Eschweilera nitida (honduras) ined.

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Eschweilera nitida (honduras) ined.

  • Description

    Status: An unpublished name that will be submitted for publication in the near future.

    Type: TYPE: HONDURAS. Atlantida: Campamento Quebrada Grande ca. 10 km southwest of La Ceiba, at base of north slope of Pico Bonito, slope northeast of camp, 15° 42'N, 86° 51'W, 80-180 m, 16 May 1993 (infl, immature fr), R. L. Liesner 26393 (HOLOTYPE: NY).

    Description: Tree, to 40 m tall. Bark unknown. Leaves: petioles 12-15 mm long, drying black; blades 15-23 x 7-9 cm, elliptic to narrowly oblong, reddish-brown punctations present but inconspicuous (seen only under magnification), coriaceous, the adaxial surface smooth and shiny in dried specimens, the base obtuse to rounded, the margins entire, the apex short acuminate, glabrous; secondary veins in 13-16 pairs, plane to slightly raised adaxially, more prominent abaxially, intersecondaries well-developed, the tertiary veins finely reticulate. Inflorescences (only one seen and this without flowers) terminal (suprafoliar), once-branched, robust, the primary axis 7 mm diam. at base, the secondary axes ca. 4 mm diam., slightly angular; pedicel/hypanthium not known. Flowers unknown. Fruits 6.5 cm diam., depressed globose (including operculum), the calycine ring with calyx-lobes woody and expanded, the supracalycine zone erect, the infracalycine zone rounded to pedicel, the operculum arched at edges, flat in middle, and umbonate in center, the pericarp ferruginous, the surface rough, somewhat pustulate, especially when young. Seeds 5 per single fruit seen, triangular in cross-section, 3-3.5 cm long; aril lateral, only remnants seen.

    Common names: None known.

    Distribution: Known only by two collections (Evans 1650 and Liesner 26393) from the type locality in north central Honduras near to the Caribbean Sea.

    Additional specimen examined: HONDURAS. Atlantida: Base of N slope of Pico Bonito, E of new CURLA (Centro Universitario Regional de Litoral Atlantico) camp building on the Quebrada Grande, ca. 1/3 km above its confluence with the Río Bonito, ca. 10 km SW of La Ceiba, Parque Nacional Pico Bonito (15° 42' N, 86°50' W), upland primary forest on slope, 14 May 1993 (fr), R. Evans 1650 (MO, NY).

    Ecology: Primary forest intermixed with secondary forest only know from less than 250 meters.

    Phenology: Fruit collected in May.

    Pollination: No information recorded.

    Dispersal: No information recorded.

    Taxonomic notes: This species was previously determined as Eschweilera coriacea from which it differs by the shiny adaxial leaf blade surface and the rough pericarp. The flowers are unknown and, thus, in need of collection. The flowers should be photographed and then some of them should be pickled in 70% alcohol. When describing flower color, the petals and the androecium should be described separately. In addition, an image of the bark should be made. Additional collections of fruit with mature seeds are needed. The seeds need to be photographed to show the lateral aril or the sarcotesta and the venation pattern of the seed coat in the former seed type. Dried leaf fragments in silica gel are always needed if it is legal in the country where it is collected. Please contact smori@nybg.org if you are able to make a collection of this species.

    Uses: None known.

    Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the shiny adaxial leaf blade surface, at least when the leaf is dry.

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.