Licania operculipetala Standl. & L.O.Williams
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Authority
Prance, Ghillean T. 1972. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9: 1-410. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Chrysobalanaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Allen 6030, Costa Rica, fl (holotype, EAP, not seen; isotypes, GH, US).
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Description
Description - Large tree to 35.0 m tall, buttressed to about 2.5 m, the young branches glabrous but not lenticellate. Leaves elliptic, coriaceous, 12.0-17.0 cm long, 4.0-6.o cm broad, obtuse or short-acuminate at apex, with acumen to 7.0 mm long, subcuneate at base, glabrous on both surfaces; palisade glands frequent beneath; midrib prominulous above, glabrous; primary veins 8-12 pairs, prominulous on both surfaces; petioles 5.0-7.0 mm long, glabrous, terete, with two glands at junction with lower surface of lamina. Stipules to 2.0 mm long, subulate, intrapetiolar, persistent. Inflorescences terminal panicles, the rachis and branches almost glabrous. Flowers 1.5 mm long, in small groups on short secondary branches (peduncles) of inflorescence. Bracts and bracteoles minute, persistent, entire. Receptacle turbinate, almost glabrous on exterior, tomentose within; pedicels o.5-1.0 mm long. Calyx lobes acute, glabrous, ciliate. Petals 5, pubescent. Stamens 5, inserted in a complete circle; filaments shorter than calyx lobes, glabrous, free to base. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, glabrous. Style glabrous, scarcely exceeding ovary. Fruit unknown.
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Discussion
Licania operculipetala can be distinguished from related species by the shape of the inflorescence, the glabrous ovary, and the glabrous exterior of the receptacle and calyx lobes.
Known only from two collections from the forested hills of Puntarenas Province of Costa Rica. Flowering March. COSTA RICA. Allen 6032 fl (F, MEXU).
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Distribution
Costa Rica South America|