Haploclathra paniculata (Mart.) Benth.

• Authority

  Lleras, Eduardo. 1972. Review of the Genus Haploclathra (Bonnetiaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 22 (4): 129-136.

• Family

  Clusiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Haploclathra paniculata (Mart.) Benth.

• Description

  Species Description - Tree, the branchlets terete, with a reddish brown pubescence. Leaves opposite, subopposite or verticillate; the petioles 10-25 mm long, 2-3 mm thick, with reddish brown pubescence, or rarely glabrous; lamina elliptic to obovate-elliptic, sometimes ovate or oblong, 9-25 cm long, 5-10 cm wide, coriaceous, the upper epidermis glabrous, the lower epidermis glabrous or slightly pubescent not punctate, the midrib prominent on lower epidermis the nervation pinnate, the margins entire, acuminate or obtuse at apex, truncate or slightly cordate at base. Inflorescence a paniculate dichasia, to 40 cm long almost 1/2 as wide as long, the central axis with opposite or verticillate branches diminishing in length towards the apex; bracts subtending the branches, caducous, rarely foliaceous, then up to 5 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, coriaceous. Flowers subtended by 2 deltoid or lanceolate pubescent bracts, 4-12 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, coriaceous; sepals 5, quincuncial, deltoid or ovate, 6-10 mm long, coriaceous, with a reddishbrown pubescence, the central nerve prominent; petals 5, imbricately contorted, obovate, 13-22 mm long, 10-15 mm wide, laterally coriaceous along exposed sides, the coriaceous half gray or yellowish-pubescent, the noncoriaceous part with a mucronate appendage 1/2 of the way up the petal on the involute side, membranaceous, subacuminate or obtuse at apex; stamens numerous, free, persistent, insertions forming a ring; filaments slender, 5-8 mm long; anthers 5-7 mm long, ca 1.0 mm wide, caducous; pollen tricoporate, ca 30 µ in diameter, deltoid in a polar view, globose in equatorial view, reticulate; ovary subglobose to globose, 2-4 mm in diameter, brown or golden-brown pubescent, triloculate, each locule uni-ovulate, ovules attached to the lateral septae; style 5-9 mm long, ca 1 mm thick, sometimes pubescent, pubescence as on the ovary; stigma capitate, trilobate, 2-2.5 mm in diameter, depressed at the center. Fruit a oblong-ovate to subglobose capsule, 2-3 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm thick, acuminate at apex, trivalvate, dehiscent from the apex down, brown (in sicco); seed ca 20 mm long, 10 mm wide, compressed.

• Discussion

  Caraipa paniculata Martius. Nov. Gen. et Spec. 1: 104. 1824.