Hirtella insignis Briq. ex Prance

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hirtella insignis Briq. ex Prance

  • Type

    Type. Blanchet 1508, Brazil, Bahia, without precise locality, fl (holotype, BM; isotype, G).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor ad 15.0 m alta, ramulis juvenilibus sparse hispidis mox glabris lenticellatis. Folia alternata, petiolata; petiolo 3.0-5.0 mm longo, tereti, eglanduloso, maturitate glabro; laminae oblongae, coriaceae, 7.0-17.0 cm longae, 3.6-6.0 cm latae, apice in acuminem 2.0-7.0 mm longum contractae, basi rotundatae vel sub-cuneatae, subtus fere glabrae et cum pilis longis appressis, basim versus glandulosae; costa media supra leviter prominente, subtus prominente leviter hispida; costis secundariis 10-15 jugis, utrinque leviter prominentibus. Stipulae lineares, parvae. Flores 5.0-6.0 mm longi, in paniculis terminalibus multiramosis 6.0-7.0 cm longis dispositi, rachi ramisque glabris. Bracteae bracteolaeque oblongae, acutae, glabres-centes, persistentes, apice glandulam longe stipitatum desinentes. Receptaculum campanulatum, extus fere glabrum et cum pilis appressis paucis, intus basim versus glabrum; pedicelli 7.0-16.0 mm longi, eglandulosi. Calycis-lobi rotundati vel acuti, extus glabri, intus brunneo-pubescentes, marginibus ciliatis. Petala 5, glabra. Stamina 5, unilateralia, filamenta glabra, longe exserta. Ovarium ad faucem receptaculi insertum, pilosum. Stylus e basi ovarii ortus, versus basim hirsutus. Fructus mihi ignoti.

  • Discussion

    This species is quite distinct from, and thus not easily confused with, any other species of Hirtella. I have adopted Briquet’s manuscript name to avoid later confusion. The Geneva sheet of the Blanchet collection bears his writing and notes. Hirtella insignis is most closely related to H. tocantina, but differs in the larger leaves with broad rounded base, the much-branched inflorescence, the larger number of stamens, and the long-stalked apical gland of the bracts.

    Collected in flower in February.

  • Distribution

    Known only from two collections made in the coastal forests of Bahia.

    Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America|