Connarus penningtonii Prance

• Authority

  Prance, Ghillean T. 1966. New and interesting Connaraceae from South America. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 15: 129-132.

• Family

  Connaraceae

• Scientific Name

  Connarus penningtonii Prance

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - Frutex scandens, ramis lenticellis verrucosis obtectis, adultis glabratis. Folia imparipinnata, 3-4 juga, rhachi 15-29 cm longa, primum puberula mox glabrata;foliola 8-15 cm longa, 3-4.5 cm lata, oblongo-lanceolata, apice breviter acuminata vel cuspidata, basi rotundata, chartacea, nitidula, glabra, utrinque reticulata; costae secundariae utrinque 10—13, ante marginem arcuatim confluentes; petiolula 3-4 mm longa, crassa, glabra. Inflorescentiae terminales axillaresque, paniculatae, densiflorae, rhachis cum folio aequantibus, puberulis demum glabratis, pilis simplicibus munitis. Flores ignoti. Folliculus 2 cm longus, 1 cm latus, apice hamatus, a latere paulo compressus, obliquus, basi in stipitem gracilem, 4-6 mm longum contracti, sutura ventrali arcuata; pericarpium coriaceum extus glabrum, striatum, intus glabrum. Semen basi arilo bilobato, margine crenulato munitum.

• Discussion

  Note: This species belongs to subgenus Neoconnarus, section Euneoconnarus of Schellenberg. It is related to C. cymosus and C. nodosus of southern Brazil, but differs in the narrow oblong lanceolate leaflets. It is also related to C. ecuadorensis from which it differs in the glabrous leaflets, and the larger number of primary veins. Both collections of this species are from river banks. The vernacular name is “Cipo-tapa.”