Ouratea superba Engl.

Authority

Maguire, Bassett. 1989. The Botany of the Guayana Highland- Part XIII. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 51: 1-127.

Family

Ochnaceae

Scientific Name

Ouratea superba Engl.

Description

Species Description - Tree. Leaves chartaceous to subcoriaceous, somewhat shining above, oblong- to lance-elliptic, acutely acuminate at apex, obtuse to subacute at base, 7-15 cm long, 2-5.2 cm wide, manifestly uniformly subobtusely senulate, with about 7 serrulations per cm, upper surface with the main lateral and intermediate nerves finely impressed but not prominulous, the tertiary venation scarcely or not evident, lower surface with the nervation very finely prominulous, impressed, the tertiary venation elongated, subparallel, and subhorizontal; petioles 3-7 mm long. Inflorescence shortly paniculate, 5-10 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, the 2-4 main lower axes 1.5-4 cm long. the 2-4 shorter, upper axes 0.5-1 cm long; pedicels 5-14 mm long. Flowers solitary or fasciculate. Floral bud lanceolate, acute, 10-15 m m long, 3-4 mm wide. Sepals narrowly lanceolate to ligulate-lanceolate, subacute at apex, (10-)12- 15 cm long, 2.5-3 mm wide. Petals oblong-obovate

Distribution and Ecology - Lowland rain forests of the Guianas and eastem Venezuela.

Discussion

Specimens examined. VENEZUELA, apure: Reserva Forestal San Camilo, selva siempreverde a lo largo de la Quebrada de la Cristolina hasta la vega del Cerro La Nulita, 250-280 m, 2 Apr 1968, Steyermark, Bunting & Blanco 101762 (NY, VEN); Reserva Forestal San Camilo, Cerro Nulita, oeste de la carretera, 4.5-5 km al norte del caserio San Camilo (El Nula), a lo largo meridional del Rio Nulita, 280 m, 3 Apr 1968, Steyermark, Bunting & Blanco 101785 (NY, VEN). bolivar: En la playa abierta del Medio Caura, Salto de Para, 280 m, 9 Mar 1939, Williams 11447 (VEN); en la orilla de una laguna, Temblador, medio Caura, 100 m, 1 Apr 1939, Williams 11683 (NY, VEN); en las rebalsas de Guayapo, bajo Caura, 100 m, 1 May 1939, Williams 11993 (NY, VEN); La Paragua, 70 m, 14 Mar 1940, Williams 12575 (VEN); en la sabana de La Paragua, 70 m, 15 Mar 1940, Williams 12583A (VEN); en la orilla de un riachuelo. El Tigre, cerca del Rio Cuchivero, 90 m, 13 Jun 1940, Williams 13312 (VEN); between Salto de Auraima and La Chorrera de Aguacanta, a lo largo del Rio Paragua, 260-270 m, 18 Apr 1943, Killip 37550 (VEN); Cafio Mauarepa (junto al Cerro Perro), Alto Paragua, Jul 1943, Cardona 806 (VEN); Raudal Guaiquinima, Alto Rio Paragua, 300 m, 20 Jul 1944, Cardona 1085 (VEN); alrededores de la boca Tirika en el Caroni, 400 m. May 1945, Cardona 1173 (VEN); Rio Abacapa, afluente del Acapara, region de Uriman, 400-500 m, 16 Aug 1954, Bernardi 1436 (NY); San Pedro de las Dos Bocas, W bank of river, adjacent savanna and slopes, 6°59'N, 62°59'W, 200 m, 24 Jul 1978, Liesner & Gonzalez 5514, 5560 (MO, VEN). territorio delta amacuro: Orinoco Delta, Caiio del Corisal-Corisal, 26 Feb 1911, Bond, Gillin & Brown 193 (NY).

G U Y A N A . Ad fluv. Rupununi, 12 Jul 1852, Rob. Schomburgk 360 (isotype of O. superba N Y , photos B, K); Govemer Falls, Corentyn River, Rocky Island, Sep, no year given. Forest Dept. Brit. Guiana W B (Record No. 6482) (NY); swamps between Pirara and Karanambo, Rupununi, 7 Feb 1952, Forest Dept. Brit. Guiana 6815 (Record No, G185) (NY).