Banisteriopsis megaphylla (A.Juss.) B.Gates

Authority

Gates, Bronwen. 1982. Banisteriopsis, Diplopterys (Malpighiaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 30: 1-238. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family

Malpighiaceae

Scientific Name

Banisteriopsis megaphylla (A.Juss.) B.Gates

Type

Type. Claussen s.n., Brazil, Minas Gerais, Curvello, fl fr (holotype, P; isotypes, P).

Synonyms

Banisteria megaphylla A.Juss.

Description

Species Description - Shrub to 2 m tall. Branches terete, densely tomentose, the vestiture complex, of short- and long-stalked T-shaped hairs. Stipules minute. Leaves with the petiole (6-)8- 12(- 18) mm long, thick, tomentose, eglandular, or bearing a pair of large sessile glands at its apex, the lamina 9.5-19.5(-26.1) cm long, 8.5-16.0 (-22.6) cm wide, smaller in the inflorescence, broadly ovate to elliptic or orbicular, truncate to cordate at the base, acute to apiculate or emarginate at the apex, the margin flat, sometimes bearing a pair of large sessile glands on the costa basally, hispido-velutinous adaxially, the hairs T-shaped, the stalk 0.20-0.35 mm long, the arms slightly flexuous, 0.2-0.3 mm long, densely tomentose abaxially, the hairs T-shaped, stalked, the stalk 0.15-1.40 mm long, the trabecula 1.3-2.6 mm long, flexuous, with the reticulation impressed adaxially, prominent abaxially. Inflorescence of 4-flowered umbels, terminal, the umbels borne in dichasia, very condensed and much branched, tomentose, the trabecula 0.4-0.6 mm long; bracts and bracteoles 1.0-1.6 mm long, broadly triangular, tomentose abaxially, glabrous adaxially, persistent; pedicels sessile, (5-)7-12 mm long, 1.2-1.4 mm wide, 0.8 mm wide without the hairs, loosely sericeous. Sepals sericeous abaxially, minutely pubescent distally adaxially, appressed in bud, broadly ovate, rounded and inbent at the apex, 2.0-2.4 mm long, 1.4-2.4 mm wide, the glands red, 2.6-2.8 mm long, 0.8-1.2 mm wide, the 4 lateral sepals projecting 1.2-1.8 mm beyond the glands. Petals dark pink or white with pink margin, fimbriate, the 4 lateral petals reflexed between the sepals, the claw 1.5-2.0 mm long, 0.4-0.5 mm wide, the limb 5.5-6.4 mm long, 5.0-6.0 mm wide, orbicular, eglandular, the anterolateral petals very cochleate, the postero-lateral petals slightly concave, the posterior petal with the claw erect, 2.5-3.0 mm long, up to 1.4 mm wide at the apex, not constricted, the limb 3.5-4.0 mm long, 3.0-3.5 mm wide, broadly elliptic, reflexed, plane to convex, the basal fimbriae enlarged and glandular. Stamens with the filaments 1.5-2.2 mm long, connate basally, the locules 1.0-1.2 mm long, basally and apically pilose or glabrate, the connectives yellow, all more or less glandular apically, those opposite the petals 0.6-0.8 mm long, 0.7-0.8 mm wide, 0.4-0.6 mm deep, those opposite the sepals 0.8-1.0 mm long, 0.9-1.2 mm wide, 0.6-0.8 mm deep. Ovary 0.9-1.2 mm tall, white-sericeous, the styles equal, straight and parallel, 2.2-2.4 mm long, 0.2-0.3 mm wide, tapering slightly apically, stigmas capitate. Fruit with carpophore up to 2 mm long, 0.8 mm wide, the nut 7-9 mm tall, 5-6 mm long, rugose or with one short lateral wing on each side, appressed-pubescent, grey to green, the wing 13-21 mm long, 11-17 mm wide, the upper margin straight to slightly arcuate, the lower margin semi-orbicular, appressed-sericeous, greyish-crimson, the locule hairy within.

Discussion

Collected in flower in December to May, and in fruit January to August.

Distribution

In cerrado on deep red soil throughout the Planalto of Brazil.

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