Duguetia tobagensis (Urb.) R.E.Fr.

  • 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 tobagensis (Urb.) R.E.Fr.

  • Type

    Type: Tobago, near Easterfield, 13 Jul 1912 (fl), Broadway 4191 (holotype, B).

  • Synonyms

    Alcmene tobagensis Urb.

  • Description

    Species Description - Small tree of unknown height. Young twigs and petioles totally covered with pale yellow, stellate hairs 0.2-0.6 mm in diam. Petioles 1-4 mm long, 1-2 mm in diam. Lamina narrowly elliptic, 6-16 cm long, 2.5-6.5 cm wide, leaf index 2.6-2.9(-3.4), chartaceous, greyish green to pale green above, pale brown below, glabrous above, but primary vein totally covered with pale green to yellow, simple and stellate hairs 0.2-0.6 mm in diam., sparsely covered with pale yellow, stellate hairs 0.2-0.6 mm in diam. below, primary vein and base of secondary veins totally so, base acute, slightly oblique, apex acuminate (acumen (5-) 10-20 mm long), primary vein impressed above, secondary veins curved, 8-12 on either side of primary vein, raised above, angles with primary vein 60-85°, loopforming at right angles, loops distinct, smallest distance between loops and margin 2-9 mm, tertiary veins flat above. Inflorescences among leaves, sub-axillary, 1-2-flowered, to 4 flowers in succession. Indument: peduncles, pedicels, and both sides of bracts, sepals, and petals totally to densely covered with yellowish, stellate hairs 0.1-0.6 mm in diam., inner basal 1/3 of petals glabrous. Peduncle 1-14 mm long, 1-2 mm in diam. Sympodial rachis to 4 mm long, with distinctly-spaced flowers. Pedicels 2-12 mm long, 1-2 mm in diam., grooved. Upper bract halfway the pedicel, more or less foliaceous, ovate, 10-20 mm long, caducous. Flower buds broadly ovoid, acute. Flowers cream in vivo. Sepals free, ovate, 11-18 mm long, 6-8 mm wide, acute. Outer petals ovate, 12-13 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, acute, inner petals not seen. Stamens 0.6-1.2 mm long, apex of connective discoid, 0.1-0.4 x 0.3-0.6 mm, papillate. Carpels of unknown number, 3-5 mm long, densely covered with simple hairs 0.1-0.3 mm long. Fruit not seen.

  • Discussion

    Duguetia tobagensis, as known at present from only three collections, none of them with fruit, is hardly distinguishable from D. pycnastera. There are only slight differences in the size of the leaves and the shape of the base of the lamina. The two species are kept separate for the time being. This might have to be reconsidered if the fruit of D. tobagensis is found. See additional remarks under D. pycnastera.

  • Distribution

    Tobago, endemic. On river banks. At low elevations. Flowering in March, July, and October.

    Trinidad and Tobago South America|