Hirtella ulei Pilg.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hirtella ulei Pilg.

  • Type

    Types. Ule 6150, Brazil, Amazonas, fl (holotype, B, lost; lectotype, HBG; isotype, MG).

  • Description

    Description - Shrub to 4.0 m tall, the young branches glabrous becoming lenticellate with age. Leaves coriaceous, ovate-elliptic, 6.5-13.0 cm long, 4.0-7.0 cm broad, acuminate at apex, with acumen 2.0-6.0 mm long, rounded to subcordate at base, glabrous beneath, with palisade glands frequent towards base; primary veins 8-12 pairs, prominulous on both surfaces; midrib prominulous above, glabrous and prominent beneath; petioles 3.0-7.0 mm long, puberulous, becoming glabrous with age, eglandular, terete. Stipules 1.0-2.0 mm long, deltoid, intrapetiolar, puberulous, eglandular, persistent. Inflorescences terminal panicles 10.0-45.0 cm long, the rachis and branches puberulous to glabrescent. Bracts and bracteoles 1.5-4.0 mm long, ovate, persistent, puberulous, with numerous stipitate glands. Flowers 5.0-7.0 mm long, Receptacle campanulate, puberulous on exterior, glabrous within except for reflexed hairs at throat; pedicels 1.0-2.0 mm long. Calyx lobes acute, with small stipitate glands on margins, glabrescent on exterior, pubescent within. Petals 5, pink, glabrous. Stamens 6-7, unilateral, the filaments far exceeding calyx lobes. Style hirsute on lower portion up to one third its length. Ovary inserted at mouth of receptacle, pilose. Fruit oblong; epicarp glabrous; mesocarp very thin, fleshy; endocarp thin, hard, bony.

  • Discussion

    Flowering throughout the year.

  • Distribution

    Sandy margins and islands of rivers, and savanna margins in the upper Orinoco region of Venezuela and the Rio Negro region of Brazil.

    Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|