Hirtella mutisii Killip & Cuatrec.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hirtella mutisii Killip & Cuatrec.

  • Type

    Type. Mutis 3554, Colombia, fl (holotype, US); 23, Colombia, fl (paratype, US).

  • Description

    Description - Tree to 20.0 m tall, the young branches tomentellous. Leaves oblong to oblong-ovate, subcoriaceous, 6.0-14.0 cm long, 2.7-5.0 cm broad, acuminate at apex,with acumen 5.0-10.0 mm long, rounded at base, the lower surface papillose, sparsely hirsute, with a few palisade glands towards base; primary veins 9-13 pairs, plane above, prominulous beneath; midrib prominulous above, prominent beneath, tomentellous on both surfaces; petioles 1.5-2.5 mm long, terete, tomentellous, eglandular. Stipules linear, to 4.0 mm long, tomentellous, persistent, eglandular. Inflorescences scarcely branched panicles 3.0-8.0 cm long, most branches bearing a single flower and one pair of bracts at junction of branch and pedicel, the inflorescence thus appearing racemose, but a few branches bearing two flowers, the rachis and branches hirsutulous-tomentellous. Bracts and bracteoles 1.0-2.5 mm long, oblong, acute, tomentellous, glabrous within except at throat; pedicels 2.0-5.0 mm long. Calyx lobes rounded, tomentellous on exterior, gray-puberulous within. Petals 5, white, glabrous. Stamens 3, unilateral, with short toothed staminodes opposite them; filaments glabrous, far exceeding calyx lobes. Style hirsute up to one third its length. Ovary inserted at mouth of receptacle. Fruit not seen.

  • Discussion

    This species is very close to H. triandra, but differs in the inflorescence which is scarcely branched and thus has a racemose appearance. It is also close to H. leonotis, but differs in the smaller flowers, stipules and leaves, and in the hirsute (not hispid) inflorescence and young branches.

    Flowering throughout the year.

  • Distribution

    Primary forest in central and southern Colombia and in Ecuador.

    Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Santander Colombia South America| Ecuador South America|