Carpotroche Endl.

  • Authority

    Sleumer, Hermann O. 1980. Flacourtiaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 22: 1-499. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Achariaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Carpotroche Endl.

  • Type

    Type species. C. brasiliensis (Raddi) A. Gray (= Mayna sensu Raddi, non Aublet, cit Endlicher).

  • Synonyms

    Carpotriche (Endl. ex) Reichenbach

  • Description

    Description - Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, often crowded towards the end of the branchlets, persistent, or rarely periodically deciduous, subentire to dentate or serrate, penninerved; petiole short to elongate, sometimes markedly thickened distally; stipules lanceolate to subulate, early caducous. Flowers odoriferous, unisexual or polygamo-monoecious or -dioecious, pedicellate; bracts small. Inflorescences axillar, the [male] of short, generally few-flowered cymes, the [female] usually 1-flowered, sometimes on leafless branches or on old wood. Sepals (2-)3, imbricate, subpersistent. Petals (4-)6-9(-12), imbricate, more or less biseriate, generally larger than the sepals. [male]: stamens numerous, inserted on a small scarcely thickened torus; filaments rather short, hairy; anthers linear, basifixed, hairy. Rudiment of ovary 0. 9 [female]: often larger than the [male], lacking any rudiment of stamens. Ovary smooth or generally provided with short 4-8 (rarely more) vertical ridges or wings; placentas 4-8, multi-ovulate; styles 4-8 (-10), short, persistent, connate at base; stigmas capitellate or very shortly lacerate-palmatifid. Fruit large and winged in general, capsular, with a thick, often fibrous pericarp, (tardily) dehiscent by 3-5(-7) valves, provided with (4-) 6-16 distinct (or very rarely reduced and merely rim-like) vertical ridges or wings, the latter entire, crenate or lacerate. Seeds generally numerous, polyhedric, immersed in pulp; testa smooth; chalaza large; albumen copious; embryo straight; cotyledons foliaceous.

  • Distribution

    Carpotroche is widespread from Guatemala to Panama, and in South, mainly Amazonian America, southwards to Mato Grosso- Sao Paulo; usually in lowland or submontane wet forest, rarely in caatinga or hilly savannah forest.

    Central America| South America|