Hirtella paraensis Prance

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hirtella paraensis Prance

  • Type

    Type. Fróes 20377, Brazil, Pará, Belém, São Miguel do Guama, fl (holotype, NY; iso types, IAN, K, US).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex vel arbor, ramulis juvenilibus hispidis mox glabris. Folia alternata petiolata; petiolo 1.5-3.0 mm longo, tereti, eglanduloso, hispido; laminae oblongo-lanceolatae, coriaceae, 10.0-18.0 cm longae, 2.1-4.7 cm latae, apice in acuminem 12.0-22.0 mm longum attenuatae, basi subcordatae, subtus glabrae pauciglandulosae costa media supra leviter prominente, subtus prominente; costis secundariis 12-15 jugis, supra planis subtus prominentibus, glabris. Stipulae 5.0-8.0 mm longae, lineari-filamentosae, puberulae, eglandulosae, persistentes. Flores circa 5.0 mm longi in racemis terminalibus axillaribusque 8.0-15.0 cm longis dispositi, rachi sparse hirsuti. Bracteae bracteolaeque 1.5-3.5 mm longae, lineares, pubescentes, eglandulosae, persistentes. Receptaculum campanulatum, extus sparse hirsutum, intus versus basim glabrum; pedicelli 4.0-6.0 mm longi, versus basim glandulos 1-2 stipitates gerentes. Calycis-lobi acuti, extus sparse hirsuti, intus sparse puberuli. Petala 5, glabra, purpurea. Stamina 4, unilateralia; filamenta glabra, longe exserta. Ovarium ad medium receptaculi insertum, pilosum. Stylus e basi ovarii ortus, basim versus hirsutus. Fructus mihi ignoti.

  • Discussion

    This species and the next three are very closely related. Hirtella paraensis is nearest to H. sprucei, but differs in the narrower more lanceolate leaves which gradually taper to a long thin acumen, the greater number of primary veins (8-10 pairs in H. sprucei), the smaller number of fertile stamens, and the lower insertion of the ovary. It differs from H. lancifolia in the much shorter pedicels, the smooth plane venation of the leaf upper surface (impressed and slightly bullate in H. lancifolia), the shorter petioles, and the lower insertion of the ovary. H. paraensis is cultivated in Guanabara (Glaziou 9786 fl K).

    Flowering August to February.

  • Distribution

    Non-flooded forest in eastern Brazilian Amazonia.

    Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|