolla. A treelet to 5 m. Bark grey, scaling in small thin, rectangular pieces. The young leaves open pink and then the lamina turns green but the midrib and secondary veins remain pinkish-red and contrast strongly with the colour of the surrounding lamina. The species flowers in March, and the flowers are sweet-scented, with a greenish-cream corolla.

  • Discussion

    Relationships Among the gamopetalous species without dimorphic leaflets, T. florbranca is approached by T. solitudinis and T. magnifoliola. Both the latter differ in the prominent villose or densely pubescent indumentum on their young parts, leaf rhachis and petiole and inflorescence; in their larger flowers; and in their eucamptodromous venation with more numerous secondary veins.

    Trichilia florbranca is also closely related to the small-flowered species of section Moschoxylum such as T. cipo. It differs from the latter in its fewer, broader leaflets, much smaller fasciculate inflorescence and larger corolla and longer anthers.

    Until mature fruit of this species is collected, its exact relationships will not be clear. The immature fruit containing a seed with an apical arillode suggests it may be closest to such species as T. cipo and T. surinamensis.

  • Distribution

    Known only from the type locality in Bahia, Brazil where it occurs in the coastal rain forest at low elevations.

    Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America|