Aniba megaphylla Mez

  • 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 megaphylla Mez

  • Type

    Type. French Guiana. Leprieur 225, fr (P).

  • Synonyms

    Aniba anisosepala Sandwith, Aniba koumaroucapa Kosterm., Laurus koumaroucapa Rich. ex Kosterm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub or small tree, rarely large tree to 29 m; branchlets glabrous, shiny, 2.5 mm diam., terminal bud slender, 6 mm long, glabrous or ± tomentellous. Leaves subverticillate, chartaceous or subcoriaceous, glabrous, obovate or obovate-lanceolate, (6-)10(-22) x (2-)3(-ll) cm, gradually acute towards base, abruptly rounded or subcordate at base, apex obtuse or acute and mostly acuminate, the acumen 0.2-2 cm long, midrib and nerves little prominent or flat above, slightly prominent beneath, veins reticulate, nerves 7-13 pairs, erect-patent and arcuately fused 2-5 mm from margin, margin flat; petioles short, thick, glabrous, verruculous, canaliculate, 2-7 mm long. Panicles subterminal, congested below terminal bud in axils of deciduous bracts, to 12 cm long, peduncles sparsely tomentellous or subglabrous and thin (0.6 mm diam.), rarely tomentellous and coarse (1.2 mm in diam.). Flowers sparsely pubescent or subglabrous, rarely tomentellous, 2.5-3 x 1.8 mm, floral tube gradually merging into pedicel, inside (sub-)glabrous at base; flowers subsessile, or pedicels to 5 mm long; tepals erect, glabrous inside (sometimes slightly appressed-pilose at base), outer ones distinctly smaller than inner ones, outer ones ovate, ciliate at margin, 0.4-0.7(-1.2) mm long, inner ones subrotundate, fimbriate at margin, 1.0-1.4 mm long; stamens included, 0.8-1.2(-l.5) mm long, those of ser. I and II with depressed, glabrous anthers, large cells, and slightly protruding, papillose connectives and hirsute filaments narrower than anthers or as wide as anthers, stamens of ser. III with glabrous, broadly rounded anthers and pilose, biglandulose filaments; staminodes absent; pistil glabrous, 1.8-2.2 mm long; style as long as ovary; stigma oblique, peltate, medium-sized or very large. Berry ellipsoid, to 3 x 2.2 cm; cupule cyathiform, red, 1.4 x 1.6 cm, beset with many rusty warts.

  • Discussion

    The overlap of two trends, one geographical and another ecological, leads to a particularly interesting pattern of variation. First, the size difference between the outer and the inner tepals is most pronounced in the Guianas and in Amapa (outer sepals 2-3 times wider than inner ones). In central Amazonia, the difference is weaker (outer sepals 1½ times wider than inner ones) and it is even weaker in Peru. This is paralleled by different sizes of the stigma, which is extraordinarily large in comparison with other species of in the Guianas, but quite normal in size in other parts of the range of the species.

    Secondly, A. megaphylla occurs in non-inundated forest (“terra firme”) as well as in flooded forest (“igapó”). The specimens from “terra firme” bear short (<5 cm), densely tomentellous inflorescences with thick (>1 mm) peduncles (cf. Prance 2141, Rimachi 1601). Those from flooded forests bear nearly glabrous inflorescences and thin peduncles (ca. 0.5 mm thick) more than 10 cm long (cf. Ducke RB19967, Froes 24995). Moreover, the latter specimens have narrower leaves than those from “terra firme.” The difference between these two forms is more pronounced in central Amazonia and less so in the Guianas and Amapa.

    Prance 2141 is unique in possessing tomentellous ovaries. Steyermark & Agostini 91169, from Venezuela, shows no size difference between the outer and inner sepals and has very broad leaves. It is questionable whether it belongs here.

  • Distribution

    A tree and shrub of riverine and non-inundated high forests and of the Campina forest. In Peru flowers in Mar, elsewhere Jun-Oct; fruits Apr-Aug. According to Richard, the natives make use of the berries to catch koumarou fish. One collection ( Ducke RB19967) is annotated as bearing red cupules and therefore this species seems to possess the ornithochorous syndrome.

    Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Brazil South America| Roraima Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Amapá Brazil South America|