Couepia subcordata Benth. ex Hook.f.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Couepia subcordata Benth. ex Hook.f.

  • Type

    Type. Spruce 1423, Brazil, Amazonas, fl (holotype, K; isotypes, CGE, LE, M, NY, OXF, P).

  • Synonyms

    Couepia amazonica Fritsch, Moquilea inaequalis Poepp. ex Fritsch

  • Description

    Description - Medium-sized tree. Leaves oblong-elliptic, 12.0-17.0 cm long, 5.5-7.5 cm broad, membraneous, cordate to rounded at base, acuminate at apex, with acumen 3.0-8.0 mm long, glabrous above, with short, thick, silver-gray to brown-arachnoid pubescence beneath; primary veins 13-17 pairs, prominent beneath; petioles 6.0-7.0 mm long, pubescent, terete, eglandular. Stipules ca 2 mm long, deciduous. Inflorescences terminal and axillary panicles, the rachis and branches with short dense light brown pubescence. Bracts and bracteoles ovate, 6.0-11.0 mm long, often as long as the receptacle tube, persistent up to early flowering. Receptacle subcylindrical, 9.0-12.0 mm long, with short dense pubescence on exterior, glabrous within except for deflexed hairs at throat; pedicels 1.0-2.0 mm long. Calyx lobes acute. Petals 5, white, ciliate on margins. Stamens ca 35, inserted in a complete circle. Ovary villous. Style pubescent for two thirds its length. Fruit ellipsoid, 4.5-9.0 cm long, 3.0-5.0 cm broad; epicarp smooth, glabrous; mesocarp thick and fleshy; endocarp thin, fragile, fibrous, glabrous within.

  • Discussion

    Cultivated in the vicinity of Manaus as shade plant. The wood is used in carpentry and for carving.

  • Common Names

    Marirana, Umarirana

  • Distribution

    Forest in central Amazonian Brazil.

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