Sorocea muriculata Miq.

• Authority

  Berg, Cornelius C. 2001. Moreae, Artocarpeae, and (Moraceae): With introductions to the family and and with additions and corrections to Flora Neotropica Monograph 7. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 83: 1-346. (Published by NYBG Press)

• Family

  Moraceae

• Scientific Name

  Sorocea muriculata Miq.

• Type

  Type. Brazil. Amazonas: nr. Tefé (=Ega), ([female] fl-fr), Martius s.n. (lectotype, Burger, Lanjouw & Wessels Boer, Acta Bot. Neerl. 11: 436. 1962, M).

• Description

  Species Description - Shrub or tree, to 5(-12) m tall. Leafy twigs 0.5-3(-4) mm thick, minutely and sparsely to rather densely puberulous. Lamina elliptic to oblong, sometimes to (narrowly) lanceolate, (2-)5.5-16.5(-22) × (l-)2-6.5 (-7.5) cm, broadest at or above the middle, usually ± inequilateral, subcoriaceous to chartaceous; apex (caudate-)acuminate; base acute to obtuse (to rounded); margin obscurely to distinctly dent(icul)ate to subentire; upper surface glabrous; lower surface on the main veins sparsely puberulous with equally long hairs; venation plane or mostly the midrib ± impressed and sometimes the lateral veins as well above, prominent beneath; lateral veins (6-)8-12(-14) pairs; tertiary venation (usually) reticulate; petiole 0.2-0.8 cm long, 0.5-1.5(-2) mm thick, mostly puberulous; stipules 0.2-0.4 cm long, sparsely puberulous to glabrous, caducous. Staminate inflorescences pendulous, l-3.5(-4.5) cm long, including the 0.1-0.3 cm long puberulous peduncle; flowers distant, broadly sessile; perianth 1-1.5 mm long, deeply 4-parted, puberulous or only ciliolate; stamens 4, bent inwards at anthesis; filaments 0.3-1.2 mm long; anthers 0.4-0.6 × 0.4-0.6 mm, the connective broad. Pistillate inflorescences patent, 0.4-1.5 cm long, to 4 cm long in fruit; peduncle 0.1-0.3 cm long, puberulous; rachis puberulous, carnose and red in fruit; flowers (3-)5-12(-20), (sub)sessile to shortly pedicellate; pedicel to 0.6(-1.2) cm long, carnose and red in fruit; perianth 1.5-2 mm long, 4-lobed to subentire, various in shape and indumentum (see the subspecies); stigmas tongueshaped, ca. 0.5 mm long, finely papillate.

• Discussion

  Sorocea muriculata is a variable species, especially with regard to the fruiting state. Remarkable differences occur in the shape of the fruiting perianth, fruit, and seed. These differences can be correlated with a minor difference in the staminate flower and allow the recognition of two subspecies. Gradation between the two subspecies occurs.