Diplopterys pauciflora (G.Mey.) Nied.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Malpighiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Diplopterys pauciflora (G.Mey.) Nied.

  • Type

    Type. Herb. Meyer 332, Guyana, Essequibo, fl (holotype, GOET n.v., MICH neg. #3488 and 3489).

  • Synonyms

    Triopterys pauciflora G.Mey., Tetrapterys pauciflora (G.Mey.) DC., Diplopterys paralias A.Juss., Diplopterys pauciflora var. latifolia Nied.

  • Description

    Species Description - Liana, young branches appressed-sericeous, old branches glabrate, with the secondary xylem sometimes developing very asymmetrically as a flange on 2 sides of the stem, giving the stem a flattened appearance. Stipules minute, triangular, usually connected by an interpetiolar line. Leaves with the petiole 4-11 mm long, appressed-sericeous to glabrate, channelled adaxially, eglandular, the lamina 7.0-17.4 cm long and 2.4-7.9 cm wide, ovate to lanceolate, truncate at the base, acuminate at the apex, with the margin plane to slightly revolute and bearing minute glands, with the gland nearest the base on each side of the midrib enlarged, glabrous adaxially, sparsely appressed-sericeous abaxially, the hairs with the trabecula 0.2-0.3 mm long, eventually glabrate, with the reticulation prominent adaxially and the 8-10 pairs of lateral veins prominent abaxially. Inflorescence axillary, of 4-flowered umbels, borne singly or in racemes of 3-7 umbels, the branches up to 5 cm long, appressed-sericeous; bracts and bracteoles 2.0-3.5 mm long, lingulate, rounded at the apex, sparsely sericeous abaxially, spreading, persistent; pedicels sessile, 7-12 mm long, 0.4-0.5 mm wide, golden-appressed-sericeous. Sepals 1.8-2.8 mm long, 1.2-1.6 mm wide at the base, 0.6-1.0 mm wide at the apex, deltate, inpressed and reflexed apically, appressed-sericeous abaxially, glabrous adaxially, the 4 lateral sepals each Eglandular, projecting 0.6-1.8 mm beyond the glands, the glands 1.6-2.6 mm long, 0.8-1.2 mm wide. Petals yellow, sparsely sericeous externally, long-fimbriate, eglandular, the 4 lateral petals reflexed between the sepals, with the claw 1.0-2.0 mm long, the limb 5-8 mm long and 4-8 mm wide, broadly elliptic, the antero-lateral petals slightly larger and more concave than the postero-lateral petals, the posterior petal with the claw erect, 2.6-3.0 mm long, 0.5-0.7 mm wide, apically constricted, the limb 4-6 mm long and 4.5-5.0 mm wide, obovate, plane. Stamens with the filaments connate proximally for up to half their length, those opposite the sepals 2.6-3.4 mm long, those opposite the petals 1.8-2.6 mm long, those opposite the postero-lateral petals almost as long as those opposite the antero-lateral sepals, those of the 3 anterior stamens erect, those opposite the antero-lateral sepals and postero-lateral petals directed posteriorly, those of the 3 posterior stamens inflexed between the posterior styles, the anthers with the locules 0.8-1.0 mm long, sparsely hairy to glabrate, the connectives of the stamens opposite the sepals 0.8-1.0 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm wide, 0.4-0.6 mm deep, broadly obovate, those opposite the petals 0.5-0.8 mm long, 0.4-0.5 mm wide, 0.2-0.3 mm deep, oblong. Ovary densely hairy, 1.0-1.2 mm tall, the anterior style 1.8-2.0 mm long, straight and erect, the posterior styles 2.4-3.0 mm long, diverging and directed posteriorly, hairy for up to half their length, stigmas capitate. Fruit of 3 mericarps without carpophore, the nut orbicular up to 15 mm tall and long, bearing a semicircular dorsal crest 2-6 mm high and usually bearing 2 lateral wings parallel to the areole on each side up to 4 mm high, the lateral wings ± interconnected with ridges, with the surface of the nut between the proximal lateral wing and the areole and the distal lateral wing and the dorsal crest smooth, sparsely appressed-sericeous, the hairs with the trabecula 0.1-0.2 mm.

  • Discussion

    Collected in flower in November to January, and March, June and August, and in fruit in January and March.

    This species is most closely related to D. cabrerana from which it can be distinguished by its narrower leaves with shorter petiole, enlarged glands on the leaf margin near the base, not on the petiole, by its posterior styles which are much larger than the anterior style, and by its fruit which has only two well-developed lateral crests on each side, with the area between the distal lateral crest and the dorsal crest smooth. The two Fróes collections from Pará, Brazil, have leaves which are smaller and narrower than the leaves of other collections of this species.

  • Distribution

    A riverine vine in Guyana, French Guiana, and northern Brazil.

    Guyana South America| French Guiana South America| Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|