Rourea paraensis Forero

  • Authority

    Forero, Enrique. 1976. A revision of the American species of Rourea subgenus Rourea (Conaraceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 26 (1): 1-119.

  • Family

    Connaraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Rourea paraensis Forero

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex parvus vel frutex scandens, ramulis teretibus, minute et dense puberulis, conspicue lenticellatis. Folia imparipinnata l-2-(rare 3-) jugata, um petiolo 1.5-5 cm longo, glabro, rachi 1.5-5 cm longa, glabra. Folíola 4.5- 11 cm longa, 2.5-6 cm lata, late elliptica, coriacea, concoloria, utrinque glabra, apice acuminata vel plus minusve rotundata, base rotundata, margine versus basim semper revoluta versus apicem saepe revoluta; petiolo 0.2-0.4 cm longo; venis reticulatis; costa supra plana vel leviter impressa subtus prominente; nervis lateralibus 4-5 jugis, diffusis, planis cum costa angulo 60°-70° facientibus, versus marginem plus minusve distincte anastomos-antibus. Inflorescentiae paniculatae, rachibus 3-9 cm longis crassis puberulis; bracteae 0.1-0.2 cm longae, triangulares. Pedicelli articulati, supra articulum 0.4-0.5 cm longi, puberuli; sepala 0.35-0.4 cm longa, 0.2 cm lata, ovato oblonga, puberula, versus basim imbricata; petala haud visa; stamina 10, 5 brevibus circa 0.2 cm longis, 5 longioribus circa 0.3 cm longis; tubo 0.2-0.5 mm longo; ovarium pilosum, 0.1 cm longum; stylus pubescens, ca. 0.3 cm longus. Folliculus immaturus glabrus, calyce 0.4 cm longo puberulo, lobis 0.2 cm longis versus basim imbricatis.

    Species Description - Small shrub or liana; branchlets terete, minutely and densely puberulous, conspicuously lenticellate. Leaves imparipinnate, l-2-(rarely 3-) jugate; petiole 1.5-5 cm long, glabrous; rachis 1-5.5 cm long, glabrous. Leaflets 4.5-11 cm long, 2.5-6 cm broad, broadly elliptic, coriaceous, concolorous, glabrous above and below, the apex short-acuminate or nearly rounded, the base rounded, the margin revolute (at least near base); petiole 0.2-0.4 cm long; venation reticulate, the midrib plane or slightly impressed above, prominent below; lateral veins 4-5 pairs, diffuse, plane, diverging from midrib at angles of 60°-70°, anastomosing more or less clearly near margin. Inflorescence paniculate, the rachilla 3-9 cm long, thick, puberulous; bracts 0.1-0.2 cm long, puberulous, triangular. Pedicels articulate, 0.4-0.5 cm long above articulation, puberulous; sepals 0.35-0.4 cm long, 0.2 cm broad, ovate-oblong, puberulous, imbricate near base; petals not seen; stamens 10, five short ca. 0.2 cm long, five long ca. 0.3 cm long, the tube 0.2-0.5 mm long; ovary pilose, 0.1 cm long; style pubescent, ca. 0.3 cm long. Immature fruit glabrous; calyx in fruit 0.4 cm long, puberulous, the lobes 0.2 cm long, imbricate near base.

  • Discussion

    Holotype (NY): Brazil, Pará, 1 km N of Rio Muirapiranga. G. T. Prance, T. D. Pennington & N. T. Silva 1607 fr. 11 Oct 1965. Isotypes examined (F, GH, S, U, W). This species resembles R. neglecta but differs in the short-acuminate or nearly obtuse leaflets, in the thick inflorescence, and in the puberulous rachilla and calyx. So far this species appears to be restricted to the southeastern floristic region of Amazonia, and is found very near the boundary between Amazonia and the northernmost limit of the cerrado vegetation.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Brazil, known only from the state of Pará. Occurring in forest.

    Brazil South America|