Jacquinia acunana Borhidi & O.Muñiz
-
Authority
Ståhl, Bertil. 2010. Theophrastaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 105: 1-160. (Published by NYBG Press)
-
Family
Theophrastaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Type
Type. Cuba. Holguin: Sierra de Moa, La Melba, above Aserrío de la Mina Delta, 500-600 m, 18 Feb 1970, A. Borhidi, O. Muñiz & S. Vázquez (holotype originally at SV, now at HAC no. 27115; isotypes, HAC, BP).
-
Description
Species Description - Shrub to 1.5 m tall; young shoots and branchlets light brown, densely lepidote, trichomes with short stalks of 1 or rarely 2 cells and subglobose to conical, few- to many-celled heads. Leaves distinctly pseudo-verticillate, straight, brownish when dried; blade broadly obovate to obovate, 2.5-4.5 x 1.2-3.2 cm, cartilaginous and very tough, 0.7-0.85 mm thick, base attenuate, apex rounded or vaguely retuse, without spine, sides plane, margins vaguely revolute; midvein and 2 lateral veins prominolous on both sides, lower surface striate, upper surface smooth; extraxylary sclerenchyma adjacent to epidermis on both sides, abaxially arranged in distinct bundles 7-25 cells thick, adaxially in a continuous or subcontinuous layer 3-6 cells thick; hypoderm lacking; crystals sparse in mesophyll, lacking in epidermis; petiole 1-2 mm long, glabrous. Racemes solitary with 2-4 flowers; rachis to 1 mm long; pedicels 6-10 mm long, more or less recurved; bracts not seen. Calyx lobes very broadly ovate 2 5-3 x 2.5-3.5 mm, margins appressed to fruit, entire or subentire. Corolla not seen. Ovules 50-60 in 4 rows. Fruits yellow, 1.5-1.7 cm diam., surface smooth, glossy. Seeds not seen.
Distribution and Ecology - Known only from SE Cuba (Fig. 57) in dry, montane thickets at 500-900 m. The type material is postfloral; fruiting Feb.
-
Discussion
Jacquinia acunana is known solely from a few poorly preserved specimens, hence the rather incomplete description. In addition, the collection Shafer 4027 is only tentatively referred to this species. Its brownish-tinged vegetative parts and vestiture on young shoots suggest a close relationship with J. berteroi, but it differs by having much larger leaves and flowers.
-
Distribution
Guantánamo Cuba South America| Holguín Cuba South America|