Rinorea pubiflora var. grandifolia (Eichler) Hekking

  • Authority

    Hekking, W. H. A. 1988. violaceae Part l—Rinorea and Rinoreocarpus. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 46: i-ii, 1-208. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Violaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Rinorea pubiflora var. grandifolia (Eichler) Hekking

  • Description

    Variety Description - Tree or treelet 1-20 m tall. Leaves with a lamina (3.5-)7.5-20.5 x (1.5-)4-8.5 cm, more coriaceous than in var. pubiflora; acumen (0.5-) 1-3.5 cm long (the maximal length is longer than in var. pubiflora). Reduced stamens or staminodes, 2.75-4 mm long; filaments 0.5-1.5 x 0.10.4 mm (more slender than in var. pubiflora); dorsal glands reduced or wanting, 0-0.5 x 0-0.3 mm; anthers 0-1.5 x 0-0.75 mm, smaller than in var. pubiflora or completely wanting; connective scales gradually reduced from (narrowly) ovate or deltoid to linear, 2-2.5 x 0.25-0.75 mm, scarious, orange-brown. Ovary 1-1.25 mm long and wide; ovules one to two, occasionally three per placenta. Style (often longer than in var. pubiflora) 2-3.25 mm long, always hispidulous near the base (in contrast with var. pubiflora in which the style is usually completely glabrous). Capsule usually shorter and more ellipsoid or ovoid than in var. pubiflora and always subtended by subpersistent floral parts, consisting of sepals, petals, reduced stamens or staminodes (in contrast with var. pubiflora in which such floral parts are always wanting); valves (1.5-)2-2.75 x 0.4-0.8(-1.3) cm. Seeds usually two per valve, rarely one or three, (3-)4-8 mm long and wide (usually larger than in var. pubiflora), glabrous or pilosulous (dependent on which forma).

  • Discussion

    Var. grandifolia’s habit is quite similar to that of var. pubiflora, but its leaves tend to be more coriaceous and the indument less dense. This variety is characterized by a gradual reduction of its androecium from nearly normally developed stamens with reduced anthers to staminodes without anthers.

    In var. grandifolia, there exists only a reduction to 9 flowers, but not a reduction to 6 flowers. Rinorea virgata, of tropical Asia, is probably the only species which is dioecious and has completely developed 6 and 9 flowers. Var. grandifolia can be subdivided into two formae, when seeds are present: a) fo. grandifolia with glabrous seeds and b) fo. andersonii with pilosulous seeds. Specimens without seeds have been identified only to var. grandifolia.

    Distribution and Ecology: The area of distribution of var. grandifolia is included in that of var. pubiflora. It comprises Amazonia s.l., the Guianas, some isolated localities in NW Colombia and finally also eastern Panama. The ecological amplitude is similar to that of var. pubiflora. It is found from 0 to 600 m, probably not reaching the maximum altitude of var. pubiflora. Presumably flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

  • Distribution

    Colombia South America| Meta Colombia South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Apure Venezuela South America| Delta Amacuro Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Brazil South America| Roraima Brazil South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America|