Licania longipetala Prance

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania longipetala Prance

  • Type

    Type. Schunke 288, Peru, Loreto, Río Mazan, Gamitanacocha, fl (holotype, NY; isotypes, A, F, S, US).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor magna, ramulis juvenilibus glabrescentibus mox glabris, lenticellatis. Folia alternata petiolata; petiolo 3.0-5.0 mm longo, tereti, glabro, rugoso, subtus cum glandulis duobus munito; laminae oblongo-ellipticae vel ellipticae, coriaceae, 8.0-16.0 cm longae, 3.0-6.5 cm latae, basi rotundatae vel subcuneatae, apice in acuminem 5.0-15.0 mm longum contractae, utrinque glabrae, sutus glandulosae; costa media supra leviter prominente, glabra; costis secundariis 9-12 jugis, subtus prominentibus, supra leviter prominentibus. Stipulae lanceolatae, circa 3.0 mm longae, intrapetiolares, membranaceae, persistentes. Flores 3.0 mm longi, haud pedunculati, in paniculis racemosis terminalibus subterminalibusque dispositi, rachi ramisque puberulis. Bracteae bracteolaeque 0.3-1.o mm longae, ovatae, persistentes, extus puberulae. Receptaculum campanulatum, subsessile, extus griseo-tomentellum, intus dense villoso-tomentosum; pedicelli 0-0.25 mm longi. Calycis-lobis acuti, utrinque tomentelli. Petala 5, pubescentia, unguiculata, persis-tentia, calycis-lobos excedentia. Stamina circa 14, in orbem completum disposita, filamenta glabra, calycis-lobos dupla excedentia, pubescentia, basi connata. Ovarium ad basim receptaculi insertum, glabrescentum vel glabrum. Stylus e basi ovarii ortus, calycis-lobos excedens, sparse hirsutus. Fructus mihi ignoti.

  • Discussion

    The Chamas Indians of Peru burn the bark, and use the ashes in ceramics to harden the clay used for jars, pitchers, etc.

    This species is close to L. unguiculata, but distinct by the much smaller, nearly sessile flowers and the glabrous ovary.

    Flowering January to April.

  • Common Names

    Apacharana

  • Distribution

    Periodically flooded forest in Amazonian Peru and Brazil.

    Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America|