Licania unguiculata Prance

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. 1972. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9: 1-410. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania unguiculata Prance

  • Type

    Type. Ducke RB 23599, Brazil, Rio Negro, above mouth of Rio Curicuriari, fl (holotype, K; isotype, RB).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor magna, ramulis juvenilibus puberulis mox glabris, lenticellatis. Folia alternata petiolata; petiolo 2.0-5.0 mm longo, tereti, glabro, rugoso, subtus cum glandulis duobus munito; laminae ovatae vel ellipticae, coriaceae, 5.5-16.0 cm longae, 3.5-6.8 cm latae, basi rotundatae vel subcuneatae, apice in acuminem 3.0 15.0 mm longum contractae, utrinque glabrae, subtus glandulosae; costa media supra prominente, glabra; costis secundariis 7-10 jugis, subtus prominentibus, supra leviter prominentibus. Stipulae lanceolatae, 2.0-4.0 mm longae, intrapetiolares, membranaceae, persistentes. Flores 5.0-6.0 mm longi, pedunculati, in paniculis racemosis terminalibus subterminalibusque dispositi, rachi ramisque puberulis. Bracteae bracteolaeque o.3-1.0 mm longae, ellipticae, persistentes, extus puberulae. Receptaculum campanulatum, extus tomentellum, intus dense villoso tomentosum; pedicelli 2.0-2.5 mm longi. Calycis-lobi acuti, utrinque tomentelli. Petala 5, pubes-centia, unguiculata, persistentia, calycis-lobos excedentia. Stamina circa 14, in orbem completum disposita, filamenta glabra, calycis-lobos duplo excedentia, pubescentia, basi connata. Ovarium ad basim receptaculi insertum, villoso-tomen-tosum. Stylus e basi ovarii ortus, calycis-lobos excedens, ad apicem hirsutus, Fructus immaturus elongato-cylindricus; epicarpio laevi; pericarpio fibroso, intus glabro.

  • Discussion

    Although this distinct species is placed in section Moquilea, the stamens are only shortly exserted. They appear less exserted because of the unusually long, persistent petals, which hide the filaments. Licania unguiculata is closely related to L. longipetala, both species possessing unguiculate exserted petals which are unique in the genus.

  • Distribution

    Non-flooded forest in western Brazilian Amazonia.

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