Brosimum utile subsp. ovatifolium (Ducke) C.C.Berg

  • Authority

    Berg, Cornelius C. 1972. Olmedieae, Brosimeae (Moraceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 7: 1-229. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Moraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Brosimum utile subsp. ovatifolium (Ducke) C.C.Berg

  • Type

    Type. Ducke sn (HJBR 12535, HAMP 16551), Brazil, Pará, Gurupá (RB, not seen; isotypes seen).

  • Synonyms

    Brosimum ovatifolium Ducke, Brosimum rigidum Ducke, Brosimum krukovii Standl., Brosimum pallescens Ducke

  • Description

    Description - Leafy twigs with rather dense very short hairs, sometimes intermixed with longer ones, or longer hairs below the scars of the stipules, sometimes almost glabrous. Leaves elliptic to lanceolate, broadest in or below the middle, (3-)5-20(-26) cm long, (2-) 3-10 cm broad, usually abruptly acuminate, at the base mostly obtuse, sometimes (sub)acute, or occasionally emarginate; margin entire; secondary veins plane or slightly impressed above, smaller veins usually slightly prominent to plane, sometimes rather prominent beneath, 12-24 pairs of secondary veins; petioles 7-24 mm long; stipules (0.5-) 1.5-3(-4) cm with more or less dense very short patent hairs, sometimes intermixed with longer ones, especially towards the apex. Inflorescences subglobose to hemispherical to turbinate, 6-8 mm in diameter; peduncle 5-12 mm long; receptacle usually foveate, densely puberulous around the style; staminate flowers (rather) few; perianth 0.1-0.3mm high; stamen 1, filaments 0.4-1.0 mm long, anthers 0.3-0.4 mm long and 0.2-0.4 mm broad; style ca 1.5 mm long, stigmas 0.3-0.8 mm long.

  • Discussion

    This subspecies is more heterogeneous than the others. It is rather variable in the indument and in the shape and dimensions of the leaves. The reticulum of the lower leaf surface is rather prominent in the type collection of B. rigidum. The specimens from Para (Brazil) usually bear geminate inflorescences, these being solitary in the others. The two sterile collections from Peru, as well as LI. Williams 14470 from Venezuela, are somewhat different from Brazilian ones. They show some resemblance to the type collection of B. longifolium and might represent another infraspecific taxon, connected with the Andes, whereas the other collections appear to be connected with the Guiana shield.

    Unnamed collections.

    Lewin 2077/1018 (LIL) and Prance, Pena, Ramos & Videcki 2505 (INPA), both collected near Boca de Acre (Brazil, Acre Territory), cannot be satisfactorily placed under subsp ovatifolium. The last-named specimen is leafless and bears only solitary, short-pedunculate inflorescences resembling those of subsp longifolium. They have more than one pistillate flower and none, one, or a few staminate ones. The other specimen has only leaves, which are different from those of subsp ovatifolium and subsp longifolium in shape and venation. The two specimens differ in the indument of the twigs and stipules.

  • Common Names

    Turury, anapa, leiteira, marina

  • Distribution

    (Fig 72). Amazon Basin (Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela) and French Guiana; mostly in forests of the terra firme, but also in inundated forests.

    Venezuela South America| French Guiana South America| Peru South America| Brazil South America|