Siparuna glycycarpa (Ducke) S.S.Renner & Hausner

Authority

Renner, Susanne S. & Hausner, Gerlinde. 2005. Siparunaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 95: 1--247 pp. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family

Monimiaceae

Scientific Name

Siparuna glycycarpa (Ducke) S.S.Renner & Hausner

Type

Type: Brazil. Pará: Circa lacum Mamaurú prope Obidos, 3 Dec 1926 (fl.), 11 Jun 1926 (fr.), Ducke s.n. = RB 19711 (holotype, RB; isotypes, B destroyed, F photo neg. 13474, P, US).

Synonyms

Bracteanthus glycycarpus Ducke, Bracteanthus atlanticus Jangoux

Description

Species Description - Monoecious tree, 8-30 m tall, to at least 28 cm in dbh; young branchlets terete, glabrescent. Leaves opposite, rarely temate; petioles 1.5-3 cm long; lamina drying stiff-chartaceous and dark brown, elliptic, 1020 X 6-10 cm, the base acute to obtuse, the apex acuminate, glabrous, with 6-9 pairs of secondary veins, smooth or very slightly raised above and below, the margin entire. Cymes to 1.5 cm long, sparsely covered with minute appressed stellate hairs, with 9-12 flowers in the axils of early caducous 6-12 mm long bracts, the pedicels ca. 1 mm long. Fresh flowers greenish; male flowers obconical or urceolate (Fig. 7B), 1.5-2.5 mm in diam., 2.5-4 mm high, the indumentum as on the cymes, tepals and roof reduced to a thin rim; stamens 2-6, thick-fleshy (Figs. 7B right, 7C), with four outer ones and two central ones; female flowers ovoid, 3-3.5 mm in diam., 3.5-4.5 mm high, the tepals minute, triangular with apical hydathodes, the floral roof conical, thick; styles hardly protruding from the floral roof (Fig. 7B), usually 2-3 visible (the carpels more numerous). Fruiting receptacles globose, when fresh yellow and with a sweet pulp, drying black and shiny (Fig. 13B), not splitting open at maturity, dry 3.5-4 cm in diam. (fresh to 6 cm in diam. [Lima & Saraiva 272]), the drupelets 1.4-1.6 X 1-1.1 cm large, exo- and mesocarp fleshy and becoming slimy, the endocarp stony (ca. 1 mm thick) and with a thick layer of stiff brownish bristles (Fig. 13-I.D).

Discussion

In his description of Bracteanthus glycycarpus, Ducke pointed out that Bracteanthus closely resembled Siparuna. However, he thought that the large size of the plant, the color and grain of its wood, its 6-12 mm long bracts, and large indehiscent fruiting receptacle (Fig. 13B) justified ranking this obviously new species at the generic level. A molecular phylogeny based on chloroplast and nuclear sequences (Fig. 17) showed that B. glycycarpus is nested within a clade of Siparuna species characterized by entire leaf margins (Fig. 2C shows the leaf margin of S. glycycarpa) and a predominantly arborescent habit. This requires the transfer of Bracteanthus into Siparuna. Modem collections show that S. glycycarpa is not the only species to attain heights of 20-30 m (compare, for example, S. pachyantha and S. reginae). Likewise, bracts have now also been observed in S. cristata, S. decipiens, S. pachyantha, and S. macrotepala, and indehiscent fruiting receptacles are also known from S. cristata, S. pachyantha, and S. decipiens. However, the mesocarp of S. glycycarpa remains unique in being bristle-covered (Fig. 13-I.D).

Common Names

itáuba preta, aquariquara de igapó, cuá pitiú, erva de rato

Distribution

Siparuna glycycarpa is widespread in the Brazilian Amazon basin below 600 m elevation.

Acre Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|