Banisteriopsis sepium (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 sepium (A.Juss.) B.Gates

  • Type

    Type. Martius s.n., Brazil, Piauí, fl (holotype, M).

  • Synonyms

    Banisteria sepium A.Juss.

  • Description

    Species Description - Vine, young branches flattened, appressed-golden-sericeous, old branches glabrate. Stipules minute, joined by an interpetiolar line. Leaves very coriaceous, with the petiole 4-9 mm long, densely appressed-sericeous, eglandular, the lamina 3.3-9.0 mm long, 1.6-4.4 cm wide, cuneate at the base, obtuse to emarginate at the apex, the margin thickened and more or less revolute, bearing minute glands, the gland nearest the base on each side sometimes enlarged, new leaves at first sparsely appressed-sericeous on both sides, mature leaves quite glabrous, with the reticulation prominent on both sides. Inflorescence axillary, of 4-flowered umbels, appressed-golden-sericeous; bracts and bracteoles 2.0-3.0 mm long, triangular, carinate, acute at the apex, sparsely appressed-sericeous to glabrate abaxially, glabrous adaxially, erect or appressed, persistent; pedicels sessile, 2125 mm long, 1.0 mm in diameter, thicker, up to 2.0 mm, in fruit, glabrous. Sepals up to 3.0 mm long and 2.0 mm wide, elliptic, rounded at the apex, appressed-golden-sericeous, eglandular. Petals yellow, externally sericeous, fimbriate, the 4 lateral petals reflexed between the sepals, the claw 3.0-4.0 mm long, the limb 7.0-11.0 mm long, 7.0-9.0 mm wide, rotund, concave, the posterior petal with the claw erect, up to 4.5 mm long and 1.0 mm wide, apically constricted, the limb up to 9.0 mm long and 7.0 mm wide, broadly obovate, plane, reflexed. Stamens with the filaments 2.8-3.8 mm long, those opposite the styles thick, those opposite the postero-lateral petals and sepals longest, those of the 5 anterior stamens ± the same length, those of the 3 posterior stamens inflexed between the posterior styles; anthers with the locules 1.2-1.5 mm long, glabrous, connectives of the stamens opposite the sepals up to 1.4 mm long, 1.0 mm wide and 0.8 mm deep, obovate, those opposite the petals up to 1.0 mm long, 0.8 mm wide and 0.4 mm deep, oblong. Ovary 1.5 mm tall, densely pubescent, styles ca. 3 mm long, diverging at least in bud, the anterior style inflexed apically, stigmas capitate. Fruit without carpophore, nut up to 32 mm tall and 27 mm long, smooth, glabrous, with a single shallow winglet on each side parallel to the areole up to 7 mm high, sometimes confluent beneath the nut, the wing reduced and forming a deltate projection up to 20 mm tall and extending forward as a shallow crest to just behind the style, glabrous.

  • Discussion

    Collected in fruit in June and October.

    This species exhibits the largest fruit in the genus; with its massive nut and relatively small fruit wing it is perhaps adapted for water dispersal.

  • Distribution

    In dry thickets in Piauí and Bahia.

    Brazil South America| Piauí Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America|