Rollinia danforthii Standl.
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Authority
Maas, Paulus J. M., et al. 1992. Rollinia. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 57: 1-188. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Annonaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Costa Rica. San Jose: San Isidro de El General, 8 Aug 1936 (fl), Danforth 30 (holotype, F; isotypes, BM, GH, S).
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Synonyms
Rollinia chocoensis R.E.Fr.
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Description
Species Description - Tree, up to 15(-20) m tall. Leafy twigs and petioles densely covered with appressed, light brown, minute hairs, becoming glabrous. Petioles 10-17 mm long, 1.5-3 mm in diam. Lamina oblong to obovate-oblong (to elliptic), subcoriaceous, (greenish-)brown above, light (greenish-) brown below, (12-)15-33 cm long, (6-)7-13 cm wide, rather densely covered with whitish, slightly crisped, single hairs, to subglabrous, above, densely to rather densely (to sparsely) covered with appressed, brownish, shiny, simple hairs below, hairs on both sides to 0.3 mm long; moreover, the epidermal surface on the lower side of the lamina usually microscopically (at magnification of ca. 20 times and up) whitish-rugulose, base broadly cuneate, obtuse, or truncate, apex shortly and often abruptly acuminate, the tip itself acute; secondary veins straight to curved, 15-33 on either side of primary vein, often with (mostly short) intersecondaries, angles with primary vein 50-70°, loops indistinct to distinct, smallest distance between loops and margin 1-2 mm, tertiary veins 25-30 per intercosta, mostly percurrent. Domatia scarce. Inflorescences leaf-opposed to sub-axillary, 1-3-flowered, peduncles, pedicels, outer side of bracts, outer side of sepals, and corolla densely covered with appressed, brown hairs similar to those on branchlets. Peduncles to 2 mm long, 2-3 mm in diam., fruiting peduncles to 5 mm long, to 4 mm in diam. Pedicels 20-25 mm long, 1.5-2 mm in diam., patelliform- to conical-dilated (to 7-8 mm in diam.) under the flower, fruiting pedicels 2555 mm long, 2-3 mm in diam. Bracts broadly triangular, to ca. 1 mm long, upper bract inserted in up to the lower 1/4 (as far as seen) of the pedicel. Flowers with sepals free, well-spaced, appressed, broadly triangular, 1.5-2 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, acuminate, gibbous. Corolla tube 3-5 mm high, 9-10 mm in diam., wings orbicular to obovate-obtriangular, erect to (upon maturity:) recurved, 8-15 mm long, 8-10 mm high, 1-2 mm thick, index = 1-1.5. Fruit broadly ovoid to globose, on conspicuously elevated torus, 2-2.5 cm in diam., green or yellowish in vivo, light greyish-brown when dry, composed of 100-200 carpels, densely covered with minute light greyish-brown hairs, areoles (narrowly) conical from a broad base to (narrowly) pyramidal, straight or slightly incurved, 2-3 mm in diam, at the base, with obtuse (to acute) apex often adorned with tiny incurved apicule (stigma remnant), 3-5 mm high, surface smooth to verruculose; wall ca. 1 mm thick. Seeds to 5 × 3 mm.
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Discussion
The bark, when put in water, produces a gum used by people of African descent as a shampoo for their hair (Killip 35501). The bark is easily tom off in long, strong bands suitable for binding and transporting (Idrobo 1827).
This is a very distinctive species because of the (generally) high number of secondary veins, the fruit with numerous, rather slender protuberances (areoles), and the rugulose surface of the lower leaf epidermis when seen through a dissecting microscope or high-magnification hand lens. Fresh leaves are glaucous below (Idrobo 1788, 1827). It comes closest to Rollinia edulis and R. pittieri, from both of which it is distinguished by the fruit with strongly protruding areoles. -
Common Names
Cargadera, Cargadero bianco, Guasimo bianco
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Distribution
Costa Rica and departments of Choco and adjacent Antioquia, Colombia. In forest, also in clearings and by roadsides. At elevations from almost sea level in Colombia to (probably?) 1000 m in Costa Rica. Flowering and fruiting from April through August.
Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America|