Hirtella revillae Prance

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hirtella revillae Prance

  • Type

    Type. Peru. Loreto: Maynas, Rio Nanay, 4 km from Mishana, 150 m, 19 Jan 1975 (fl), Gentry, Ayala & Revilla 15807 (holotype, NY; isotype, MO).

  • Description

    Description - Trees 8 m tall, the young branches hispid. Leaf lamina oblong, chartaceous-membranous, 19-22 × 8-10 cm, rounded at base and bearing two swollen ant cavities, abruptly acuminate at apex, the acumen 7-10 mm long, hirsute on venation beneath, with sparse appressed hairs on upper surface; midrib prominent beneath, prominulous above, hirsute on both surfaces; primary veins 13-17 pairs, prominent beneath, prominulous above. Stipules linear, persistent, hispid. Inflorescences of axillary racemes 5-6 cm long, the rachis light brown hispid, the lower pedicels longer than the upper ones giving a slightly corymbose appearance. Bracts and bracteoles linear, persistent, hispid. Flowers 8-10 mm long (excluding pedicels). Receptacle campanulate, light brown hispid-hirsute on exterior, glabrous with in even at throat except around base of ovary; pedicels 8-15 mm long, hirsute. Calyx lobes five, lanceolate, hispid on exterior. Petals five, white, glabrous. Stamens six, the filaments far exceeding calyx lobes. Style hirsute on lower portion only. Ovary inserted at mouth of receptacle, glabrous around base. Fruit not seen.

  • Discussion

    Hirtella revillae belongs to the section Myrmecophila, in which the swollen ant cavities at the leaf bases, and hispid pubescence are characteristic of all members. It differs from the other species in the section in the very long pedicels and in the distinctive dense hirsute pubescence of the pedicels and flowers, and the glabrous ovary and mouth of the receptacle. It is most closely related to H. physophora.

    The inflorescence is of rather intermediate length in comparison to other species of section Myrmecophila, which have either much more compact fasciculate inflorescences or elongate racemes or panicles. Only Hirtella duckei has racemose inflorescences as short as H. revillae but

    H. duckei differs in many other ways.

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 128) Known only from the Rio Nanay in Peru, collected in flower from November through March. Habitat. Upland forest on white sand, poorly drained, swampy.

    Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America|