Eschweilera tetrapetala S.A.Mori
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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)
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Family
Lecythidaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Brazil. Bahia: Mun. of Andaraí, 3 km NE of Andaraí, ca. 400 m alt., 5 Mar 1980 (fl), Mori & Funch 13421 (holotype, CEPEC; isotypes, INPA, K, MG, MO, NY, P, RB, US). Figs. 63-64.
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Description
Description - Trees, to 15 m x 50 cm. Bark smooth, with lenticels. Leaf blades elliptic to narrowly ovate, 14-20 x 6-9 cm, glabrous, chartaceous to coriaceous, with 12-15 pairs of lateral veins, all orders of venation salient; apex acuminate; base obtuse, very narrowly decurrent; margins entire to minutely crenulate, slightly revolute, with scars of caducous hairs; petiole 12-17 mm long, hemispherical in cross section. Inflorescences once-branched paniculate arrangements of spikes at ends of branches, infrequently simple spikes present in axils of uppermost leaves; rachis 915 cm long, with horizontally oriented squamulae. Flowers ca. 4 cm diam.; calyx with six lobes, the lobes very widely ovate, 3-5 x 6-9 mm, the margins fimbriate; petals four, the laterals and posterior larger and more cucullate than anterior, orbicular to oblong, 16-29 x 19-23 mm, the margins fimbriate, white; hood of androecium yellow, curved inwards but not forming complete coil, the appendages angular, to 12 mm long, the innermost with vestigial anthers; staminal ring with 150-170 stamens, the filaments slightly clavate then attenuated at apices, 2 mm long, the anthers white, 0.7 mm long; ovary 2-locular, each locule with 9-12 ovules, the style obconical, 1.52 mm long. Fruits turbinate, ca. 8 x 11 cm, the pericarp thick. Seeds 3 x 2.5 cm, the testa smooth, reddish, the veins recessed, white, the aril small (ca. 5 mm long), cream-colored, basal.
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Discussion
The flowers of Eschweilera tetrapetala, E. alvimii, and E. compressa, all from southern Brazil, are distinct because of their four petals and androecial hoods which do not form the double or triple coil so characteristic of the genus. In addition, the hood appendages usually bear vestigial anthers.
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Common Names
inaíba jacaré
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Distribution
A medium-sized tree of non-flooded forests of southern Bahia, Brazil. It flowers from Dec to Mar and mature fruits with seed have been collected in Oct. Collections of this species come from liana forest in the interior and from wet forest along the coast of Bahia. Both populations appear to represent the same species but confirmation of this awaits collection of flowers from the coastal population.
Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America|