Ryania spruceana Monach.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Salicaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ryania spruceana Monach.

  • Type

    Type. Spruce 3773, Brazil, Amazonas, Rio Negro, near Sao Gabriel do Cachoeira, fl (holotype, K; isotypes, BR, K, P, W).

  • Synonyms

    Patrisia spruceana (Monach.) Lemée, Ryania stipularis Linden & Planch.

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub or small tree 3.0-7.0 m tall, with simple branches crowded towards the top of the stem. Branchlets smoothly stellate-tomentose, hairs short, appressed to ascending. Leaves broadly elliptic-oblong, apex subcuspidate-acuminate, base inequilateral, broadly attenuate to obtuse, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, glabrous except the midrib above, appressedly short-stellate -pubescent on midrib and nerves, very laxly so at veins beneath, entire, 13.0-23.0 cm long, 4.0-7.0 cm broad, lateral nerves 7-10 pairs, depressed above, prominent beneath, intercostal veins faint beneath, reticulation not prominent; petiole 3.0-6.0 mm long; stipules lanceolate, 5.0-6.0 mm long, caducous. Inflorescence 1- or 2-flowered; pedicels articulate at base, 1.5(-2.0) cm long. Sepals caducous, oblong, obtuse at apex, whitish within, reddish or rosy outside, the outside indumentum slightly roughened, 2.5-3.0 cm long, 0.3-1.0 cm broad. Disk ca 5.0 mm high. Anthers mucronate at apex, 4.0-5.0 mm long. Ovary stipitate for ca 3.0 mm, bright red. Fruit stipitate, subglobular, roughly tomentose, rusty brown or purplish, 3.0-4.0 cm diam; endocarp osseous, 2.0-6.0 mm thick, sculptured.

    Distribution and Ecology - Scattered in the western Amazon area in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Brazil; in forest on terra firme, sandy soil, up to 1000 m altitude.

  • Discussion

    The species bears an unmistakable affinity with Ryania pyrifera, and is essentially its western equivalent.

  • Distribution

    Colombia South America| Santander Colombia South America| Boyacá Colombia South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|