Eschweilera rankiniae S.A.Mori

  • 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.

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Eschweilera rankiniae S.A.Mori

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - A ceteris generis speciebus foliis comparate parvis, late obovatis, floribus comparate parvis, et fructibus comparate parvis, turbinatis differt.

    Species Description - Canopy trees, to 35 m tall, usually unbuttressed, less frequently buttressed. Bark often rough, peeling in irregular plates, the outer bark ca. 1 mm thick, the inner bark 2-12 mm thick, red. Leaves: petioles 6-8 mm long, minutely puberulous; blades widely elliptic to widely obovate, 6.5-7 x 3.5-4.5 cm, chartaceous, glabrous to minutely puberulous only along midrib, with 7-9 pairs of lateral veins; base usually acute to less frequently obtuse; apex short acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, simple racemes, the rachis puberulous; pedicels 3-6 mm long, pubescent. Flowers 1.5-2 cm diam.; calyx-lobes imbricate for most of length, widely ovate, slightly gibbous at base, 4-5.5 x 3-5 mm; petals 6, widely obovate, 15-20 x 11-12 mm, white or yellow; androecial hood ca. 13 x 13 mm, yellow; staminal ring with ca. 90 stamens, extending up ligule, the filaments ca. 1 mm long, the stamens 0.5 mm long; ovary 2-locular, with ca. 6 basally attached ovules per locule, the style oblique, 1.5-2 mm long. Fruits turbinate, calycine ring inserted above middle, 2.5-3.5 x 2.5-3.5 cm.

  • Discussion

    Type. Brazil. Amazonas: Distrito Agropecuário, Reserve 1501 (Km 41) of the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, 2°24'26"-2°25'31"S, 59°43'40"- 59°45'50"W, ca. 50-150 m alt., 27 Oct 1989 (fl), N. M. L. da Cunha 436 (holotype, INPA; isotypes, K, NY, US). Additional fertile specimens examined. Brazil. Amazonas: Distrito Agropecuário, Reserva 1501 (Km 41) da WWF/INPA Projeto da Dinâmica dos Fragmentos Florestais, 2°24'26"-2°25'31" Sul, 59°43'40"-59°45'50" Oeste, ca. 50-150 m alt., 21 Oct 1990(fl), Freitas et al. 241, 21 Oct 1990 (fl), 474 (both INPA, NY, US), 24 Oct 1988 (empty fr); Mori et al. 19348 (NY); 5 Apr 1988 (immature fr); van Roosmalen F-347 (INPA, NY). Phenology. Flowers in Oct. Nearly mature fruits have been gathered in Apr. Comments. Eschweilera rankiniae has fruits similar in shape to but smaller than those of E. cyathiformis. Moreover, E. rankiniae does not possess the shiny adaxial leaf surface or the bracteate inflorescences of E. cyathiformis. The fruits of E. micrantha are larger and more rounded at the base than those of E. rankiniae. This species is characterized by (1) red inner bark, (2)relatively mall, often obovate leaves, (3) small flowers, and (4) turbinate fruits. Eschweilera rankiniae is named after Dr. Judith Rankin de Merona, long-time director of the Botany Project of the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project.

  • Distribution

    Habitat. Terra firme. The 100-ha plot contains 16 individuals of this species =10 cm dbh.

    Brazil South America|