Humiria balsamifera var. coriacea Cuatrec.
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Authority
Cuatrecasas, José. 1961. A taxonomic revision of the Humiriaceae. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 35: 25-214. pl. 1-24.
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Family
Humiriaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type in the U.S. National Herbarium, No. 1901203, collected in rocky soil at Mureyena Falls, alt. 800 m., State of Bolívar, Venezuela, October 10, 1946, by Félix Cardona, No. 1823. Isotypes in the Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden and in the Institute Botánico of Venezuela, Caracas. Paratype at U.S. National Herbarium, No. 1909308, collected at Río Caroní, Bolívar, Venezuela, by Félix Cardona, No. 1768.
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbuscula vel arbor 4-8 m. alta ramosa ramulis terminalibus crassis nitidis minute hirto-puberulis vel glabris. Folia crassa rigidcque coriacea. Lamina obovata vel obovato-elliptica apice rotundata vel obtusa breviter emarginata et in sinu mucronulata, basi cuneata subite vel gradatim in pseudopetiolum alatum 2-6 mm. longum attenuata cunoata, margine integra plana eglandulosa vel paucis glandulis, 4-7 cm. longa, 2.4-5.2 cm. lata, utrinque glabra supra viridis nitidula nervo medio signato secundariis obtuse prominulis venulis reticulatis paulo vel baud conspicuis; subtus costa crassa elevata nervis secundariis circa 4-5 mm. inter se distantibus subparallelis prope marginem arcuato-anastomosatis nervis minoribus parallelis et venulis prominulis anastomosato-reticulatis. Inflorescentiae cymoso-paniculatae corymbiformes subterminales et axillares folia aequilongae vel breviores, axi ramulisque angulosi vel hirto-puberuli; bracteis late ovatis ovato-triangularibus subacutis vel obtusiusculis amplexicaulibus infcrioribus ad 2 mm. longis superioribus 1 mm. longis crassiusculis glabrisque. Ramusculi cymorum ultimi crassi angulati hirtulo-puberuli breves ad 1 mm. longi. Pedicelli crassi glabri 0.5-1.5 mm. longi. Calyx cupularis circa 1 mm. altus crassus;
Description - Shrub or small tree with hirtellous or puberulous, sometimes glabrate, young branchlets. Leaves thick and rigid, coriaceous, glabrous, obovate or obovate-elliptic, rounded or obtuse, emarginate and mucronulate at apex, attenuate in winged, 2-6 mm. long petiole at base, midrib prominent beneath, the secondary nerves and reticulum slightly conspicuous or obsolete above, prominulous beneath; 4-7 cm. long, 2.4-5.2 cm. broad. Branchlets of the inflorescence hirtellouspuberulous, the pedicels (0.5-1.5 mm. long) glabrous. Calyx cupular, glabrous except for the ciliate margin. Petals oblong, subacute, glabrous. Style 3-4 mm. long, hirtellous. Drupe oblong-ellipsoid, 10-14 X 5-8 mm., the endocarp 10 X 5 mm., striate, 5-foveolate at apex.
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Discussion
The rigid sclerophyllous texture of the leaves, and their shape and size are the most distinctive characters of this variety, which seems to conform to the most xerophytic conditions of the sandstone and granitic hills of the savanna. H. balsamifera var. coriacea is endemic to the Guiana hills where it is very common. It is a characteristic tree or shrub of the vegetation of these mountains, it being found often abundantly on the slopes and at the top of the hills where it forms actual stands. It is also a constituent of the open savanna vegetation. It is especially found at between 700 and 2,000 m. elevation, but it is present at much lower altitudes (as, e.g., 350 m.).