Sacoglottis mattogrossensis Malme

• Authority

  Cuatrecasas, José. 1961. A taxonomic revision of the Humiriaceae. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 35: 25-214. pl. 1-24.

• Family

  Humiriaceae

• Scientific Name

  Sacoglottis mattogrossensis Malme

• Type

  Type: Malme 11:2237, Brazil, Mato Grosso, Santa Ana da Chapada.

• Description

  Description - Small or medium-size tree with lenticellate and hirtellous or glabrous branchlets. Leaves coriaceous, flexible, glabrous or subglabrous. Petiole 5-8 mm. long, semiterete, puberulous or glabrate, thickened at base. Blade oblong-elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, ovate-elliptic, rounded, obtuse or cuneate at base, acutely acuminate or cuspidate at apex, obtusely serrate at margin or subentire; 5-11 cm. long, 2-2.5 cm. broad, glabrous or with sparse hairs on midrib beneath; midrib prominulous above, prominent beneath, secondary nerves 8-10 on each side, subascendent, thin and prominent, minor nerves and veins forming sublax reticulum prominently conspicuous on both sides. Sometimes, chiefly on young branches, blades biglandular at base. Inflorescences axillary, small, cymose-paniculate, dichotomous, peduncle 2-5 cm. long, stout, striate, hirtellous, the branchlets short, hispidulous. Bracts persistent, amplectant, ovate-triangular, acutish, minutely puberulous, ciliate, 1-0.6 mm. long. Pedicels thick, 0.7 mm. long, glabrous. Sepals ovate, rounded at apex, thick, about 0.6 mm. long, glabrous except for ciliate margin. Petals linear, narrowed toward apex, subacute, glabrous, about 4 mm. long, 1-1.2 mm. broad at base, the estivation cochlear. Stamens 10, glabrous, filaments complanate, 2.5 and 3.2 mm. long alternating, lower part united in tube. Anthers ovate, 0.7-0.9 mm. long, thecae oblong, connective thick, acute or subacute. Disk about 0.4 mm. high, annular, rather thick, dentate. Ovary ovoid, glabrous, 0.8 mm. high. Style 2-3 mm. long. Stigma short-capitate, 5-lobate. Drupe globose, 17-28 mm. diameter, exocarp compact, resinous, 1-2 mm. thick, coriaceous and granulose when dry; endocarp woody, almost smooth, slightly bulla te and sulcate, innerly resinous-lacunose, usually monospermous or with 2 (rarely 3) seeds.

• Discussion

  This species has been confused with S. guianensis, from which Ducke first separated it as a variety based on its globose fruit form. It furthermore differs from S. guianensis in its thinner, flexible, and prominently nerved leaves; for this reason I promoted forma sphaerocarpa Ducke to the rank of a species (type: Kuhlman 2128). After examining the type of S. mattogrossensis Malme (flowering material), I realized that the Kuhlmann and Malme plants are conspecific. The species is rather polymorphic, and the following key outlines the most conspicuous varieties and forms. Key to the Varieties and Forms of Saeoglottis mattogrossensis: 1. Petals glabrous......... 7a. var. mattogrossensis 2. Branchlets hirtulo-puberulous.......... 7a(1). fma. mattogrossensis 2. Branchlets glabrous......... 7a(2). fma. glabra 1. Petals puberulous.......... 7b. var. subintegra 3. Branchlets glabrous.........7b(1). fma. subintegra 3. Branchlets hirto-puberulous.......... 7b(2). fma. puberula