Licania longistyla (Hook.f.) Fritsch

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania longistyla (Hook.f.) Fritsch

  • Type

    Type. Spruce 3232, Venezuela, Terr. Amazonas, fl (holotype, K; isotypes, BM, BR, GH, LE, NY, OXF, P).

  • Synonyms

    Moquilea longistyla Hook.f.

  • Description

    Description - Small to medium-sized tree to 20.0 m tall, the young branches puberulous, soon becoming glabrous. Leaves elliptic, coriaceous, 6.0-23.0 cm long, 3.5-10.0 cm broad, acuminate at apex, with acumen 3.0-12.0 mm long, rounded to subcuneate at base, glabrous on upper surface, rarely papillose, the lower surface bearing well developed stomatal cavities with flattened venation leaving small slit-like lanate-pubescent apertures; midrib prominent above, pubescent towards base, becoming glabrous with age; primary veins 9-12 pairs, prominent below; petioles 5.0-13.0 mm long, terete, eglandular, densely pubescent, becoming glabrescent with age. Stipules linear, 3.0-8.0 mm long, membraneous, intrapetiolar, subpersistent. Inflorescences terminal and axillary racemose panicles, the rachis and branches gray-tomentellous. Flowers ca 3.0 mm long, solitary on primary branches of inflorescence. Bracts and bracteoles 2.0-5.0 mm long, ovate to lanceolate, serrulate, usually with stipitate glands. Receptacle campanulate, gray-tomentose on exterior, densely villous-tomentose within; pedicels 0.5-1.5 mm long. Calyx lobes acute, tomentose on exterior, puberulous within. Petals absent. Stamens ca 10, inserted in a complete circle; filaments far exceeding calyx lobes, free to base, glabrous. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, villous. Style villous on lower portion, equalling or exceeding filaments. Fruit globose, 2.5-3.5 mm in diameter; epicarp with appressed sordid yellow-velutinous pubescence ; pericarp undifferentiated, thin, fragile, fibrous, sparsely villous within.

  • Common Names

    Merecurillo Blanco, Caripé, Uchi de Cotia

  • Distribution

    Periodically flooded forest of the Guianas and Amazonia.

    Venezuela South America| Delta Amacuro Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|