Ouratea surinamensis (Planch.) Wehlb.

  • 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 surinamensis (Planch.) Wehlb.

  • Description

    Species Description - Procumbent shrub. Leaves coriaceous, lanceto oblong-elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to acute at apex, subobtuse to cuneately acute at base, 7-17 cm long, (2.5-)3-6.5(-7) cm wide, uniformly minutely crenulate above the base with 6-7 crenulations per cm, upper surface with a finely engraved insculpted venation, the ascending lateral nerves at a 45°-50° angle slightly more engraved than the elongated subparallel tertiary veins and intermediate nerves, the lower surface with a pebbly or granulose aspect between the ascending, slightly engraved, relatively few (4- 10) pairs of primary lateral nerves, the tertiary venation with a faintly engraved, horizontal, subparallel pattem; petioles (5-) 12-20 mm long. Inflorescence paniculate, 5-8(-10) cm long, 3-6 cm wide with 1-3 short, relatively few-flowered axes 1-3(-5) cm long; pedicels (6-)7-9 mm long. Flower bud ovoid, subobtuse 5-6 mm long, 3 m m wide. Sepals ligulate-oblong, subobtuse, 5-

    Distribution and Ecology - Savannas and savanna areas of the Guianas at 400-565 m elevation.

  • Discussion

    Gomphia surinamensis Planchon, London J. Bot. 6: 13. 1847.

    Gomphia isophylla Garcke, Linnaea 22: 57. 1849.

    Ouratea subscandens (Planchon) Engl. var. surinamensis (Planchon) Engl., Mart. Fl. bras. 12(2): 323. 1876.

    Ouratea isophylla (Garcke) van Tieghem, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. VIII 16: 293. 1902.

    Specimens examined. GUYANA. Moist open savanna, vie. Hariwa Quarry, 32 mi S of Mackenzie, 18 Jan 1955, Cowan 39285 (NY).

    SURINAM. Hostmann 1215 (type of O. subscandens var. surinamensis, photo Delessert Herb.); Savanna No. 2, 565 m, Tafelberg, 7 Aug 1944, Maguire 24249 (NY, U); Savanna No. 4, Tafelberg, 15 Aug 1944, Maguire 26175 (NY); Savanna No. 5, Tafelberg, 16 Aug 1944, Maguire 24389a (NY); open low savanna forest, and in open low Dimorphandra conjugata forest on zandery sands, Wayombo River, E of Donderkreek, 22 Sep 1955, Schulz 7331 (NY).

    FRENCH GUIANA. Cantonnement de St. Laurent, 1961, Lemoine 7948 (NY).

    Ouratea surinamensis is distinctive in having a much elongated toms and conspicuously engraved veins on both leaf surfaces.