Parinari sprucei Hook.f.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Parinari sprucei Hook.f.

  • Type

    Type. Spruce 2539, Brazil, Amazonas, fl (holotype, K; isotypes, BM, BR, CGE, GH, GOET, LD, LE, NY, OXF, P).

  • Synonyms

    Ferolia sprucei (Hook.f.) Kuntze

  • Description

    Description - Tree to 20.0 m tall, the young branches villous becoming glabrous and lenticellate with age. Leaves ovate to oblong-ovate, 9.0-15.0 cm long, 4.5-6.0 cm broad, rounded at base, acuminate at apex, with acumen 8.0-16.0 mm long, glabrous above, tomentose beneath; primary veins 15-18 pairs, prominent beneath; midrib level above; petioles 7.0-13.0 mm long, terete, pubescent when young, with two glands at base. Stipules caducous (not seen). Inflorescences few-flowered axillary and terminal panicles not more than 2.0 cm long, the rachis and branches with short brown pubescence. Receptacle subcampanulate-turbinate, pubescent on exterior. Petals 5, white, shorter than calyx lobes. Stamens 7 fertile, unilateral with 7 short filamentous staminodes opposite them. Ovary and lower portion of style densely pilose. Fruit oblong, 5.0-6.0 cm long, 2.5 cm broad; epicarp densely verrucose; mesocarp fleshy; endocarp hard, thick, the exterior granular and fibrous, slightly channelled, lanate within.

  • Discussion

    Fruit edible. Comparative note. Leaves ovate to oblong-ovate 9.0-15.0 cm long, 4.5-6.0 cm broad, rounded at base, acuminate at apex, with acumen 8.0-16.0 mm long. Primary veins 15-18. Petioles terete. Inflorescences small axillary and terminal few-flowered panicles with short brown pubescence.

  • Common Names

    Varete

  • Distribution

    Riverine forest in the upper Rio Negro region of Brazil and adjacent Colombia and Venezuela.

    Colombia South America| Vichada Colombia South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|