Gustavia acuta S.A.Mori

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Gustavia acuta S.A.Mori

  • Primary Citation

    Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21(1): 180. 1979

  • Type Specimens

    Specimen 1: Isotype -- J. J. Wurdack 41336

    Specimen 2: Holotype -- J. J. Wurdack 41336

  • Description

    Author: Scott A. Mori & Nathan P. Smith

    Type: Venezuela. Apure: Rio Cinaruco between mouth and Las Galeras de Cinaruco, alt 60-90 m, 23 Jun 1956 (fl), Wurdack & Monachino 41336 (holotype, NY).

    Description: Trees to 15 m tall. Branches below leaves 5-9 mm diam., leaves aggregated at their ends. Leaves: petioles 5-20 mm, semicircular in cross section; blades elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 20-27 x 4-8.5 cm, mostly glabrous, the base acute to obtuse, the margins entire to serrulate, the apex acute; secondary veins in 15-23 pairs. Inflorescences cauline, racemose, the rachis 1.0-4.5 cm, with 1-5 flowers; pedicels 2.5-3.5 cm, pubescent; bract 3 x 2-4 mm, bracteoles 2, ovate, 2-3 x 2-4 mm. Flowers 12-16 cm diam.; hypanthium without costa or infrequently indistinctly 4-costate, pubescent; calyx mostly entire, infrequently 4-lobed, the lobes 4 x 8 mm, rounded; petals 8, narrowly obovate or oblong, 5.5-7.8 x 3.0-3.5 cm, white; androecium connate at base, 1.5-2.0 cm tall, the external filaments 1.5-2.0 cm, the anthers 3-3.5 mm; gynoecium 4-locular, the summit white tomentose, the style (1.5-)3-3.5 mm, the stigma 4-lobed. Fruits and seeds unknown.

    Common names: None known.

    Distribution: Known only from the Rio Orinoco especially between the mouths of the Rios Apure and Meta.

    Ecology: A samll tree found on the margins of rivers.

    Phenology: Flowers have been collected in Jan and Apr. An immature fruit was collected in Apr.

    Pollination: No reports of pollination have been recorded.

    Dispersal: No reports of dispersal have been recorded

    Predation: No observations recorded.

    Field characters: See taxonomic notes.

    Taxonomic notes: This species appears to be most closely related to G. augusta from which it differs by having elliptic, mostly entire, acute leaves instead of oblanceolate, serrate to serrulate towards the apex, acuminate leaves and cauline inflorescences instead of mostly suprafoliar ones. Observations of the funicle of G. acuta are needed to confirm this species' relationship with G. augusta which has a distinctive, tortuous, yellow funicle.

    Conservation: IUCN Red List: Not on list (Mar 2014).

    Uses: None known.

    Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the acute leaf apices.

    Source: Based on Mori in Prance and Mori, 1979.

  • Floras and Monographs

    Gustavia acuta S.A.Mori: [Article] 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.