Anomospermum reticulatum subsp. nitidum (Miers) Krukoff & Barneby

Authority

Barneby, Rupert C. & Krukoff, Boris A. 1971. Supplementary notes on American Menispermaceae. VIII. A generic survey of the American Tricilisisae and Anomospermeae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 22: 1-89.

Family

Menispermaceae

Scientific Name

Anomospermum reticulatum subsp. nitidum (Miers) Krukoff & Barneby

Description

Species Description - Leaves essentially as in subsp. reticulatum, varying from ovate-acuminate to broadly oblong, nearly always setulose beneath; drupe externally like that of subsp. reticulatum but smaller, 2-2.6 cm long, 1.2-1.8 cm diam, the exocarp 0.8-1.3 mm thick, the mesocarp almost 0, the thinly woody endocarp 2-2.3 cm long, 1.3-1.5 mm wide, its testa 0.5-0.8 mm thick, externally smooth between the incised veinlets but impressed along each side of the long dorsal curve as a row of small pits corresponding with slender prongs intruded into the seed-cavity (Miers, Feb. 1830; BurcheU 3599; Glaziou 13515,13516,13517).

Discussion

Anomospermum nitidum Miers, Contr. Bot. 3: 69, fig. 102. 1871.

Anomospermum ovatum Miers, Contr. Bot. 3: 70. 1871.

Type locality: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The subsp. nitidum cannot be distinguished from subsp. reticulatum by any known character of the leaves or staminate flowers. Its drupe is distinctive, however, and its range widely disjunct. The drupe resembles that of the thin-shelled phase of subsp. reticulatum, but is constantly smaller. The endocarp of subsp. reticulatum is smooth externally and simply undulate-veiny within, whereas that of subsp. nitidum is decorated outside with a row of small pits corresponding with inwardly directed prongs. The prongs and pits reappear in the endocarp of subsp. idroboi, far distant in sub-Andean Colombia, but there combined with a larger drupe and an endocarpic testa tumulose between the incised veinlets.

Distribution

Distribution (9 collections): Known only from State of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Brazil South America|