Melicoccus petiolulatus Acev.-Rodr.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2003. Meliococceae (Sapindaceae):
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Family
Sapindaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Peru, Loreto: Puerto Arturo, lower Huallaga river, below Yurimaguas, ca. 135 m, dense forest, 24-25 Aug 1929 (fr), Killip, E.P. &A.C. Smith 27762 (holotype, US).
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - A M. pedicellari (Radlkofer) Acevedo- Rodriguez foliolis nervatibus adaxialiter planis, sepalis caducis, et thyrsis paniculiformibus differt.
Species Description - Shrub 5-6 m tall. Stems terete, smooth, glabrous, grayish, lustrous. Leaves paripinnate; distal process early deciduous; leaflets 4, opposite, elliptic, 14-19 × 6.5-83 cm, chartaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, the venation brochidodromus, midvein prominent especially on abaxial surface, secondary veins adaxially plane, abaxially prominent, tertiary venation reticulate, the margins slightly undulate, the apex long-acuminate, the acumen sometimes obtuse, the base obtuse, slightly to strongly unequal; petiolules slender, 1-2.5 cm, glabrous; rachis ca. 6 cm long, slender, terete, glabrous; petioles 8-11.5 cm long, terete, glabrous, pulvinate at base. Thyrses panicleshaped, terminal; cataphylls minute, acicular; axes to 23 cm long, slightly angled, puberulent; dichasia seemingly simple. Flowers unknown. Fruit ellipsoid, glabrous, ca. 2 cm long (immature), smooth.
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Discussion
Melicocus petiolulatus seems to be most closely related to M. pedicellaris Radlkofer in that both possess similar vegetative morphology. However, M. petiolulatusa differs from M. pedicellaris by having leaflets with adaxially plane venation and early deciduous sepals (vs. impressed venation and sepals persistent at the base of fruits). The specific epithet refers to the relatively elongated petiolules that characterize this species.
Phenology. Collected in fruit in late August.
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Distribution
Known only from the Department of Loreto, Peru.
Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America|