Hirtella cordifolia Prance

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hirtella cordifolia Prance

  • Type

    Type. Wurdack & Adderley 43621, Venezuela, Terr. Amazonas, Río Hechimoni, Sabana Hechimoni, fl (holotype, NY).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex parva, ramulis juvenilibus puberulis mox glabris lenticellatis. Folia alternata petiolata; petiolo circa 1.0 mm longo, tereti, eglanduloso, juvenili hirsuto; laminae cordiformi-ovatae, coriaceae, 3.5-5.5 cm longae, 1.8-2.9 cm latae, apice in acuminem 2.0-7.0 mm longum contractae, basi cordatae, utrinque praeter costam glabrae; costa media supra leviter prominente, hirsuta; costis secundariis 7-9 jugis, utrinque leviter prominentibus. Stipulae lineares, ad 3.0 mm longum, sparse pubes-centes, eglandulosae, persistentes. Flores circa 6.0 mm longi, in paniculis paucira-mosis vel racemis simplicibus 2.5-5.5 mm longi dispositi, rachi ramisque hirsuto-puberulis. Bracteae bracteolaeque 1.5-3.0 mm longae, acutae, persistentes, puberulae, marginibus cum glandulis stipitatis munitae. Receptaculum campanulatum, extus hirsutum, intus basim versus glabrum; pedicelli 3.0-6.0 mm longi. Calycis-lobi acuti, extus sparse hirsuti, intus griseo-pubescenti. Petala 5, glabra, rosea. Stamina 4-5, unilateralia, staminodiis dentiformis opposita; filamenta glabra, longe exserta, basi connata. Ovarium ad medium receptaculi insertum, sparse pilosum. Stylus e basi ovarii ortus, hirsutus. Drupa ellipsoidea, epicarpio laevi, glabro; mesocarpio tenue, carnoso; endocarpio duro, tenue, osseo, intus hirsuto.

  • Discussion

    This species is most closely related to H. deflexa, but differs in the smaller leaves with fewer primary veins which are less prominent beneath, and in the glabrous lower surface of the leaves. It differs from H. paniculata in the glabrous leaves with cordate bases, and in the little-branched inflorescence.

    Flowering in July.

  • Distribution

    Collected only from savannas of the Río Hechimoni, Venezuela,

    Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America|