Licania sprucei (Hook.f.) Fritsch

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania sprucei (Hook.f.) Fritsch

  • Type

    Type. Spruce 1801, Brazil, Amazonas, fl (holotype, K; isotypes, BM, CGE, GH, GOET, LD, LE, M, NY, P).

  • Synonyms

    Moquilea sprucei Hook.f.

  • Description

    Description - Small to medium-sized tree to 20.0 m tall, the young branches glabrous or puberulous. Leaves oblong to oblong-elliptic, thick-coriaceous, 6.0-20.0 cm long, 2.5-6.5 cm broad, acuminate at apex, with acumen 4.0-15.0 mm long, rounded to subcuneate at base, the upper surface glabrous, well developed stomatal cavities on lower surface, venation plane, with slit-like apertures to cavities filled with lanate pubescence; midrib prominent above, glabrous; primary veins 9-11 pairs, prominent below; petioles 6.0-10.0 mm long, sparsely puberulous, becoming glabrous, terete to shallowly canaliculate, rugose, with two glands on upper surface at base of lamina. Stipules caducous (not seen). Inflorescences terminal and axillary panicles, the rachis and branches sparsely puberulous. Flowers ca 3.0 mm long, in small cymules on short secondary inflorescence branches 2.0-5.0 mm long. Bracts and bracteoles ca 1 mm long, ovate, persistent, serrate, often with stipitate glands. Receptacle campanulate, puberulous on exterior, villous-tomentose within; pedicels ca 0.5 mm long. Calyx lobes acute, puberulous on both surfaces. Petals absent. Stamens 10, inserted in a complete circle; filaments exceeding calyx lobes, free almost to base, glabrous. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, villous. Style villous for most of length, equalling filaments. Fruit globose; exterior smooth, glabrous, drying black; mesocarp thin, fleshy; endocarp thin, fibrous, puberulous within.

  • Discussion

    Flowering June to October.

  • Common Names

    Caripé

  • Distribution

    Primary forest on non-flooded ground and secondary forest in southern Guyana and in the Manaus region of Brazil.

    Guyana South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Guanabara Brazil South America|