Couepia recurva Spruce ex Prance

• Authority

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

• Family

  Chrysobalanaceae

• Scientific Name

  Couepia recurva Spruce ex Prance

• Type

  Type. Spruce 5067, Ecuador, 'In Andibus Ecuadorensibus', fl (holotype, NY; isotypes, BM, CGE, K, LE, OXF).

• Description

  Latin Diagnosis - Arbor?, ramulis juvenilibus rufo-pubescentibus lenticellatis. Stipulae ad 3.0 mm longae, caducae. Folia alternata, breviter petiolata, petiolo circa 2.0 mm longo hirsuto; laminae oblongo-ovatae, 5.5-7.5 cm longae, 3.0-4.0 cm latae, margine integrae, apice in acuminem ad 9.0 mm longum contractae, basi rotundatae, utrin-que sparse hirsutae; costis secundariis 10-12 jugis, subtus prominentibus. Flores in racemis axillaribus breviter rufo-brunneo-hirsutis dispositi. Bracteae bracteolaeque caducae (haud visae). Receptaculum cylindricum, 20.0-25.0 mm longum, extus rufo-brunneo-hirsutum; intus dense tomentosum; pedicelli 5.0-7.0 mm longi. Calycis-lobi 5, rotundati. Petala 5, decidua, obtusa, margine glabra. Stamina circa 17, unilateralia, filamentis hirsutis. Ovarium ad faucem receptaculi insertum, dense pubescens. Stylus e basi ovarii ortus, pilosus. Fructus mihi ignoti.

• Discussion

  This species is distinct from all other species of Couepia by the hirsute filaments and leaves. The receptacle is filled with hairs right to the base, but C. recurva is very unlike the other species of Couepia with this character. It does, in fact, resemble many species of Hirtella in most floral characters, but must be placed in Couepia because of the number of stamens.