Duguetia nitida Maas

  • Authority

    Maas, Paulus J. M., et al. 2003. (Annonaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 88: 1-274 pp. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Annonaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Duguetia nitida Maas

  • Type

    Type: Peru. Loreto: Puerto Almendra, alt. 122 m, 11 Apr 1988 (fr), Vásquez & Jaramillo 10550 (holotype, MO; isotypes, NY, U).

  • Description

    Species Description - Tree, 20-30 m tall. Young twigs and petioles totally covered with stellate scales 0.1-0.3 mm in diam. Petioles 5-8 mm long, 1-2 mm in diam. Lamina narrowly elliptic, 10-20 cm long, 3-6.5 cm wide, leaf index 3-4.7, chartaceous, green, strongly shiny above, pale green below, glabrous above, but primary vein totally to sparsely covered with stellate to simple hairs 0.3-0.6 mm in diam., rather densely covered with stellate scales 0.2-0.5 mm in diam. below, base obtuse, apex acute, primary vein slightly impressed above, secondary veins curved, ca. 10 on either side of the primary vein, flat to slightly impressed above, angles with primary vein 4550°, loop-forming at right angles, loops distinct, smallest distance between loops and margin 1-2 mm, tertiary veins slightly impressed above. Inflorescences, flowers, and flower buds not seen. Indument not observed. Fruiting pedicels 25 mm long, 12 mm in diam. Upper bract not seen. Fruit brown in vivo, globose, ca. 8 cm in diam., basal collar composed of ca. 15 connate, sterile carpels, ca. 15 mm in diam., hardly protruding below the fruit, fertile carpels ca. 200, narrowly obovoid-obtrulloid, 25-30 mm long, 8-12 mm in diam., free, areoles pyramidal, 5-9 mm high, obtuse, sharp-pointed, distinctly 5-6-ribbed, zone below areoles strongly verrucose, old indument remnants indistinct. Seeds narrowly ellipsoid, 18-21 mm long, 7-9 mm in diam., acute, pale brown, dull.

  • Discussion

    Duguetia nitida is characterized by strongly shiny leaves, a primary vein which is distinctly hairy on the upper side of the lamina, few secondary veins, and a large fruit composed of many (ca. 200) carpels. D. nitida is still incompletely known as no flowers have been found yet, and it is not possible to give any hint at possible relationships now (see also remark in chapter on Internal Relationships, under cluster 3).

  • Common Names

    Tortuga caspi

  • Distribution

    Endemic to the Peruvian state of Loreto. In non-inundated forest. At elevations from 120-150 m. Fruiting in January and April.

    Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America|