Vismia latifolia (Aubl.) Choisy
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Authority
Ewan, Joseph A. 1962. Synopsis of the South American species of Vismia (Guttiferae). Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 35: 293-377. pls. 1-5.
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Family
Clusiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type: Cayenne (BM, photo, NY).
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Description
Description - [No description provided.]
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Discussion
Small tree about seven meters high. Apparently a well-known forest tree in Surinam, judging from the number of vernacular names mentioned by Eyma in Pulle's Flora of Surinam, but few collections seem to have reached herbaria. Sandwith drew attention (Kew Bull. 1931: 174) to the long persisting confusion of this Vismia with V. angusta. The few collections seen, however, do not uniformly conform to Aublet's description of the leaves as "superne viridibus, inferne tomentosis, rufescentibus." The inflorescence is congested and the flowers are small but in the collections seen the sepals and fruits are blistered with a plant disease which may have affected their development. A noteworthy character not stressed in the literature is the narrowly oblong, abruptly acutish sepals, which form an oblong-ellipsoid flower bud very truncate at the base.