Eschweilera jacquelyniae S.A.Mori

  • 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 jacquelyniae S.A.Mori

  • Type

    Type. Panama. Panamá: Gorgas Memorial Labs. Yellow Fever Research Camp, Campamento Cuatro, 5-10 km NE of Altos de Pacora on ridge top, 600 m, 21-24 Nov 1974 (fl), Mori & Kallunki 3440 (holotype, NY; isotypes, COL, K, MO, PMA, US).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Ab E. caudiculata foliis majoribus (17-40 x 9-17 cm nec 13-27 x 5-11 cm), oblongis (nec ellipticis vel lanceolatis), nervis lateralibus magis numerosis (14-20 nec 12-17) et cucullo androe-cii 3-circinato (nec 2-circinato) et ab E. micro-calyce pagina abaxiali foliorum foveolata (nec glauca), lobis calycis non carinatis et hypanthio attenuato (nec truncato) differt.

    Description - Small trees, to 10 m. Leaf blades oblong 17-40 x 9-17 cm, glabrous, punctate abaxially, the interpunctal areas covered by much smaller, closely compacted pits, these often gold-colored, coriaceous, with 14-20 pairs of lateral veins; apex acuminate to long acuminate; base obtuse to rounded; margins entire; petiole 8-15 mm long. Inflorescences cauline, of simple racemes, often arising from woody outgrowths, the rachis to 11 cm long, glabrous. Flowers 4-5 cm diam.; calyx with six lobes, the lobes very widely ovate, 3-5 x 4-7 mm, spreading, not imbricate, glabrous, convex abaxially, concave adaxially; petals six, widely obovate, 23-42 x 15-28 mm, purple; hood of androecium, 20-27 x 15-25 mm, purpie, forming triple coil, the innermost coil poorly developed; staminal ring with ca. 350 stamens, the filaments ca. 2 mm long, clavate, white, the anthers 0.7 mm long, yellow; hypanthium cuneate, glabrous, drying dark brown or black, without conspicuous lenticels but with white, scattered papillae; ovary 2-locular, each locule with 5-7 erect ovules attached to placenta on floor of locule at junction of septum, the style erect, cylindric, 4.5 mm long. Fruits globose to turbinate, 2.5-3.5 x 2.5-5.5 cm; operculum umbonate. Seeds 2-2.5 x 1.5-2.0 cm, with conspicuous, indurate, lateral aril.

  • Discussion

    Eschweilera jacquelyniae is related to E. caudiculata of extreme eastern Panama and Colombia. These two species have the same flower color, inflorescence position, and remarkably similar arils. However, E. jacquelyniae has larger leaves (17-40 x 9-17 cm vs. 13-27 x 5-11 cm), more lateral veins (14-20 vs. 12-17), and oblong instead of elliptic or lanceolate leaf blades. More importantly, the androecial hood of E. jacquelyniae possesses a triple coil whereas that of the E. caudiculata is doubly coiled.

    Eschweilera jacquelyniae. also has close affinities with E. microcalyx of northwestern Colombia. The differences between the two are enumerated in the discussion of the latter.

    This species is named in honor of Dr. Jacquelyn Kallunki who assisted me in the collection of this and many other species of Panamanian plants.

  • Distribution

    Small tree usually found in non-flooded habitats in cloud forests at around 600-1000 m in eastern Panama. However, some collections have been gathered at lower elevations. It flowers from Sep to May and mature fruits have been collected from Apr to Jul.

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