Erisma lanceolatum Stafleu
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Authority
Andersson, Lennart. 1998. A revision of the genus
(Rubiaceae--Cinchoneae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 81: 1-75. -
Family
Vochysiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Tree to 30 m high, to 100 cm dbh; hairs where present yellowish; young twigs pubescent. Leaves opposite; blade chartaceous, elliptic or narrowly elliptic, 10-21 X 4-7.5 cm, glabrous; apex shortly acuminate; base acute to obtuse; midvein sulcate above, prominent below; lateral veins 8-9 pairs, sulcate above, prominent below, angle with midvein 40-50°; tertiary veins percurrent, sinuous, perpendicular to midvein; marginal vein 3-5 mm from margin; petiole canaliculate, 15-20 mm long; stipules absent. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, to 30 cm long, peduncles and lateral branches pubescent; cincinni to 2.5 cm long, tomentose; outer and inner bracts not seen; pedicel ca. 1 mm long; buds, spurred calyx- lobe, and spur not seen; other calyx-lobes 3-6 mm long; petal and stamen not seen; style ca. 5 mm long, pilose at base. Fruits winged, puberulous, glabrescent, 6-7.5 cm long; major wing elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 4.5—6 X 2—3 cm; second major wing elliptic, 2.5 X 1-1.5 cm.
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Discussion
This species shows affinities with E. gracile, having in common with it the elliptic, glabrous, and chartaceous leaves with few lateral veins. The leaves of E. lanceolatum are, however, larger and the peti¬oles are longer; its flowers and fruits are also larger. Erisma lanceolatum was described from only a fruiting collection (Stafleu, 1954), but it is undoubtedly a distinct species of Erisma. Erisma megalophyllum was described from a collection with old flowers (Stafleu. 1954), and therefore, several floral struc¬tures are still unknown. Nevertheless, the type of E. megalophyllum seems to represent an individual of E. lanceolatum with larger leaves. Erisma lanceolatum is the only species of the genus in which axillary panicles have been observed, but the significance of this character cannot be determined because only a few specimens are available for study.
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Distribution
A species known only from the type locality and from two other collections in nonflooded forests in northern and western Brazilian Amazon. Good flowering specimens have not been collected. Old flowers were collected in December, and material with fruits in April and August.
Brazil South America|