Gustavia longepetiolata Huber

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Gustavia longepetiolata Huber

  • Primary Citation

    Bull. Soc. Bot. Genève II, 6: 191. 1915

  • Description

    Author: Scott A. Mori & Nathan P. Smith

    Type: Brazil. Pará: Rio Cuminá-mirim, ad locum "Padras," 14 Dec 1906 (fl), Ducke MG 7965 (holotype, R).

    Description: Tree, very small, leaf-bearing branches 4 mm in diam., the leaves scattered at their ends; petiole scars widely separated. Leaves: petioles 20-30 x 2.5 mm thick, semicircular in cross section; blades oblanceolate, 16-18 x 5-7 cm wide, glabrous, chartaceous, the base attenuate, decurrent, the margins minutely serrulate, the apex acuminate; secondary veins in 12-13 pairs. Inflorescences cauline, arising low on trunk, racemose, the rachis 14 mm long, puberulous, with 4 flowers; pedicels 15 mm, the bract triangular, 3 x 3 mm, the bracteoles 2, near the base of the ovary, acute, 4 mm long. Flowers 10 cm diam.; calyx-lobes 5, broadly triangular, 2.5 x 5 mm; petals (5-)6, narrowly obovate or spathulate, 40 x 15-20 mm, puberulous at anthesis, white; androecium actinomorphic, the outermost filaments 12 mm, the anthers 2-2.5 mm; gynoecium with gray-tomentose ovary (outside), the ovary summit tomentose. Fruits and seeds unknown.

    Common names: None known.

    Distribution: Known from only a few collections in Pará, Brazil (from the Cuminá-mirim, Uruazinho, and Xingu rivers).

    Ecology: Very little is known about the ecology of this species. Paiva Salomão 1116 notes that the species occurs in várzea and on forested hills (ocorre nas várzeas e nos morros com alfloramentos). M. G. da Silva 4015 was collected in forest on the side of a lagoon.

    Phenology: Flowers have been collected in Dec. Fruits have been collected in Nov and Dec

    Pollination: No reports of pollination have been recorded for this species.

    Dispersal: No reports of dispersal.

    Predation: No observations recorded.

    Field characters: See taxonomic notes.

    Taxonomic notes: Gustavia longepetiolata is distinguished by its small stature and cauline inflorescences, which arise a short distance from the ground. The pubescent androecial base and filaments also help to separate this from other small leaved Amazonian species (i.e., G. acuta, G. elliptica, G. hexapetala and G. serrata).

    Conservation: IUCN Red List: Endangered D ver 2.3 (Pires O'Brien, J. 1998. Gustavia longepetiolata. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 20 February 2014.).

    Uses: None known.

    Etymology: The specific epithet means "long petiole."

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

  • Floras and Monographs

    Gustavia longepetiolata Huber: [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.