Banisteriopsis membranifolia (A.Juss.) B.Gates

  • Authority

    Gates, Bronwen. 1982. Banisteriopsis, Diplopterys (Malpighiaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 30: 1-238. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Malpighiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Banisteriopsis membranifolia (A.Juss.) B.Gates

  • Type

    Type. Saint Hilaire Catal. ?, 705, Brazil, Minas Gerais, As Bicas, near Itabira de Mato Dentro, fl (holotype, P; isotypes, P 2 sheets).

  • Synonyms

    Banisteria membranifolia f. subglabrata Nied., Banisteria membranifolia f. subglabrata Nied.

  • Description

    Species Description - Liana or vining shrub, the young branches flattened, the older branches terete, appressed-sericeous or velutinous. Stipules triangular, 0.5-1.0 mm long, appressed-sericeous. Leaves with the petiole 11-20(-27) mm long, appressed-sericeous or velutinous, bearing 1-2 pairs of stipitate peltate glands, the lamina 4.712.9 cm long, 2.7-6.3 cm wide, smaller in the inflorescence, elliptic to ovate, obtuse at the base, acuminate at the apex, with the margin flat, sometimes bearing 1-2 pairs of peltate glands on the lateral veins near the margin abaxially, sparsely appressed-sericeous to glabrate adaxially, appressed-sericeous abaxially, with the venation prominulous to flat adaxially and prominent abaxially. Inflorescence of 4-6-flowered umbels borne in cymes and forming large dense inflorescences, sericeous or velutinous; bracts and bracteoles 1.5-2.2 mm long, narrowly oblong, sericeous abaxially, glabrous adaxially, caducous in bud. Pedicels sessile, 11-17 mm long, 0.6-0.8 mm wide, 0.6 mm without the hairs, appressed-sericeous to velutinous. Sepals sericeous abaxially, minutely tomentose throughout adaxially, oblong, rounded at the apex, 3.0-3.5 mm long, 1.8-2.5 mm wide, the 4 lateral sepals bearing glands 1.6-2.5 mm long, 0.8-1.0 mm wide, projecting 1.5-2.0 mm beyond the glands. Petals pale pink or white, becoming pale yellow in age, fimbriate, the 4 lateral petals reflexed between the sepals, the claw 0.9-1.2 mm long, 0.6-0.9 mm wide, the limb 7.0-10.0 mm long, 5.5-9.0 mm wide, orbicular, eglandular, the antero-lateral petals more concave and larger than the postero-lateral petals, the posterior petal with the claw erect, 3.0-3.5 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm wide, not constricted at the apex, the limb 5.5-7.0 mm long, 4.5-6.0 mm wide, broadly obovate with the basal fimbriae gland-tipped. Stamens with the filaments 1.8-3.2 mm long, connate basally, the posterior 3 flexuous and inflexed between the posterior styles, the locules pilose, 0.9-1.6 mm long, the connectives yellow, those of the stamens opposite the petals 0.6-1.4 mm long, 0.6-0.9 mm wide, 0.20.6 mm deep, more or less glandular, those of the stamens opposite the sepals 0.8-1.8 mm long, 0.6-1.2 mm wide, 0.4-1.1 mm deep, all or only those opposite the 3 anterior sepals glandular and enlarged, the connectives of the stamens opposite the antero-lateral sepals projecting beyond the connectives 0.2-0.8 mm. Ovary 1.0-1.2 mm tall, white-sericeous, the anterior style straight, 3.2-3.4 mm long, 0.8 mm wide, the posterior styles straight and diverging, lyrate basally 3.6-3.8 mm long, 1.0 mm wide at the base, tapering to 0.3 mm wide at the apex, the stigmas capitate. Samara with the carpophore up to 1.5 mm long, 1 mm wide, the nut 7-9 mm tall, 5-7 mm long, alulate with the winglets up to 10 mm high, appressed-pubescent, green, the wing 25-40 mm long, 10-18 mm wide, appressed-sericeous, the hairs sessile, T-shaped, the wings of the posterior samaras somewhat rotated to lie more nearly parallel to the wing of the anterior samara.

  • Discussion

    Collected in flower in February to June and in fruit in March and April.

    There is some variation in this species with regard to leaf size and pubescence, the pubescence in the inflorescence and flower size. Individuals segregated as forma subglabrata have leaves which are abaxially glabrous or glabrate compared with the sparse appressed-pubescence of typical membranifolia. Since plants showing these two types of pubescence grow sympatrically and do not differ in other respects, it seems unjustified to segregate the glabrate individuals, especially since density of pubescence is a character which is frequently subject to considerable variation. The pubescence in the inflorescence can be velutinous or sericeous; there seems to be complete intergradation between the pubescence types.

    This species is closest to B. caapi, from which it is distinguished by its less coriaceous leaves, usually with denser pubescence, its longer pedicels and the fruit with lateral wings. The two Krukoff collections from Amazonian Brazil appear to belong to this taxon, but are unusual in the stouter and shorter anterior style; the fruit is unknown. This represents a considerable disjunction in the range of the species.

  • Distribution

    Atlantic coastal forest of Bahia, SE Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil. Two collections from Amazonas, Brazil, may also belong to this taxon.

    Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America|