Lecythis retusa Spruce ex O.Berg
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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, unbuttressed. Bark fissured, the inner bark red. Twigs 4-6 mm diam., puberulous when young, rough when older, gray. Leaves not deciduous?; petioles 15-20 mm long; blades elliptic to oblong, 10-20 x 6-11 cm, abaxial surface whitish (caused by microscopic, cuticular papillae), with 14-16 pairs of lateral veins; base obtuse; apex short acuminate; margins entire. Inflorescences terminal, racemose, usually simple, less frequently once-branched; pedicels 1-2 mm long below articulation. Flowers diurnal, ca. 5-6 cm diam.; calyx-lobes 5-9 x 5-8 mm; petals white, tinged with pink; androecial hood curved inward, yellow, more intensely yellow on inside and around margins, the staminal ring with ca. 190 stamens; ovary (3-)4-locular, with ca. 7 ovules per locule, the style 4 mm long. Fruits indehiscent, globose, 3-4.5 (excluding operculum) x 3.5-5 cm, the calycine ring inserted near middle, the lobes often pointing downward, the pericarp ca. 3 mm thick. Seeds with small aril.
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Discussion
Phenology. Flowers from Nov to Feb throughout its range. Common name. Jarana vermelha. This common name is selected because of the red inner bark of the species. Comments. Lecythis retusa is characterized by its (1) cylindric trunk, (2) fissured outer bark, (3) red inner bark, (4) elliptic to frequently oblong leaves with whitish abaxial surface, and (5) medium-sized fruits. It is not known if the fruits of this species fall to the ground with the seeds intact at maturity or if the seeds are released before the fruits fall.
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Distribution
Habitat. Terra firme. The 100-ha plot contains 11 individuals of this species =10 cm dbh.
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