Manilkara maxima T.D.Penn.

  • Authority

    Pennington, Terence D. 1990. Sapotaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 52: 1-750. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Sapotaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Manilkara maxima T.D.Penn.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Bahía: Camamú to Ibirapitanga, Jul 1972 (fl), R. S. Pinheiro 1848 (holotype, FHO; isotypes, CEPEC, MO).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor:; ramuli novelli crassi, apice resina vernicosa inducti, glabri, atri, demum pallide cinerascentes, scabri, valde squamati. Stipulae nullae. Folia 11.5-25 × 5.4-10 cm, late cunei-formia, apice rotundata vel emarginata, basi an-guste attenuata, supra glabra, pagina inferiore minute et adpresse ferrugineo-puberula, valde coriacea; costa prominens sed recessa, nervi se-cundarii 27-32-jugi, in nervum submarginalem conjuncti, venatio Superioris ordines obscura. Petiolus 3.3-6 cm longus, haudquaquam vel paullum canaliculata, glaber. Flores solitarii. Pedicellus 5-6 cm longus, manifeste lenticellate, subglaber. Sepala 1.5-1.6 cm longa, ovata, acuta, basi distincte inflata et abrupte in petio-lum contracta, extra minute et adpresse ferrugineo-puberula, intra puberula, indumentum interioris verticilli pallidius. Corolla glabra, 1.61.7 cm longa, tubus ca. 3 mm longus; lobi sex, ad basim in segmenta tria divisi, segmentum medium valde anguste naviculare, apice acutum, segmenta lateralia segmento medio ca. 2 mm longiora, late lanceolata, apice acuta vel obtusa. Stamina sex, glabra; filamenta ca. 2 mm longa, libera; antherae ca. 3 mm longae, lanceolatae. Staminodia sex, glabra, 7-8 mm longa, ligulata, parte superiore profunde laciniato-fimbriata. Ovarium ovoideum, glabrum (loculi et stylus non visi). Fructus maturus non visus, fructus im-maturus late ellipsoideus, ca. 2.5 × 2.2 cm, apice et basi rotundatus, laevis, glaber, stylo crasso ca. 0.6 cm longo terminatus.

    Species Description - Tree; young branches stout, glabrous, black, apex covered by a varnish-like coat of resin, lenticellate, becoming pale grey, rough and strongly scaling. Stipules absent. Leaves 11.5-25 × 5.410 cm, broadly cuneiform, apex rounded or emarginate, base narrowly cuneate, glabrous above, minutely appressed ferruginous puberulous below, strongly coriaceous; midrib prominent, but recessed, secondary veins 27-32 pairs, forming a submarginal vein, higher order venation obscure. Petiole 3.3-6 cm long, not or only slightly channelled, glabrous. Flowers solitary. Pedicel 5-6.5 cm long, prominently lenticellate, subglabrous. Sepals 1.5-1.6 cm long, ovate, acute, distinctly swollen at the base and abruptly contracted into the pedicel, minutely appressed ferruginous puberulous outside, puberulous inside, indumentum of inner whorl paler. Corolla glabrous, 1.6-1.7 cm long, tube ca. 3 mm long; lobes six, divided to base into three segments, median segment very slender, boatshaped, apex acute; lateral segments ca. 2 mm longer than the median segment, broadly lanceolate, apex acute or obtuse. Stamens six, glabrous; filaments ca. 2 mm long, free; anthers ca. 3 mm long, lanceolate. Staminodes six, glabrous, 7-8 mm long, strap-shaped, deeply laciniate-fimbriate in the upper part. Ovary ovoid, glabrous (locules and style not seen). Mature fruit not seen, young fruit broadly ellipsoid, ca. 2.5 × 2.2 cm, apex and base rounded, smooth, glabrous, bearing a stout persistent style ca. 0.6 cm long. Field characters. Unbuttressed tree to 30 m high and 60 cm diam. The inner bark is reddish, with abundant white latex. Flowers white. Flowering from Jul to Sep, young fruit Sep and Dec.

  • Discussion

    Relationships. Manilkara maxima is a very distinct species with flowers considerably larger than any other known member of the genus. Its only close relative appears to be M. longifolia, the only other large-flowered S. American species, with which it has an overall resemblance. Both species have a pronounced swelling at the base of the sepals abruptly narrowing into the pedicel.

    The principal differences between M. maxima and M. longifolia are summarized below.

    M. maxima: Minute appressed indumentum on lower leaf surface, flowers solitary, calyx and corolla 1.5-1.7 cm long, staminodes much longer than the stamens.

    M. longifolia: Leaves glabrous, fascicles ca.

    5-flowered, calyx and corolla 0.9-1.1 cm long, staminodes shorter than stamens.

  • Common Names

    Massaranduba apraiu, massaranduba do brejo, massaranduba roseta

  • Distribution

    The species is confined to maritime forest (restinga) on the coast of Bahia, Brazil.

    Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America|