Licania laevigata Prance

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. 1989. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9S: 1-267. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania laevigata Prance

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Amazonas: Manaus-Caracaraí Rd., km 45, Reserva Biológica do INPA, 4 Apr 1972 (fl), M. F. Silva & L. Coelho 80 (holotype, INPA 35442; isotype, NY).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Species sectione Hymenopus pertinens, a L. reticulata fructibus globosis exocarpio tomentellis, foliis laevigatis haud reticulatis, floribus extus brunneo tomentellis sessilibus differt.

    Description - Tree to 20 m tall, the young branches glabrous. Leaf lamina oblong, coriaceous, 9-18 × 4.2-7 cm, cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, the acumen 4-10 mm long, glabrous on both surfaces, shiny above; midrib prominulous above, prominent beneath; primary veins 7-10 pairs, prominulous on both surfaces, widely spaced with 1.2-1.8 mm between veins; petioles 5-8 mm long, with confluent leaf base, glabrous, eglandular. Stipules axillary, caducous. Inflorescences of terminal and subterminal racemose panicles, the rachis puberulous. Bracts and bracteoles minute, triangular, tomentose, subpersistent. Flowers ca. 2 mm long, inserted on primary inflorescence branches. Receptacle urceolate, brown-tomentellous on exterior, tomentose within; pedicels 0.5-1 mm long. Calyx lobes five, triangular, tomentellous on both surfaces. Petals five, pubescent on exterior, with ciliate margins. Stamens 6-7, inserted around three-fourths of circle with tooth-like staminodes opposite; filaments shorter than calyx lobes, free, glabrous; anthers deltoid. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, tomentellous on exterior; style pubescent on lower portion. Young fruit globose, exocarp densely short-ferrugineous-tomentellous.

  • Discussion

    This species and the next (Licania occultans) are both close to Licania heteromorpha and I have previously placed some of the material within that species. The description of these species begins the dismemberment of that large and morphologically diverse species. The separation of L. laevigata and L. occultans is made possible by the collection of large population samples from the Reserva Ducke and the Reserves of the INPA/WWF Minimum Critical Reserve Size Project near to Manaus. It is now apparent that they are different species that are easily distinguished in the field.

    Licania laevigata is closest to L. reticulata but differs in the smooth, not reticulate leaves that are more cuneate at the base, the round tomentose fruit rather than an ellipsoid, glabrous and costate one, the flowers borne sessile on the primary inflorescence branches and the brown tomentellous pubescence of the exterior of the flowers.

  • Distribution

    Suriname South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|