Licania persaudii Fanshawe & Maguire

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania persaudii Fanshawe & Maguire

  • Type

    Types. Persaud 35, Guyana, fl (lectotype, NY; isolectotypes, F, K, US); De La Cruz 1670, Guyana, fl (paratypes, F, GH, MO, NY, US); Fanshawe 1086 (F.D. 3822), Guyana, fl bud (paratypes, K, NY); 1359 (F.D. 40Q5), fr (paratypes, K, NY, P, U); 1700 (F.D. 4436), fl (paratypes, K, NY).

  • Description

    Description - Tree to 30.0 m tall, the young branches glabrous, not conspicuously lenticellate. Leaves elliptic to oblong, coriaceous, 9.0-20.0 cm long, 3.5-8.0 cm broad, abruptly apiculate-acuminate at apex, with acumen 8.0-12 o mm long, subcuneate to rounded-subcuneate at base, glabrous on upper surface, the lower surface with rather open stomatal cavities obscured by a dense lanate pubescence at the mouth; midrib prominent above, gabrous; primary veins 8-10 pairs, prominent below; petioles 7.0-10.0 mm long, puberulous to glabrescent, transversely rugose, terete to shallowly canaliculate, with two glands at junction with lamina. Stipules caducous (not seen). Inflorescences terminal and axillary racemose panicles, the rachis and branches arachnoid-pubescent, becoming puberulous with age. Flowers 3.0-4.0 mm long, mostly in small cymules on short distinct secondary inflorescence branches 2.0-5.0mm long; some flowers sessile on primary branches. Bracts and bracteoles ovate, 2.0-3.5 mm long, persistent, often slightly serrate, eglandular, sparsely pubescent on exterior. Receptacle campanulate, the exterior short-gray-pubescent, villous-tomentose within; pedicels 0-0.2 mm long. Calyx lobes acute, pubescent on both surfaces. Petals absent. Stamens 9-10, inserted in a complete circle; filaments far exceeding calyx lobes, glabrous, free to base. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, villous. Style villous at base, the upper portion glabrous, equalling or exceeding filaments. Fruit globose, 1.8-2.0 cm diameter; epicarp smooth, glabrous, drying black; mesocarp thin, fleshy; endocarp thin, fibrous, puberulous within.

  • Discussion

    Flowering January to July.

  • Common Names

    Kauta

  • Distribution

    Confined to primary forests of Guyana.

    Guyana South America|