Couepia chrysocalyx (Poepp.) 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 chrysocalyx (Poepp.) Benth. ex Hook.f.

  • Type

    Type. Poeppig 2306, Brazil, Amazonas, fl (lectotype, W; isolectotypes, F, NY); 2177, Brazil, Amazonas, fl (paratype, P).

  • Synonyms

    Moquilea chrysocalyx Poepp.

  • Description

    Description - Tree to 10.om tall. Leaves oblong, 10.0-22.0 cm long, 4.0-8.5 cm broad, rounded to cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, with acumen 4.0-12.0 mm long, glabrous above (or with sparse appressed pubescence when very young), densely silver-gray-arachnoid beneath; primary veins 15-20 pairs, prominent beneath; petioles 4.0-7.0 mm long sparsely pubescent, terete, with two sessile glands near base of lamina. Stipules to 7.0 mm long, linear, caducous. Inflorescences short densely-flowered axillary corymbose racemes, the rachis with short reddish-brown pubescence. Bracts and bracteoles 1.5-3.5 mm long; deciduous. Receptacle cylindrical, slightly curved, 9.0-14.0 mm long, with short reddish-brown pubescence on exterior, glabrous within except for deflexed hairs at throat, with thick walls leaving the cavity small; pedicels 2.0-3.0 mm long. Calyx lobes rounded. Petals 5, white, sparsely ciliate or glabrous on margins. Ovary densely villous. Style densely villous almost to apex. Stamens ca 100, inserted in a complete circle, the filaments far exserted, forming a dense tangled mass. Fruit globose to oblong, to 9.0 cm long; epicarp verrucose or smooth, glabrous; mesocarp thick, fleshy; endocarp thick, fragile, granular-fibrous, glabrous within.

  • Discussion

    Cultivated widely in the Amazon basin for its edible fruit, and as an ornamental.

  • Common Names

    Parinari

  • Distribution

    Non-flooded forest and secondary forest in Amazonia.

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