Eschweilera bogotensis R.Knuth

  • 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

    Eschweilera bogotensis R.Knuth

  • Type

    Type. Colombia. Cundinamarca: Guaduas, no date (fl), Karsten s.n. (holotype, W, n.v.; isotype, LE, MO photo).

  • Synonyms

    Eschweilera kalbreyeri R.Knuth, Eschweilera oligosperma Cuatrec., Eschweilera papillata L.Uribe

  • Description

    Description - Small trees, to 10 m tall. Leaf blades usually narrowly oblong, sometimes narrowly elliptic, 1734 x 4-8.5 cm, glabrous, punctate abaxially, with 14-22 pairs of lateral veins; apex attenuate; base obtuse; margins entire; petiole 14-16 mm long. Inflorescences from axils of uppermost leaves or from young branches, racemose, the rachis slender, to 20 cm long, gray, rimose, sparsely lenticellate, the flowers scattered, the pedicels distinct, ca. 5 mm long. Flowers: calyx with six lobes, the lobes widely ovate, 5-7 x 3.5-5 mm, erect, slightly imbricate at base, convex to carinate abaxially, flat adaxially; petals six, widely obovate, 22-28 x 15-18 mm, purple; hood of androecium 20 x 20 mm, forming double coil, purple; staminal ring with ca. 300 stamens, the filaments clavate, 1 mm long, the anthers 0.5 mm long; hypanthium cuneate, dark, with white papillae; ovary 2-locular, with 9-11 erect ovules attached to placenta at junction of septum with base of locule, the style erect, 3 mm long. Fruit globose, 5-8 x 5-8 cm, the pericarp 3 mm thick; operculum convex or umbonate. Seeds eight per fruit, 3.5-4 x 2-2.5 cm.

  • Discussion

    Collections of this taxon from lower elevations in Valle are in fruit. However, the leaves, inflorescences, and fruits are indistinguishable from the collections made at higher altitudes in Cundinamarca. The narrow leaves with attenuate apices and the slender inflorescences distinguish this species from others of the genus.

    A colored illustration made under the direction of Mutis and published in the “Re vista Acad. Colomb. Ci. Exact. 2(8): 502-503, 1938” faithfully depicts this handsome species.

    Knuth’s Eschweilera kalbreyeri is based on collections from Colombia and coastal Venezuela which represent two distinct species. The type, Kalbreyer 1881, represents E. bogotensis and therefore E. kalbreyeri is placed under synonymy with this species. The Venezuela collection, Pittier 8967, represents the unrelated E. macrocarpa.

  • Distribution

    A small tree to 10 m tall found in non-flooded forests from near-sea level to 1100 m in the Colombian departments of Valle and Cundinamarca. It flowers in Aug and fruits have been collected in Nov and Feb.

    Colombia South America| Cundinamarca Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America|