Aniba terminalis Ducke

  • Authority

    Kubitzki, K. & Renner, Susanne S. 1982. Lauraceae I (Aniba and Aiouea). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 31: 1-125. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lauraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aniba terminalis Ducke

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Pará: Ducke RB18352, 11 (holotype, RB; isotype, K).

  • Description

    Species Description - Tree to 20 m; wood aromatic; branchlets stout, 2-3 mm thick, laxly tomentellous, soon glabrescent; terminal bud subglabrous or tomentellous, ca. 1 cm long. Leaves clustered at top of branchlets, chartaceous or subcoriaceous, glabrous, obovate-lanceolate or obovate-elliptic, 2.6-3.6 times longer than wide, 11-21 x 3-6.5 cm, base cuneate, tapering into the petiole, margin flat, apex accuminate, the acumen 0.5-1.5 cm long, midrib prominulous or flattened, nerves slightly impressed above, midrib and nerves prominent, veins prominulous beneath, nerves 9-14 per side, erect-patent, arcuately united near margin; petioles slightly pilose, soon glabrescent, flat above, incrassate at base, 1.5-4 cm long. Panicles subterminal, many-flowered, laxly rusty-tomentellous, 8-12 cm long. Flowers laxly rusty-tomentellous, 2.2 x 1.8 mm; floral tube constricted below tepals, pilose or glabrous inside; pedicels 0.5-1 mm long; tepals ovate, equal, ca. 1.3 mm long, slightly appressed-pilose inside, ciliate at margin; stamens ca. 1 mm long, outer ones with broad, glabrous anthers and connectives protruding between the small ventral-lateral cells, filaments narrower than anthers, pilose, inner stamens with subglobose anthers and pilose, biglandulose filaments; staminodes small, stipitiform, or absent; pistil densely or laxly pilose or glabrous, ca. 1.8 mm long; style as long as ovary; stigma minute. Berry ellipsoid, at least 1.6 x 0.9 cm, black cupule subhemispherical, 0.8-1.3 cm, merging into the thickened pedicel.

  • Discussion

    There is some variation in pilosity of the ovary and tube but this does not follow a geographical pattern. Vegetatively, this species is similar to Mezilaurus itauba. Therefore, sterile collections are cited here with hesitation. However, Dr. Richter was able to ascertain by wood anatomy that collection SF1255 is a species of Aniba.

  • Distribution

    In high, non-inundated forests. Flowers May-Aug; fruits Oct-Feb.

    Guyana South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| French Guiana South America|