Melicoccus aymardii 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. Venezuela. Portuguesa: Dtto. Araure, 5 km NE of Agua Blanca, 25 km NW of Acarigua, afloramientos calcáreos, 250 m, 9° 41' N, 69° 04' W, 5 May 1984 (fl), G. Aymard & F. Ortega 2521 (holotype, US; isotype, PORT, n.v.).
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - A Melicoccus espiritosantensis Acevedo-Rodríguez Inflorescentia racemosis, filamentis pilosis differt.
Species Description - Tree 5 m tall. Stems terete, lenticellate, puberulent, dark grey. Leaves paripinnate; distal process minute, inconspicuous; leaflets 2-4, opposite, 4-9 × 1.4-2.3 cm, elliptic or lanceolate, chartaceous, glabrous, dull, venation brochidodromus, tertiary veins finely reticulate, inconspicuous except for the adaxially sunken, abaxially prominent midvein, the margins entire or slightly undulate, the apex acute or less often obtuse, the base obtuse sometimes asymmetrical; petiolules 2-6 mm long, glabrous to pubescent, nearly cylindrical, adaxially furrowed, wrinkled when dry; rachis 1-1.5 cm long, trullate, puberulent, dull, grayish; petioles 1.2-3 cm long, nearly terete, striolate, the base slightly enlarged and flattened along adaxial surface. Inflorescence of racemes, fasciculate on distal portion of branch, 2-7.5 cm long; cataphylls wanting; axes angled, sparsely ferruginous-tomentulose; bracts ovate-deltate, persistent, 0.6 mm long, with same indumentum as the axis; pedicels 2.5-3 mm long, tomentulose, not articulate, with a pair of opposite or alternate bracteoles, ca. 0.5 mm long. Calyx 2-2.5 mm long, tomentulose, the sepals free to the base, lanceolate-deltate; petals narrowly rhombate, ca. 2.2 mm long, whitish woolly-pubescent along margins; appendages of two minute, suprabasal-marginal projections, densely whitish woolly-pubescent; disc annular, glabrous, ca. 0.5 mm tall; stamens 7-9, spreading, the filaments subulate, pilose to woolly on the lower 1/2, of unequal lengths, 1.5-2 mm long, the anthers ovate-deltate, ca. 0.5 mm long, glabrous, apiculate at apex. Pistillate flowers and fruits unknown.
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Discussion
Melicocus aymardii seems to be closely related to M. espiritosantensis. However, M. aymardii differs from M. espiritosantensis by: racemose inflorescences (vs. paniculate); dichasia reduced to a single flower (vs. dichasia simple); petals with shallow appendage-like margins (vs. petals with margins deeply cleft); and pilose filaments (vs. glabrous). The specific epithet honors Gerardo Aymard (PORT), collector of the type and eminent Venezuelan botanist.
Phenology. Collected in flower in May. -
Distribution
Known only from the type collection.
Venezuela South America| Portuguesa Venezuela South America|