Lecythis schwackei (R.Knuth) S.A.Mori

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. & Mori, S. A. 1979. Lecythidaceae - Part I. The actinomorphic-flowered New World Lecythidaceae (Asteranthos, Gustavia, Grias, Allantoma & Cariniana). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21: 1-270. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Lecythis schwackei (R.Knuth) S.A.Mori

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Virgem da Lapa, 9 Apr 1959 (fl), Magalhaes 15322 (neotype, IAN, here designated).

  • Synonyms

    Sapucaya schwackei R.Knuth

  • Description

    Description - Small trees. Twigs reddish-brown, with vertically oriented lenticels, ca. 4 mm diam. Leaf blades elliptic to oblong, 8-17 x 5-7 cm, glabrous, the abaxial surface whitish, with cuticular papillae, coriaceous, with 12-15 pairs of lateral veins, these impressed on adaxial surface, salient on abaxial surface; apex obtuse to short acuminate; base obtuse; margins serrulate, revolute; petiole 8-15 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescences racemose, terminal, unbranched, the rachis 410 cm long, with 2-10 flowers, glabrous; pedicels 4 mm long. Flowers 3.5-4 cm diam.; calyx with six widely ovate to ovate lobes, 8-11 x 5.5-8 mm, with longitudinally oriented mucilage bearing ducts; petals six, widely obovate, 18-30 x 14-20 mm, yellow; hood of androecium, 17-20 x 15 mm, the appendages swept inwards, antherless; filaments 2.5-3 mm long, dilated at apex, the anthers 0.7-0.8 mm long, hypanthium glabrous, truncate at base; ovary 4- or 6-locular, with 4-6 ovules attached towards base of septurn, the summit truncate, the style geniculate, 4-5 mm long. Fruits depressed globose, 2 x 2.5 cm, the calyx lobes persisting in fruit. Seeds one per locule, 5 mm diam.

  • Discussion

    I have not been able to locate the holotype (Brazil. Minas Gerais: Rio Novo, no date (fr), Schwacke 8906) at B nor duplicates of this collection in other herbaria. Figure 4D in Knuth depicts the fruit only. Therefore, I have selected Magalhães 15322 as the neotype.

    Although Knuth identified Glaziou 14847 as Eschweilera blanchetiana (a synonym of E. ovata), it clearly represents Lecythis schwackei. The ovary is 6-locular, the leaves have distinctly serrulate margins, and the inflorescence is terminal, all of which are features of L. schwackei.

    The 6-locular ovary described by Knuth is not sufficient to allow recognition of Sapucaya as a distinct genus. The Magalhaes collection (15322) possesses 4-locular ovaries and therefore it appears that locule number may be either 4 or 6 in this species.

    Lecythis schwackei is morphologically similar to L. lurida from which it can be separated only by the more impressed lateral veins of the adaxial surface, the more papillate abaxial leaf surface, and the fruits with a more erect supracalycine zone.

  • Distribution

    A small tree of secondary deciduous forest (fide Magalhães 15322) and savanna-like vegetation known only from the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Flowers have been collected in Feb to Apr. The only known collection of mature fruits was gathered in Jan.

    Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America|