Couratari longipedicellata W.A.Rodrigues
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Authority
Mori, S. A. & Lepsch da Cunha, Nadia M. 1995. The Lecythidaceae of a central Amazonian moist forest. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 75: 1-55.
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Family
Lecythidaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Canopy trees, to 30 m tall, buttressed. Bark smooth, with vertically oriented lenticels and hoop marks. Leaves: petioles 10-15 mm long; blades oblong, 10-16 x 7-9 cm, coriaceous, puberulous on petiole and midrib abaxially, with 12-16 pairs of secondary veins, the tertiary veins reticulate to weakly percurrent; base obtuse to rounded; apex shortly and abruptly acuminate; margins entire. Inflorescence not seen intact; pedicels ca. 22 mm long. Flowers when leaves absent; calyx of 6 lobes; petals oblong-spatulate, to 30 mm long, purple; androecial hood rugose externally but without echinate appendages; staminal ring with ca. 40 stamens arranged in 2 rows. Fruits largest of genus in area, 13-16 (excluding stipe) x 5.5-7.5 cm, nearly cylindric but often 3-angled in cross-section, the pericarp ca. 5 mm thick, the exocarp dark brown to nearly black, not lenticellate.
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Discussion
Phenology. Flowers in May (Mori & Prance, 1990a). Common name. Tauarí. Comments. This species is characterized by its (1) smooth bark with vertically oriented lenticels and hoop marks, (2) purple flowers probably appearing when the tree is leafless, and (3) large fruits with very dark, nearly black exocarps. The leaves of juvenile individuals are pubescent, whereas those of the adults are glabrous.
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Distribution
Habitat. Terra firme. The 100-ha plot contains 14 individuals of this species >10 cm dbh.
Brazil South America|