Dorstenia appendiculata 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

    Dorstenia appendiculata Miq.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Bahia: Rio de Contas, Serra Grande, Nov 1818, Martius 2141 (holotype, M; isotype, U).

  • Description

    Species Description - Subshrub (or herb), to 1.5 m tall; stem 2-4 mm thick, hirtellous with ± retrorse uncinate hairs; internodes to 2 cm long. Leaves in spirals, but tending to distichous; lamina oblong to lanceolate to subobovate, 6-25 × 1.5-6 cm, chartaceous; apex (sub)acuminate (to acute); base acute to attenuate (± decurrent); margin faintly and irregularly crenate-dentate to subentire; upper surface almost glabrous, often scabridulous; lower surface sparsely puberulous with ± retrorse uncinate hairs, often scabridulous; lateral veins 10-18 pairs, loop-connected; tertiary venation reticulate; petiole 0.3-1.4 cm long, hirtellous to hispidulous with straight to curved hairs; stipules subulate, 0.1-0.2 cm long, coriaceous, ± deflexed, uninervate, puberulous. Inflorescences on minute short-shoots with reduced stipules, green; peduncle 0.30.8 cm long, sparsely puberulous with retrorse uncinate hairs; receptacle centrally attached, 0.8-3 cm diam., irregularly stellate in outline, with 5-12, to 1.2 cm long, almost linear to triangular (to semiorbicular) appendages departing below the margin, the outside sparsely puberulous with uncinate hairs, the margin entire or faintly lobate to appendiculate, the fringe to 1 mm broad; bracts in ca. 3 rows, on the margin, on the apices of the appendages, and a few to several on the fringe, oblong to broadly ovate, to 0.7 mm long, with minute conical hairs; staminate flowers among the pistillate ones, but ± distinctly concentrated in the periphery of the flowering face; tepals 3 or 2; stamens 3 or 2; filaments as long as or shorter than the perianth; stigmas not seen. Endocarp body ca. 4.5 × 3.5 mm, slightly tuberculate.

  • Discussion

    Dorstenia appendiculata is a distinct species and in several features, e.g., in habit, lifeform, and shape of the receptacle, is reminiscent of members of an African group of (suffrutescent species, especially D. dorstenioides (Engler) Hijman & C. C. Berg (cf. Hijman, 1980). The species is characterized by the relatively large (and broad) appendages departing below the margin of the receptacle.

  • Distribution

    In eastern Brazil (Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Minas Gerais); in moist and shaded places; at low elevations.

    Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America|