Hirtella sprucei Benth. ex Hook.f.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hirtella sprucei Benth. ex Hook.f.

  • Type

    Type. Blanchet 3568, Brazil, Bahia, fl (holotype, K; isotypes, BM, BR, C, F, G, GH, LE, P).

  • Description

    Description - Small tree, the young branches hispid, soon becoming glabrous. Leaves oblong to oblong-lanceolate, coriaceous, 8.0-17.0 cm long, 2.2-5.0 cm broad, acuminate at apex, with acumen 5.0-18.0 cm long, subcordate at base, glabrous beneath, the palisade glands rare; primary veins 8-10 pairs, prominulous and glabrous on both surfaces; midrib prominulous above, prominent and glabrous beneath; petioles 2.0-3.5 mm long, terete, eglandular, glabrous or hispid when young. Stipules 4.0-7.0 mm long, linear-filamentous, hispid to glabrous, eglandular, persistent. Inflorescences terminal and axillary racemes 12.0-27.0 cm long, the rachis hispid or glabrous. Bracts and bracteoles 1.5-3.0 mm long, oblong to lanceolate, hispid, eglandular, persistent. Flowers 4.0-5.o mm long. Receptacle campanulate, with a few stiff erect hairs but otherwise glabrous on exterior, glabrous within except at throat; pedicels 4.0-5.5 mm long, most with one or more solitary stalked glands arising near base. Calyx lobes acute, glabrescent on exterior, puberulous within, Petals 5, glabrous. Stamens 6, unilateral, with short filamentous staminodes opposite them, the filaments far exceeding calyx lobes, glabrous. Style hirsute up to one third its length. Ovary inserted at mouth of receptacle, pilose. Fruit ellipsoid; epicarp smooth, glabrous; mesocarp thin, fleshy; endocarp thin, hard, bony, costate, opening along longitudinal lines of weakness, hirsute within.

  • Discussion

    Hirtella sprucei subsp meridionalis Hassler, does not belong with this species, but is part of H. burchellii Britton.

    For relationship of the present species to Hirtella paraensis see under the latter name. Hirtella sprucei is closely related to H. burchellii, but differs in the longer pedicels, the terminal insertion of the ovary, the larger number of stamens, the eglandular bracts (those of H. burchellii usually bearing sessile and apical glands), in the glabrous leaf undersurface, and in the smaller number of primary veins.

    Flowering July to November.

  • Distribution

    Forests of northeastern and east central Brazil.

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