Cathedra paraensis Sleumer
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Authority
Sleumer, Hermann O. 1984. Olacaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 38: 1-159. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Olacaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Brazil. Pará: Rio Trombetas in silvis sabulosis campina-rana dictis prope cataractam Porteira, fr submat., Ducke s.n. (holotype, B, photo B 1430/31; isotypes, K, RB 19554).
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Description
Species Description - Tree to 28 m tall; trunk to 40 cm diam. Branchlets slender, dark brown when dry, smooth, inconspicuously lenticellate when young, older parts with grayish-blackish and cracked cork. Leaves ovate-oblong and ovate in the same specimen, apex gradually attenuate or more abruptly acuminate for ca. 1 cm, the obtuse tip often falcate, base broadly cuneate to the petiole or rounded, often more or less unequal, rigidly chartaceous to subcoriaceous, brownish to olivaceous in dry specimens, slightly shiny above, dull beneath, glabrous, finely and sparsely to rather densely tuberculate on both surfaces when dry, edge narrowly revolute, 5-10.5 x (2-)3-5(-5.5) cm, midrib impressed above, strongly raised beneath, lateral nerves 4-5(-6) pairs, curved-ascending, very slightly immersed above, hardly raised beneath, reticulation of veins and veinlets rather obscure above, dense and finely prominent beneath; petiole 5-7 x 1 mm. Flowers unknown. Drupe 1 or 2 per axil, subovoid-ellipsoid, 1.5-2 cm long, 1.3-1.5 cm diam., covered in the lower 2/3 to ¾ by the coriaceous disk which is yellow when fresh, dark red brown in dry specimens, otherwise showing the free upper rounded part or apex of the fruit which is paler in color and densely beset with fine tubercles in the dry state; persistent calyx at base of the fruit widely cup-shaped, 2-3 mm high, 3-5 mm diam., its edge crenulate or short-lobed; prophyll immediately below the calyx annular, very short, ca. 2.5 mm diam.; peduncle stout, 2-3 x 1.5-2 mm.
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Discussion
The leaves of C. paraensis are similar to those of acuminata although less densely tuberculate in general. As C. paraensis can be recognized with certainty only by its mature fruits, it is possible that flowering specimens recorded above under C. acuminata might really belong to paraensis.
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Distribution
Brazil (Acre, Pará); in forest on terra firme at low alt.
Brazil South America| Acre Brazil South America|