Eschweilera rhododendrifolia (R.Knuth) A.C.Sm.

  • 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 rhododendrifolia (R.Knuth) A.C.Sm.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Amazonas: Manaus, to NE of Flores, 1 Jul 1932 (fl), Ducke RB.23886 (holotype, B, not extant; lectotype, INPA, photo NY, here designated; isolectotypes, IAN, photo IAN at NY, RB-carpoteca 1110 pro parte, photo RB-Car-poteca 1110 at NY).

  • Synonyms

    Chytroma rhododendrifolia R.Knuth

  • Description

    Description - Medium-sized trees, to 30 m tall. Leaf blades elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 15-19 x 4.5-8 cm, glabrous, without punctae, chartaceous, with 1320 pairs of lateral veins; apex acuminate; base acute to obtuse; margins entire; petiole 6-12 mm long, sometimes with narrowly decurrent blades. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, paniculate arrangement of spikes with two orders of branching, the principal rachis 5-18 cm long, puberulous, lenticellate, the lateral rachises well-developed, to 12 cm long, the flowers sessile. Flowers ca. 3 cm diam.; calyx with six lobes, the lobes very widely ovate, 4.5-8 x 5-8 mm, erect, strongly imbricate, abaxially convex, adaxially flat; petals six, yellow; hood of androecium 10-12 x 9-14 mm, with distinct double coil, yellow; staminal ring asymmetric, with ca. 260 stamens, the filaments ca. 1.3 mm long, not or only slightly expanded toward apex, the anthers 0.3 mm long; hypanthium truncate, with external ferrugineous pubescence; ovary 2-locular, with 12-15 ovules attached at juncture of septum and floor of locule, the summit slightly elevated, the style obconical, not well differentiated from summit, 2 2.5 mm long. Fruits cup-shaped, ca. 6 x 8 cm (excluding operculum), the exocarp rough, unknown at maturity.

  • Discussion

    Eschweilera rhodendrifolia is characterized by its sessile flowers and ferrugineous pubescent hypanthium. Its fruits are cup-shaped to short cylindric with a rough exocarp. In these features, E. rhododendrifolia is similar to E. amazonica from which it differs by its longer, narrower leaves and more expansive inflorescence.

    The collection of fruit in the herbarium of the Jardim Botânico of Rio de Janeiro, labelled Ducke RB.23886 and carpoteca 1110, is a mixed collection. The two thicker walled fruits are of Eschweilera rhododendrifolia while the two thinner walled fruits as well as the two seeds are of Lecythis retusa. A photograph of this collection is deposited at NY.

  • Distribution

    Eschweilera rhododendrifolia is a tree of non-flooded forest known only from central Amazonia around Manaus. It flowers in Jul and Aug.

    Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|