Coussapoa microcarpa (Schott) Rizzini

  • Authority

    Berg, Cornelius C., et al. 1990. Cecropiaceae: Coussapoa and Pourouma, with an introduction to the family. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 51: 1-208. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Urticaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Coussapoa microcarpa (Schott) Rizzini

  • Synonyms

    Brosimum microcarpon Schott, Coussapoa schottii Miq., Coussapoa schottii var. lanceolata Miq., Coussapoa schottii var. longifolia Miq., Coussapoa fontanesiana Al.Brongn. & Trécul

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub or tree, terrestrial or occasionally hemi-epiphytic, up to 20 m tall. Leafy twigs 2-5 mm thick, white to yellowish appressed-puberulous to hirtellous or to hirsute, sometimes also with white to brownish arachnoid hairs. Lamina coriaceous, subovate to ovate oblong to elliptic to (sub)obovate or to lanceolate, 3-21 × 2-7 cm, apex shortly acuminate to acute or to obtuse, base acute to obtuse to rounded, margin entire, usually revolute towards the base; upper surface glabrous, lower surface glabrous or sparsely appressed-puberulous (to strigose) to (sub)hirsute on the main veins; lateral veins 6-11 pairs, straight, basal pair unbranched, reaching the margin below the middle of the lamina; intercostal venation plane to slightly prominent; petiole 1-4 cm long, appressed-puberulous to hirtellous to (sub)hirsute; stipules 1-7 cm long, yellowish puberulous to subsericeous to hirsute or also with white to brownish arachnoid hairs. Staminate inflorescences branched; heads 5-9, globose, ca. 2-3 mm diam.; common peduncle 1-2 cm long, puberulous to hirtellous; perianth ca. 1 mm high, minutely puberulous; stamens two, far exceeding the perianth. Pistillate inflorescences unbranched or rarely branched; heads l(-5), globose, ca. 3-5 mm, in fruit up to 10 mm diam.; (common) peduncle 2-5 cm long, puberulous to hirtellous; perianth ca. 1 mm high, glabrous; fruiting perianth yellow and orange. Interfloral bracts small, narrowly spathulate, often only a few are sometimes absent.

  • Discussion

    This species appears to be related to C. latifolia and C. microcephala. It is quite variable in the shape and dimensions of the lamina. A form with relatively long and narrow leaves is cultivated in several European greenhouses and (in The Netherlands) as an indoor ornamental.

  • Distribution

    Brazil, from Rio Grande do Sul to Espírito Santo, common in forests up to 1800 m and in restinga vegetation; moreover, apparently in more or less isolated populations further north, in Bahia (near Ilheus) and in Paraíba and Pernambuco (on the top of low mountains?).

    Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Paraíba Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Pernambuco Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America|