Byrsonima incarnata Sandwith

  • 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 incarnata Sandwith

  • Description

    Species Description - Tree 12-20 m tall, the stems densely sericeous to glabrate. Lamina ofthe larger leaves 12-25.5 cm long, 6.5-11 cm wide, obovate, cuneate or attenuate at the base, slightly revolute at the margin, usually abruptly short-acuminate at the apex, thinly sericeous to glabrate, the lateral veins prominent on both sides and interconnected by ± parallel tertiary veins; petiole 10-20(-23) mm long, sericeous to eventually glabrate; stipules 4-7 mm long, nearly to quite connate, the pair triangular, acute, usuaHy sulcate and sometimes bidentate at apex, abaxially densely sericeous to glabrate, adaxially glabrous. Inflorescence 12-18 cm long, loosely sericeous, the flowers borne 1 per bract, the bracts 4-5 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, deciduous before anthesis; peduncle none; bracteoles 2 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, deciduous before anthesis. Pedicel ca 5 mm long in flower, up to 10 mm long in fruit, velutinous, straight in bud, straight or decurved in fruit. Sepals 2 mm long beyond the glands, 2-2.5 mm wide, rounded at the apex, appressed, densely tomentose-sericeous on both sides, accrescent in fruit, eventually 5-6 mm long and wide and notably auriculate, the 10 glands 2-2.5 mm long, pink or red, obovate, compressed. Petals white or pale pink, glabrous. Filaments 2 mm long, abaxially bearing a few hairs, adaxially hirsute at the base; anthers glabrous, 1.9-2.4 mm long, the locules 1-1.3 mm long, linear, non-alate, acute at the apex, the connective fleshy, much enlarged, exceeding the locules by 0.9-1.4 mm , the extension often reflexed and tapered distaHy to a blunt point. Ovary densely sericeous, ovoid, the anterior locule sterile; styles 1.5 mm long. Fruit ca 12 mm in diameter (dried), globose with a short apical extension, "green" (blue and glaucous when dried), sericeous to glabrate with some hairs usually persistent at the apex, the flesh thick, the nut rugose.

  • Discussion

    Type. Forest Dept. 2737, Moraballi Creek, Essequibo River, British Guiana [Guyana], Oct flr (K?). This seems to be primarily a lowland species. It is included in this treatment because ofthe one collection from the Kaieteur Plateau, and in order to facilitate its comparison with the similar Byrsonima christianeae.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Known only from the type and the following collections. GUYANA. Forest along Potaro River, ca 1 mile above Kaieteur Falls, 420 m, Feb frt. Cowan & Soderstrom 1757 (NY, US); Wallaba forest, 50 miles, Bartica-Potaro Road, Nov flr/imm frt. Forest Dept. 1436 (NY); Wallaba forest on white sand, 65 miles, Bartica-Potaro Road, Nov imm frt. Forest Dept. 2793 (NY, US); sandy Wallaba forest near 14th milepost, Bartica-Potaro Road, Aug bud, Sandwith 1145 (NY).

    Guyana South America|