Cyphomandra obliqua (Ruiz & Pav.) Sendtn.
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Authority
Bohs, Lynn A. 1994. Cyphomandra (Solanaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 63: 154. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Solanaceae
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Scientific Name
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Synonyms
Solanum obliquum Bertero ex Dunal, Pionandra obliqua (Ruiz & Pav.) Miers, Cyphomandra brachypodia Sendtn., Pionandra coriacea Miers, Cyphomandra coriacea (Miers) Walp., Cyphomandra ulei Bitter
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Description
Species Description - Shrub or small tree 1-10 m tall. Branches moderately to densely puberulent, occasionally also sparsely pilose with eglandular hairs 1-2 mm long. Leaf blades simple, unlobed, subcoriaceous, acute to acuminate at apex, glabrescent to moderately puberulent(-pilose) adaxially, more so on veins, densely puberulent(-pilose) abaxially; petioles densely puberulent and occasionally also sparsely pilose. Trunk leaves simple, unlobed, the blade ovate, 18-25 cm long, 16-25 cm wide, length:width ratio 1-1.5:1, the base deeply cordate, often oblique, with basal lobes 4-5 cm long; petioles 9-13 cm long. Crown leaves (3-)4 per sympodial unit, simple, unlobed, the blade (elliptic to) ovate, (3-)5-20 cm long, (2-)4-17 cm wide, length:width ratio 1-1.5(-2): 1, the base cordate, often very oblique, with basal lobes (0.5-)l-4 cm long; petioles 0.5-9 cm long. Inflorescence unbranched, (10-)30-50-flowered, (1.5-)3-16 cm long; peduncle 0.5-3 cm long; rachis 0.5-14 cm long; pedicels 15-25 mm long, 25-30(-50) mm long in fruit, ca. l(-4) mm apart, articulated at the base and leaving conspicuous scars on the rachis or occasionally leaving pedicellar remnants up to 1 mm long; peduncle, rachis, and pedicels densely puberulent(-pilose). Flower buds globose, ellipsoidal, or ovoid, acute or obtuse at apex. Calyx subcoriaceous, puberulent to pubescent, the radius 2-5 mm, the lobes (0.5-)2-2.5 mm long, (l-)2.5-3 mm wide, deltate, apiculate. Corolla green with yellow-brown or purplish tinge adaxially, sometimes violet or brownish-purple, coriaceous (rarely chartaceous), stellate, the radius 10-20 mm, the tube 2-3 mm long, the lobes narrowly triangular, 7-15 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, glabrous to moderately puberulent abaxially and adaxially, the margin tomentose to ciliate, the apex acute, slightly cucullate. Anther thecae white or yellowish, ellipsoidal to oblong, 4-5 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, the pores directed abaxially and laterally, occasionally directed distally; connective creamy-white, oblong, 4(-5) mm long, 1-2 mm wide, abaxially slightly shorter than thecae at apex, equal to or slightly exceeding them at base, adaxially absent or produced as a swelling ca. 2 mm long and 0.5-1 mm wide. Ovary glabrous; style umbrella-shaped, glabrous, strongly dilated distally, 4-5 mm long, 0.5-1 mm in diam, at base, ca. 2 mm in diam, at apex, equal to or slightly shorter than the stamens; stigma truncate, biglandular, ca. 2 mm in diam. Fruit globose or ellipsoidal, obtuse or acute at apex, (2.5-)4-4.5 (-7) cm long, (1.5-)2.5-3.5 cm in diam., glabrous to moderately puberulent, green spotted with white when immature, yellow to orange when mature; mesocarp with very small stone cell aggregates; seeds 3.5-5 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, glabrous to densely pubescent.
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Discussion
Although Plowman & Ramirez (11211) and Mexia (8235) report that the fruits are edible, others say that they are poisonous (Fosberg 28993). The juice of the leaves and stems used as an analgesic and sedative for intestinal fever, headaches, rheumatism, kidney ailments, hangovers, muscle aches, and pains of the lower back and stomach (Bohs & Schunke 2159; Mathias & Taylor 3979', Plowman & Schunke 7513’, Plowman & Ramirez 11211; Schunke 5866, 6286, 8339; Woytkowski 5017). Plowman & Schunke 7513 gives a more detailed account of the medicinal preparation of this species: The leaf is rasped in cold water, lemon juice is added, and the infusion is taken in the morning before breakfast for three days. Schunke 5866 reports that an infusion is given in an enema to combat the grippe. Data from Lewis et al. 11660 indicates that the Quichuas of Loreto, Peru, drink an infusion of the crushed leaves to cure malaria. The Achuar Jivaro of Amazonian Peru scrape the bark into a cold infusion that is used to massage swollen body parts (Lewis et al 12176). A poultice of the leaves is also used to massage the skin around a snake bite (Lewis et al 13236). In Amazonian Brazil, the leaves are heated in water and used to bathe babies, both to keep them healthy and to cure fever (Prance et al. 16402).
This species shows the features typical of the C. obliqua group: very broad stigmas with two apical glands, short anthers with the connective not much prolonged below the bases of the thecae, and stellate, coriaceous corollas with relatively broad and spreading lobes. The deeply cordate leaves with oblique bases, inflorescences with very short and nearly contiguous pedicel scars, and abundant fine puberulence distinguish this species from C. uniloba. It can be distinguished from C. rojasiana by its glabrous fruits, longer inflorescences, and South American distribution.Two sheets of S. obliquum collected by Ruiz and Pavon are at MA, and one of them is designated as the lectotype of this name. This sheet was the basis of the illustration accompanying Ruiz and Pavon’s (1799) description of the species.No collection number or herbarium location was given by Sendtner for the type of C. brachypodia. The only specimen located with the appropriate annotations and locality information is Martius 2917 at M, which is chosen here as the lectotype.Likewise, Bitter gave no herbarium location for Ule 9755, the type of his C. ulei. Two sheets of this collection have been located, at K and G, but neither shows any evidence that they were examined by Bitter. Although other sheets may eventually turn up in a search of European herbaria, in the absence of other candidates I have selected the specimen at K as the lectotype.Several collections differ from typical C. obliqua, and may either represent regional or ele-vational variants of C. obliqua or may comprise a distinct species. These anomalous collections include Knapp et al 6315, Mathews 1971, Mexia 8235, Plowman & Schunke 11724, Schunke 5866, D. Smith 2959, and Young & Sullivan 634 and 747. These collections differ in having abundant long hairs on the foliage and axes, pointed and often pubescent fruits, and purplish, nearly glabrous corollas. The filaments of are quite long for a Cyphomandra and may be a distinctive feature. These anomalous collections are found at higher elevations (above 1500 m) than typical C. obliqua. -
Common Names
Asna panga, chupa sacha, chupo sacha, gallinazo panga, sihuca sacha, sapohuasca, tomato del campo, yapu iji, Jurubeba, tsetsepere
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Objects
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Distribution
Clearings and open places in tropical rain forest, 100-1000(-1850) m in elevation, Amazon Valley west to river valleys of eastern Andean slopes in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Colombia South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| Peru South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Huánuco Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Maynas Peru South America| Amazonas Peru South America| Requena Peru South America| Pasco Peru South America| San Martín Peru South America| Ucayali Peru South America| Acre Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Lima Peru South America|