Eschweilera microcalyx S.A.Mori

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Eschweilera microcalyx S.A.Mori

  • Primary Citation

    Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21(2): 195. 1990

  • Description

    Author: Scott A. Mori & Nathan P. Smith

    Type: Colombia. Antioquia: Mun. de Anori, Corregimiento de Providencia, Valle del Rio Anori, entre Dos Bocas y Anori, 400-900 malt., 6-12 Sep 1973 (fl), Soejarto 4275 (holotype, HUA).

    Description: Trees, to 20 m tall. Leaves: petioles 10-14 mm long; blades narrowly oblong, 37-41 x 11-13.5 cm, glabrous, punctate abaxially, the interpunctal areas covered by closely spaced white dots which impart glaucous cast, chartaceous, the base obtuse, the margins entire, the apex acuminate; secondary veins in 15-20 pairs. Inflorescences terminal, in axils of uppermost leaves or from branches, unbranched or 1-branched, the principal rachis 5-20 cm long. Flowers sessile, ca. 3 cm diam.; hypanthium sharply constricted directly below calyx, puberulous, truncate at base; calyx-lobes 6, very widely ovate, ca. 3 x 4 mm, horizontally oriented, not imbricate, thick, puberulous, carinate; petals 6, widely obovate, 23-32 x 15-19 mm, red; androecium zygomorphic, the staminal ring with ca. 300-350 stamens, the filaments ca. 1.5 mm long, clavate, the anthers 0.5-0.7 mm long, the hood 15-20 x 15 mm, forming 3 coils; gynoecium with 2-locular ovary, the ovules 8 per locule, inserted at juncture of septum and locule floor, the style erect, cylindric, 3-3.5 mm long. Fruits depressed globose. Seeds with lateral aril.

    Common names: None known.

    Distribution: Known only from Colombia.

    Ecology: A small to medium-sized tree found in non-flooded, montane forest from 400-900 m.

    Phenology: Flowers have been collected in Feb and from Jun-Oct. Mature fruits have been collected in Dec.

    Pollination: No reports of pollination have been recorded.

    Dispersal: No observations recorded but the lateral aril may be eaten by animals.

    Predation: No observations recorded.

    Field characters: See taxonomic notes.

    Taxonomic notes: Eschweilera microcalyx is morphologically similar to E. jacquelyniae of Panama. It differs in its glaucous vs. punctate leaf undersurface; thick, carinate vs. thinner non-carinate calyx lobes; and truncate vs. attenuate hypanthial base. It is also similar to Eschweilera spapanama of Panama which was mistakenly identified as E. microcalyx.

    Conservation: IUCN Red List: Not on list.

    Uses: None known.

    Etymology: The name "microcalyx" means small calyx.

    Source: Based on Mori and Prance in Mori and Prance (1990).

  • Floras and Monographs

    Eschweilera microcalyx S.A.Mori: [Article] 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.