Couratari multiflora (Sm.) Eyma

  • Authority

    Mori, S. A. & Prance, Ghillean T. 1990. Lecythidaceae - Part II: The zygomorphic-flowered New World genera (Couroupita, Corythophora, Bertholletia, Couratari, Eschweilera, & Lecythis). With a study of secondary xylem of Neotropical Lecythidaceae by Carl de Zeeuw. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21: 1-376. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Couratari multiflora (Sm.) Eyma

  • Type

    Type. French Guiana. Without locality, no date (fl), Martin s.n. (Herb E. Rudge s.n., 1806) (holotype, LINN; isotype, BM 2 sheets). According to Miers, this specimen was collected by Martin in French Guiana and consequently the two leafless Martin sheets at the British Museum are isotypes. They match perfectly the material in the Smith herbarium at the Linnean Society.

  • Synonyms

    Lecythis multiflora Sm., Lecythis fagifolia Miq. ex O.Berg, Couratari coriacea Mart., Allantoma multiflora (Sm.) Eyma, Allantoma fagifolia (Miq. ex O.Berg) Miers, Couratari fagifolia (Miq. ex O.Berg) Eyma, Allantoma subramosa Miers, Couratari vriesii Miers, Couratari guianensis Aubl.

  • Description

    Description - Trees, to 35 m tall, the trunk unbuttressed or with broad flat buttresses, the young branches glabrescent. Leaf blades usually elliptic to oblong, 4.5-10.5 x 2-5 cm, chartaceous, glabrous on both surfaces except on midrib; midrib prominulous above, prominent and glabrous or sparsely puberulous beneath; secondary veins 1012 pairs, prominulous above, prominent beneath, the tertiary venation prominulous on both surfaces; apex bluntly acute to finely acuminate, the acumen to 11 mm long; base cuneate to subcuneate; margins entire or slightly crenulate or undulate; petiole 15-25 mm long, puberulous to glabrous, terete, not winged. Inflorescences of axillary or terminal racemes, often fasciculate, the rachis puberulous; pedicels 15-25 mm long, slender, puberulous. Flowers when leafless, hypanthium campanulate, ca. 4 mm long, calyx lobes ovate, rounded, ca. 2 mm long, sparsely puberulous on both surfaces, the margins ciliate; petals oblong, 1.5-2.2 cm long, sparsely puberulous on exterior, pink; androecium ca. 2.5-3 cm long, the staminal ring ca. 8 mm diam., the exterior of hood rugulose-pustulate, the stamens 30-35, inserted in two rows around staminal ring, also extending slightly up ligule, occasionally with isolated anthers well up interior of ligule. Fruits cylindrical-coniform to campanulate, roundish in cross section, broadest at apex, gradually tapering to base, 4-6 (excluding stipe) x 2-3.5 cm broad at apex, with thin stipe to 2.5 cm long, longitudinally striate on exterior, thin coriaceous, ca. 0.5-1 mm thick, the calycine ring 45 mm below apex, forming slight ridge around perimeter; operculum concave, radially grooved, the columella triangular. Seeds oblong, asymmetrical. Seedling with hypogeal germination, the cotyledons opposite, orbicular, 1.8-2.2 cm long, the first leaves alternate, elliptic.

  • Discussion

    The relationships of Couratari multiflora are discussed in detail in the introduction to section Microcarpa. The type of Couratari fagifolia falls well within the usual variation of C. multiflora. Similarly, Allantoma subramosa, a species described from a mixed collection, belongs partly within C. multiflora. The flowers and branches of the type of A. subramosa (Sagot 271) represent C. multiflora. The leaves, which are not attached, belong to C. guianensis. Sagot himself (1885) concluded that the type of A. subramosa was a mixed collection which was also suggested by Eyma (1932) with some reservation.

    I have included Couratari coriacea as a synonym of C. multiflora. This synonomy was also suggested by Eyma (1932) with hesitation. Couratari coriacea was described from an empty fruit collected by Martius from Para, an area outside the known, but within the probable range of C. multiflora. I have studied the Munich type fruit of C. coriacea and it is a good match with that of C. multiflora. It is too long for C. tenuicarpa and too narrow for C. oligantha, the only two species of the superspecies known from Para. Eyma also placed C. vriesii under C. multiflora. Since I have been unable to locate the Kew specimen of C. vriesii studied by Eyma, I prefer to keep it under the imperfectly known species for the present. Couratari vriesii was also described from an empty Pyxidium and judging from the protolog description it is probably a synonym of C. multiflora.

  • Common Names

    karipon, tampipio, wandara, djoemoe, Ingipipa, oelmari, kalioe oelemaroe, inguipipa, mahot-cigare, tauari branco, tauari amarelo

  • Distribution

    Forest on non-flooded ground in Venezuela, the Guianas, and Amazonian Brazil. Collected in flower from Jan to Mar and Jul to Nov. Usually flowering when leafless.

    Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Delta Amacuro Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Maranhão Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|