Cariniana micrantha Ducke

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. & Mori, S. A. 1979. Lecythidaceae - Part I. The actinomorphic-flowered New World Lecythidaceae (Asteranthos, Gustavia, Grias, Allantoma & Cariniana). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21: 1-270. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cariniana micrantha Ducke

  • Type

    TYPES. Ducke RB 17294, Brazil, Pará, Rio Tapajós, Bella Vista, fr (syntype, RB fruit and leaf only; isosyntypes, K, U fruit only, US fruit only); Ducke RB 20589, Brazil, Amazonas, Rio Curuçá, near Maués, fl fr (lectotype, RB; isolectotypes, G, K, P, S, U, US, VEN).

  • Description

    Description - Tree to 65.0 m tall, the young branches soon glabrous, lenticellate. Leaves with laminas oblong to elliptic, 5.5-9.5 cm long, 2.5-4.5 cm broad, the margins finely crenulate, acuminate at apex, the acumen 5.0-12.0 mm long, subcuneate at base, not decurrent onto petiole, glabrous beneath; midrib prominulous and glabrous beneath; primary veins 18-25 pairs, without domatia at junction with midrib, prominulous on both surfaces, anastomosing near margins, 2.0-4.0 mm apart at base; petiole 4.0-7.0 mm long, glabrous, canaliculate, with very small wings. Inflorescences terminal and subterminal panicles, 4.0-10.0 cm long, the rachis and branches tomentellous; pedicels ca 0.5 mm long, tomentellous. Calyx ca 3.0 mm long, campanulate, the lobes oblong, acute, thin, tomentellous on exterior. Petals oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 5.0-8.0 mm long, white. The androecium ca 2.0 mm in diameter at base, with numerous, ca 50, stamens all over the interior, white. Style short. Ovary trilocular with ca 6 ovules in each loculus. Pyxidium pyriform, 7.0-10.0 cm long, 4.5-7.0 cm broad at broadest point below the calycine ring, the calycine ring 1.5-2.5 cm below apex, the pericarp very thick at apex (ca 1.5 cm thick), smooth not toothed at line of opercular dehiscence; operculum 2.5-3.7 cm diameter at apex, to 8.5 cm long, the columella triangular; the seed wings 4.0-5.5 cm long, 1.2 cm broad, the seeds to 1.5 cm long, 8.0 mm broad, triquestrous, pyriform.

  • Discussion

    Cariniana micrantha is an easily recognized distinct species, but is closely related to C. rubra and C. domestica differing in the smaller narrower leaves, without domatia, and in the smooth not costate Pyxidium.

  • Common Names

    Tauarí

  • Distribution

    Forest on non-flooded ground in Amazonian Brazil. Collected in flower November and December.

    Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Rondônia Brazil South America|