Banisteriopsis peruviana (Nied.) B.Gates

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Malpighiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Banisteriopsis peruviana (Nied.) B.Gates

  • Type

    Type. Const, de Jelski 343, Peru, Cajamarca, Tambillo, (fl) fr (holotype, B? destroyed; isotypes, US, W).

  • Synonyms

    Banisteria peruviana Nied.

  • Description

    Species Description - Liana (?), young branches compressed, sparsely appressed-pubescent, old branches terete, glabrous. Stipules triangular, up to 1 mm long, their bases joined by a more or less prominent inter-petiolar ridge. Leaves with the petiole up to 8 mm long, sparsely appressed-pubescent, the lamina 7.7-12.2 cm long and 4.0-6.5 cm wide, elliptic, cuneate at the base, acuminate at the apex, with the margin slightly revolute and bearing minute glands, adaxially glabrous, abaxially sparsely appressed-pubescent, the hairs with the trabecula 0.3-0.6 mm long, with the 68 pairs of lateral nerves prominulous adaxially and prominent abaxially. Inflorescence axillary, of 4-flowered umbels, appressed-pubescent to glabrate, bracts and bracteoles 1.2-1.6 mm long, broadly triangular, involucrate, persistent. Pedicels sessile, 17-22 mm long, 0.6-0.7 mm in diameter, much stouter in fruit. Sepals 2.0-2.2 mm long and wide, rounded at the apex, abaxially brown-sericeous, the 4 lateral sepals Eglandular, the glands 2.0-3.0 mm long and 1.2-1.5 mm wide. Petals yellow, externally sericeous. Stamens with the filaments glabrous, erect, that opposite the anterior sepal inflexed apically, those opposite the sepals and the postero-lateral petals 3.6-4.2 mm long, those opposite the other petals 2.8-3.2 mm long, the locules 1.0-1.4 mm long, pubescent, the connective opposite the anterior sepal short and oblong, those opposite the other sepals and the petals longer, those opposite the sepals obovate and those opposite the petals narrowly oblong. Ovary up to 2.0 mm tall, densely brown-pubescent, the anterior style 3.0-3.2 mm long, stout, incurved apically, the posterior styles 2.4-2.6 mm long, straight and diverging. Fruits without carpophore, the nut up to 20 mm tall and 15 mm long, globose, bearing laterally 5-7 ridge-like crests radiating from the aerole, up to 3 mm tall and sometimes interconnected; apically with a rounded appendage 14 mm long and up to 10 mm tall, the dorsal wing up to at least 45 mm long and 17 mm wide, narrower towards the nut, very thickened along its upper edge, appressed-sericeous.

  • Discussion

    Collected in fruit in September.

    The fruit of this species is so unusual with its large fruit nut and prominent ridge-like crests radiating from the areole, that I have maintained its specific rank. There are no additional collections in fruit or flower; the flower measurements I have included in the description were taken from flowers in the packet on the sheet from Vienna. Niedenzu states in his description that he did not have flowers, so it is possible that these flowers do not belong to Jelski 343. Indeed, the flowers are almost identical to those of the type of Banisteriopsis nutans. Perhaps it is difficult to distinguish B. peruviana and B. nutans in flower; only additional collections will resolve this problem.

  • Distribution

    Known only from the type in Cajamarca, Peru.

    Peru South America| Cajamarca Peru South America|