Disciphania ernstii Eichler var. ernstii

  • Authority

    Mori, S. A. 1987. The Lecythidaceae of a lowland Neotropical Forest: La Fumée mountain, French Guiana. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 44: 1-190.

  • Family

    Menispermaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Disciphania ernstii Eichler var. ernstii

  • Description

    Variety Description - Described as herbaceous, but sometimes reaching a length of 8 m; flowering branches glabrous; petioles (3-)4-12 cm long, usually slender (near middle 0.9-1.5 mm diam); blades of leaves subtending the inflorescences (4.5-) 5-13 cm long, (3.5-)4.5-10 cm wide, the basal sinus usually broad and open, sometimes closed by overlapping lobes; peduncles of [male] inflorescence (2-)3-6 cm long, the spike-axis (3-) 5-9(-10) cm long, 10-25 (-35)-flowered; petals ± 2 mm long, the 3 larger ones bearing just below their subtruncate apex an appendage up to 0.6 mm long, this sometimes reduced to a boss no more than 0.2 m long, the 3 narrower ones sometimes simply truncate; inflorescence [female] similar, sometimes longer, the flowers a little smaller, the sepals 5-6 mm long, the axis 3-14 cm long.

  • Discussion

    Disciphania ernstii Eichler, Jahrb. Bot. Gart. Berlin 2: 329, Pl. 12. 1883. Type. “Habitat prope Caracas Venezuelae, in loco dicto Quebrada de Guarenas, altitud. 700 m. supra mare: Ernst” (holotype, formerly at B, destroyed, but survives as Field Neg. No. 5001; isotype, 3 sheets from Ernst received at Kew in 1878 and 9, showing ripe drupes, a variety of leaves + a pistillate branch grown at K from . Ernst’s seeds, K!). Disciphania appendiculata Diels, Pflanzenreich IV. 94: 176. 1910. Type. Nördliches Südamerika: Ecuador, El Recreo, [male] blüh. im Januar (Eggers n. 15610 .(holotype, formerly at B, destroyed, but survives as Field Neg. No. 4998; isotypes, F [fragm.], K!).

  • Distribution

    Climbing over trees and hedges, 0-700 m, in flower between February and November, Darién, Panama, E through the lower Magdalena valley in Colombia to the coastal cordillera of northern Venezuela, E in Colombia to the headwaters of Rio Meta (Orinoco watershed), S along the foothills of the northern Andes to Ecuador, and found cultivated (but said to be native nearby) at 700 m on río Perené in Junín, Peru; greatly isolated (? native) in Ceará, Brazil. The fruits are said to be edible, with a

    Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| Panama Central America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America|