Gustavia elliptica S.A.Mori
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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 - Understory trees, to 20 m tall. Bark scalloped, the inner bark dark yellow to orange, with conspicuous rays. Leaves: petioles 5-28 mm long; blades elliptic, 11-28 x 4-9.5 cm, glabrous, with 13-19 pairs of lateral veins; base acute to attenuate, slightly decurrent onto petiole; apex short acuminate; margins entire to inconspicuously serrulate, especially toward apex. Inflorescences terminal, simple racemes; pedicels 25-60 mm long, pubescent. Flower 7-9 cm diam.; calyx nearly entire; petals 8, white; staminal ring with over 500 stamens; ovary 4-locular, the style not distinct from summit of ovary. Fruits cylindric, 1.5-3 x 1.5-3 cm, with persistent pedicel, the exocarp sparsely pubescent. Seeds 1-1.5 x 0.5-1 cm, with conspicuous, yellow, contorted funicle.
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Discussion
Phenology. Flowers in Nov and fruits in Dec and Mar. Common name. Mucurão. This name refers to the fetid odor exuded from the cut wood and bark of this species, especially after it has aged. Comments. This species is characterized by its (1) scalloped bark with dark yellow to orange inner bark with conspicuous rays, (2) large, actinomorphic flowers, (3) anthers with poricidal dehiscence, (4) indehiscent fruits, and (5) seeds with a well-developed funicle. Another species, Gustavia hexapetala (Aublet) J. E. Smith, is common in terra firme forest of central Amazonian Brazil. It is easy to distinguish from G. elliptica by its distinctly 6-lobed calyx, winged hypanthium, and absence of a yellow, contorted funicle.
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Distribution
Habitat. Terra firme. The 100-ha plot contains 111 individuals of this species =10 cm dbh.
Brazil South America|