Combretum spinosum Bonpl.
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Authority
Stace, C. A. & Alwan, A.-R A. 2010. Combretaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 107: 1-369. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Combretaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Venezuela. Bolívar: Banks of Río Orinoco, Angostura [Ciudad Bolívar], 1799-1804, Bonpland 1118 (holotype, P hb. Bonpland).
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Synonyms
Combretum guayca Humb., Poivrea eriopetala DC., Combretum eriopetalum (DC.) G.Don, Combretum jacquinii Griseb.
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Description
Species Description - Woody liana to 3 m or stems trailing along ground; stems with strong infra-axillary spines to 3 cm; combretaceous hairs and stalked glands present. Leaves opposite or more or less so, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, 1.5-12.5 × 1.1-5.5 cm, elliptic to obovate-elliptic or narrowly so, rounded to acuminate at apex, cuneate to rounded at base, usually densely minutely verruculose along all veins, especially minor veinlets abaxially, often hairless but sometimes sparsely pubescent especially on midvein abaxially, with stalked glands rather frequent on veins abaxially and sparse adaxially but very small and inconspicuous. Venation as in C. decandrum. Petiole 0.2-1 cm, glabrous to pubescent, with sparse stalked glands, often disarticulating at varying distances above base which remains to become spine next season. Inflorescences simple or branched, in leaf-axils, often forming a raceme or sparse panicle of spikes to 16 cm; each spike 1-11.5 cm, slender, its axis sparsely to densely pubescent and with sparse to frequent stalked glands. Flowers pentamerous, 3.2-4.4mm; lower hypanthium 1.5-1.8 mm, without pedicel-like proximal region (or rarely with one 0.3 mm) and usually slightly narrowed to neck distally, sparsely to densely appressed-pubescent, with stalked glands absent to frequent; upper hypanthium 1.5-2.6 × 2-2.5 mm, campanulate to infundibuliform, more or less hairless outside, without or with very sparse stalked glands, sparsely pubescent inside; calyx lobes triangular, 0.6-1 mm, erect, subacute to obtuse at apex; petals 5,1.5-1.6 × 0.8 mm, obovate to narrowly so, rounded or sometimes retuse at apex, exserted and patent to reflexed at anthesis, pubescent abaxially and on margins; stamens 10, well exserted, with filaments 3.6-4.8 mm; disk small but thick, closely applied to style base, pubescent at margin, with free portion ca. 0.2 mm; style 5.2-6.4 mm, exserted ca. as far as filaments, sparsely pilose; ovules 5-8. Fruit 1-1.4 × 0.4-0.5 cm, linear to narrowly oblong in side view, sometimes wider near base, retuse at base, without pseudostipe, rounded to obtuse at apex, glabrous and with very sparse stalked glands, with 5 strong narrow ridges but without true wings, dark brown when dried. Stalked glands as in C. decandrum but often longer, to 80 µm due to stalks to 40 µm and 5(-8) cells long. Reproductive biology. Flowers (petals) white, cream-colored, yellow, or greenish white, with green hypanthium, distinctly protogynous. No mention of scent or visitors, but presumably pollinated by insects. Flowering and fruiting January to June. Wingless corky fruits are usually associated with water dispersal, but there is no label indication of a wetter habitat for C. spinosum than for C. decandrum.
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Discussion
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Distribution
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines South America| Venezuela South America| Apure Venezuela South America| Barinas Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Cojedes Venezuela South America| Delta Amacuro Venezuela South America| Guárico Venezuela South America| Miranda Venezuela South America| Portuguesa Venezuela South America| Zulia Venezuela South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| South America|