Byrsonima chrysophylla Kunth

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part XI. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 32: 1-391.

  • Family

    Malpighiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Byrsonima chrysophylla Kunth

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrubs or small trees 2-5(-9) m tall; stems sericeous to glabrate. Lamina of the leaves broadly elliptical, cuneate or obtuse at the base, acuminate at the apex, 7-17 cm long, 4-7(-9) cm wide, revolute, soon glabrate above except on midrib, densely sericeous to subtomentose below, the hairs brown, short-stalked, not parallel, over 0.5 mm long, usually persistent (except in vicinity of Manaus); principal lateral veins 8-12 pairs anastomosing at margin, alternating with weaker veins; petiole 5-15 mm long, sericeous; stipules 2-3 mm long, connate, abaxially sericeous. Inflorescence (4-)7-15 cm long, sericeous; bracts 1-3 mm long, narrowly triangular, spreading to revolute, deciduous; peduncle 0-1 mm long, 1(-2)-flowered; bracteoles like the bracts, but 1-1.5 mm long. Pedicel 5-11 mm long, loosely sericious, circinate in bud, usually decurved in fruit. Sepals all biglandular or all eglandular, broadly triangular, obtuse or rounded at the apex, appressed or revolute, 1.5-2 mm long, loosely sericeous on both sides. Petals yellow, glabrous, the posterior petal bearing 2 glands at apex of claw. Anthers 2-3 mm long, sericeous, especially between the locules, the connective equalling or slightly exceeding the apex of the locules, the locules narrowly linear and often free at the apex. Ovary glabrous. Fruit yellow, globose, ca 10 mm in diameter (dried), glabrous.

  • Discussion

    11. Byrsonima chrysophylla Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 5: 150 (4° ed.). 1821 [1822]. Type. Humboldt & Bonpland, San Carlos del Río Negro, Amazonas, Venezuela (P). This species is frequently encountered in or at the edge of savannas, and also along rivers; Steyermark 106978 is interesting as the first collection I have seen from uplands, but it too was growing in a savanna. Byrsonima chrysophylla seems to occur all the way down the Rio Negro to Manaus, where it is common. However, specimens from Manaus are somewhat different from those of the upper Rio Negro and Río Orinoco, especially in the tendency of the leaves to become glabrate.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Drainages ofthe upper Rio Orinoco, the Río Vaupes, and the Rio Negro; reported from Peru. Selected collections from Guayana and nearby: VENEZUELA. Amazonas: Foot of Duida, along Orinoco, Farinas et al 325 (VEN); region of San Fernando de Atabapo, Foldats 3621 (NY, VEN); Culebra Savanna, Rio Cunucunuma, 200 m, Maguire et al 29423 (MICH, NY, VEN); Santa Barbara, Maguire et al 30814 (MICH, NY, US, VEN); Yavita-Pimichín trall near Pimichín, Río Guainia, Maguire & Wurdack 36327 (MIC

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