Licania elliptica Standl.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania elliptica Standl.

  • Type

    Type. Krukoff 5014, Brazil, Amazonas, fl (holotype, F; isotypes, A, BM, K, LE, M, MICH, MO, NY, S, U, US).

  • Synonyms

    Licania paniculata Fanshawe & Maguire

  • Description

    Description - Medium-sized tree, the young branches glabrous, lenticellate. Leaves elliptic, coriaceous, (10.5-) 12.0-19.0 cm long, 4.0-8.o cm broad, the apex with well developed acumen 5.0-15.0 mm long, rounded to cuneate at base, the margins plane; upper surface glabrous, with two glands at margin towards base; lower surface with waxy gray pulverulent-furfuraceous pubescence; midrib glabrous above, prominulous; primary veins 8-9 pairs, prominent beneath, prominulous above; petioles 4.0-7.o mm long, glabrous, shallowly canaliculate, often with two rather obscure medial, sessile glands. Stipules to 3.0 mm long, linear, coriaceous, persistent, adnate to extreme base of petiole. Inflorescences terminal and axillary spreading branched panicles, the rachis and branches glabrous or sparsely puberulous. Flowers ca 1.5 mm long, in small groups on short thick peduncles attached to primary and secondary branches of inflorescence. Bracts and bracteoles o.3-1.0 mm long, deltoid, persistent, puberulous on exterior. Receptacle campanulate, sessile, tomentellous on exterior, puberulous within. Calyx lobes acute, puberulous on both surfaces. Petals absent. Stamens 3-5, unilateral; filaments shorter than calyx lobes, glabrous, free to base. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, tomentose. Style equalling filaments, sparsely pubescent throughout. Fruit pyriform, ca 3.6 cm long; epicarp glabrous, drying wrinkled and yellow; mesocarp thin; endocarp thick, hard, fibrous, hirsutulous within.

  • Discussion

    This species is very similar to L. canescens, but, to judge from the admittedly limited material at hand, still distinct, especially by the much larger leaves.

  • Common Names

    Marishiballi hariraroe

  • Distribution

    Primary forest in Suriname and Amazonian Brazil.

    Suriname South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|