Cinchona pyrifolia L.Andersson

  • Authority

    Andersson, Lennart. 1998. A revision of the genus (Rubiaceae--Cinchoneae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 80: 1-75.

  • Family

    Rubiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cinchona pyrifolia L.Andersson

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor ad 12 m alta ramis juvenibus glabris. Stipula 0.8-1.7 cm longa, glabra; petiolus glaber, 1.2-3.3 cm longus, saepe debiliter definitus; lamina in sicco chartacea, obovata, longitudine vulgo 2plo ad 3plo latitudine, ad basin cuneata vel attenuata, ad apicem breviter et ± obtuse acuminata, 6.9-19 X 2.2-8.3 cm, adaxiali pagina nitida, glabra, abaxiali pagina glabra, vel costa sparse puberulis, domatia desunt. Calyx 2.8-3.2 mm longus lobis 0.8-0.9 mm longis; corollae tubus 7.1-7.6 mm longus intus glaber, lobi 2-2.3 mm longi; ovarium dense puberulus. Capsula ± ellipsoidea, 7-21 X 4-5 mm, endocarpio tenui chartaceo. Semina 5.1-5.7 X 1.2-1.7 mm ala inclusa, ala margine ± fimbriati.

    Species Description - Tree to 12 m tall and 25 cm dbh. Young branches glabrous. Stipules glabrous, 0.8-1.7 X 0.4-0.7 cm; petioles 1.2-3.3 cm long, glabrous; leaf blades chartaceous when dry, 6.9-19 X 2.2-8.3 cm, elliptic to obovate (length:width ratio 1.9-3.3), cuneate to attenuate at base, shortly and ± obtusely acuminate at apex, secondary veins 9-11 pairs, prominulous above, moderately prominent beneath, tertiary venation level on both sides, obscure, adaxial surface glossy, glabrous, abaxial surface glabrous throughout, or midrib sparsely puberulous, margin slightly revolute, domatia absent. Inflorescence axes ± densely puberulous. Calyx 2.8-3.2 mm long with lobes 0.8-0.9 mm, sparsely puberulous outside, glabrous inside, without colleters; corolla pink to purplish, tube 7.1-7.6 mm long, glabrous inside, lobes 2-2.3 mm long; only one, probably short-styled, flower morph seen, with filaments attached 3.6-3.8 mm (ca. 50% of tube length) above base of corolla tube, 3.5-4.7 mm long, anthers ca. 2.9 X 0.7 mm; ovary densely puberulous, ca. 1.4 X 1.4 mm; style 3.3-4.3 mm, stigmatic lobes 2.4-2.7 mm; disk glabrous. Capsules ± ellipsoid, 7-21 X 4-5 mm, acropetally dehiscent, with chartaceous endocarp ca. 0.2 mm thick. Seeds 5.1-5.7 X 1.2-1.7 mm including wing, wing margin ± fimbriate.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution and habitat. Known only from the Cordillera Azul, department of Huánuco, E central Peru (Fig. 14C), occurring at altitudes between ca. 1400 and 1900 m.

  • Discussion

    Type. Peru. Huánuco: Prov. Huamalies, La Divisoria pass in the Cordillera Azul, near Fundo Cinchona, ca. 1890 m, 9 Mar 1945, W. H. Hodge 6261 (holotype, F 1360115; isotype, F). Cinchona pyrifolia is similar to C. lucumifolia and C. lancifolia in having proportionally narrow leaf blades that are chartaceous in texture, are glossy on the adaxial side, and have a very obscure tertiary venation. It differs from C. lucumifolia in having a shortly acuminate (vs. obtuse) leaf apex, inflorescence axes and ovaries densely puberulous (vs. glabrous), a chartaceous (vs. woody) endocarp, and ± fimbriate (vs. ± finely dentate) seed wings. It differs from C. lancifolia in the lack of domatia (vs. ± distinct tuft domatia usually present), in having smaller flowers (corolla tube 7.1-7.6 vs. 8.3-12 mm) and smaller (5.1-5.7 vs. 7-11 mm long) seeds.