Erisma laurifolium Spruce ex Warm.

  • Authority

    Andersson, Lennart. 1998. A revision of the genus (Rubiaceae--Cinchoneae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 81: 1-75.

  • Family

    Vochysiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Erisma laurifolium Spruce ex Warm.

  • Description

    Species Description - Tree 40-15 m high; hairs where present yellowish; young twigs pubescent. Leaves opposite; blade coriaceous, elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 7-14 X 2.5-5.5 cm, glabrous above, pubescent to puberulous below; apex acuminate; base obtuse; midvein sulcate above, prominent below; lateral veins 8—10 pairs, immersed above, prominent below, angle with midvein 60-80°; tertiary veins percurrent, sinuous, oblique to midvein, arrangement predominantly alternate; marginal vein 2-3 mm from margin; petiole canaliculate, 5-15 mm long; stipules absent. Inflorescences terminal or axillary-subterminal, 9-15 cm long, peduncles and lateral branches pubescent; cincinni tomentose; outer bracts widely ovate, 7-8 X 4-5 mm; inner bracts lanceolate, 2-3 mm long; pedicels ca. 1 mm long; buds ca. 5 mm long; spurred calyx-lobe ca. 9 X 7 mm, spur cylindric, straight, 2-3 mm long; other calyx-lobes 2-5 mm long; petal white or white- yellowish, ca. 15 X 10 mm; stamen ca. 6 mm long-style ca. 6 mm long, glabrous. Fruits winged, pink- yellowish, puberulous, glabrescent, 5-7 cm long; major wing narrowly oblong, 4-6 X 1-1.5 cm second major wing elliptic or oblong, 2-2.5 X 1-1.5 cm.

  • Discussion

    This species is morphologically similar to E. arietinum, as discussed earlier, and to E. floribundum, from which it can be distinguished by the smooth leaves with fewer lateral veins, smooth petiole, and straight spur. The leaves of E. floribunduin are very often bullate because of the impressed and numerous lateral veins; the petiole is usually distinctly corky, and the spur is curved upward.

    It is also similar to E. gracile, which is, however, easily recognized by its small and delicate flowers, the globose calyx-spur, and its chartaceous leaves, which are uncommon in the genus. Pilger (1931) described the Peruvian E. tessman¬nii, for which the lectotype is not extant and for which no isolectotypes are known. The description and phototype of E. tessmannii do not differ from E. laurifolium and therefore E. tessmannii is consid¬ered a new synomym of E. laurifolium.

  • Distribution

    A tall tree in nonflooded forests of the Colombian, Peruvian, and western Brazilian Amazon. It flowers from November to June; fruits have been collected in February and June.

    South America|