Brunellia comocladifolia subsp. jamaicensis Cuatrec.
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Authority
Cuatrecasas, José. 1970. Brunelliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 2: 1-189. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Brunelliaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. W. R. Maxon 9803 (holotype, US; isotype, NY). Abbey Green and vicinity, Jamaica, 1170 m alt, flowers and fruits, 3 July 1926.
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Synonyms
Brunellia comocladifolia Humb. & Bonpl., Zanthoxylum
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor ad 15 m alta ramulis dense breviterque ochraceo-tomentosis subvelutinis internodiis brevibus (1.5-2.0 cm longis) leviter tetragonis tantum terminale paulo compressis. Gemmae terminales dense ochraceo-tomentosae. Stipulae geminatae vel bigeminatae 1-2 mm longae caducae. Folia opposita imparipinnata 2-6-juga, axi (16-) 18-30(-35) cm densiuscule ochraceo-tomentoso, interjugis 2.5-4.5 cm longis, petiolo 6-11 cm longo, stipellis subulatis acutissimis basim versus incrassatis villosissimis 12 mm longis. Foliola subcoriacea petiolulis 0-2 mm longis terminale 14-20 mm longo, lamina ovato-oblonga basi ampla inaequaliter rotundata seu subcordato-amplectenti apicem versus attenuata plerumque acuminata margine moderate duplicato-crenata inter-dum simpliciter crenata mucronibus minutis ascendentibus, 9-16 cm longa, 4.5-7.0 cm lata, supra sublaevi viridi primum puberula adulta nervis principalibus teneris impressis tomentellis superficie glabra, subtus ochracea vel ochroleuca hirtello-tomentella nervis secundariis 12-14 utroque latere prominentibus angulo 50°-55° (40°-60°), tertiis transversis bene prominulis, venulis laxe reticulatis plus minusve prominulis, altero reticulo minusculo piano, areolis cinereis papillosis. Paniculae axillares 6-12 cm longae et amplae, pedunculo 1-4 cm longo striato tomentoso ramis furcato-divaricatis ochraceo-tomentosis ultimis teneriusculis brevibus cum pedicellis 1-2 mm longis articulatis. Bracteae bracteolaeque stricte lineares villosae 1-2 mm longae. Flores pentameri inter-dum hexameri rarissime tetrameri feminei vel hermaphroditi; calyx expansus 5.5-6.0 mm diametens, lobis ovato-triangularibus 2.0-2.3 mm longis, 1.1-1.6 mm latis; stamina fertilia filamento 4.5-5.0 mm longo media parte inferiori hyalino-hirsuta; staminodia filamento 0.5-1.0 mm longo glabro vel sparsis pilis ad basim instructo; carpidia plerumque quinque, ovariis tomentosis hispidisque, stylis 2 mm longis inferiore parte substrigosa. Folliculi ovoideo-ellipsoidei 3.0-3.2 × 2.8-3.3 × 2.2 mm dense tomentosi hispidissimeque setis rigidis 1 mm longis endocarpio rigidulo chartaceo ellipsoideo utrinque extremis rotundatis sed angulo insertione subacuto. Semina ellipsoidea lucida brunnea 2.0-2.6 × 1.3-1.8 mm.
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Discussion
Macfadyen was the first to report this species of Brunellia (as Zanthoxylum) as a common tree of the higher mountains of Jamaica; he wondered how could this common tree have "hitherto escaped the notice of botanists;" he refers to the wood as being soft and friable. Urban called attention to the differences between the Caribbean pentamerous plants and the tetramerous ones described by Bonpland. In fact, there are many differences between the Jamaican and the Popayan subspecies (as stated in the key). Besides the vegetative features, the larger size and the shape of the follicle and endocarp are most significant. The endocarp is somewhat larger and, when dry, with a U-shape, less open and more thickened than in other subspecies.
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Common Names
West Indian-sumac, Sumach
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Distribution
Jamaica, in primary rain forests, residuals on open woody hills and secondary thickets between 1100 and 1900 m elevation. Shreve (1914) lists this as one of the characteristic species of the flora of the rainforest. It would be also typical of the Leeward Slopes with Clethra occidentalis, Vaccinium meridionale, Ilex montana, Rapanea ferruginea, Cirilla racemifera etc, (1 c p 33). He adds that growth and leaf formation is continuous but the species blooms during July and August.
Jamaica South America|