Terminalia phaeocarpa Eichler

  • Authority

    Stace, C. A. & Alwan, A.-R A. 2010. Combretaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 107: 1-369. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Combretaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Terminalia phaeocarpa Eichler

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: In silvis primaevis montosisque prope S. Luzia, 1821-1836, Riedel 2521 (lectotype, LE, here designated; isolectotypes, A/GH, G, K, P).

  • Synonyms

    Myrobalanus phaeocarpa Kuntze, Terminalia hylobates Eichler

  • Description

    Species Description - Deciduous shrub or tree 3.5-25 m. Leaves (8-)10-27 × (4-)5-14 cm, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, oblong or elliptic to obovate, rounded to acute or acuminate at apex, cuneate to attenuate at base, minutely pubescent adaxially and densely so abaxially but becoming subglabrous except on main veins and secondary vein axils abaxially; domatia present in secondary vein axils, densely pubescent. Venation eucamptodromous, sometimes eucamptodromous-brochidodromous; midvein stout to very stout, promi- nent; secondary veins 9-14 pairs, close to moderately spaced, originating at moderately acute angles curved distally, prominent; intersecondary veins usually absent; tertiary veins usually regularly percurrent; higher order veins well developed; areolation imperfect, slightly prominent. Petiole 2-5 cm glabrous to sparsely pubescent, biglandular. Inflorescences 4-8 em, simple, with all flowers bisexual; peduncle 2-3 cm, sparsely to densely pubescent; rhachis 2-5 cm, sparsely to densely pubescent. Flowers pentamerous, 4.5-6 × 4-4.5 mm; lower hypanthium 2-3 mm, very sparsely (often on two opposite edges) to densely pubescent; upper hypanthium 2-2.5 mm, cupuliform to slightly campanulate, glabrous to pubescent; calyx lobes 0.5-1.2 mm, suberect to variously revolute, glabrous to pubescent; disk glabrous to pilose; stamens 3-7 mm; style 4-5.5 mm, sparsely pilose proximally to wholly glabrous. Fruits few crowded on short rhachis, 1-3 × 3-7 cm, flattened, transversely oblong in side view, emarginate at base and apex, glabrous to (less often) sparsely pubescent; wings 2, fairly stiff, equal, 1-2.8 cm wide, to 3.7 cm long at longest point, rounded laterally; body 0.4-1 cm wide, bulging on both faces. Reproductive biology. Flowers yellow; strongly protogynous. Flowering August to September, along with new leaves; fruiting September onwards, often until next flowering.

  • Discussion

    Illustrations. Figs. 6b (petiole anatomy), 83a (lf), 84a (fr). Eichler (1867), fr, pl. 33; Marquete Ferreira da Silva & Valente (2003), p. 169; Marquete Ferreira da Silva, Teixeira & Valente (2003), p. 123, fr.

    Terminalia phaeocarpa and T. argentea are distinct from other species in their short inflorescences and relatively large 2-winged fruits with highly lignified strongly bulging bodies, but poor material is often confused with T. oblonga. The two species are very close, but T. phaeocarpa can be distinguished by the larger blunter leaves with more prominent mainly eucamptodromous venation, longer rhachis, and less pubescence; they might eventually prove inseparable.

  • Common Names

    Mirindiba, amarelo, capitao, capitao da mata, capitão do campo, garote, Cinzeiro

  • Distribution

    Dry or semi-humid forests (mesophytic, gallery, or semideciduous forests) on rocky or clay soils in hilly country, often near rivers, persistent in cerrado and disturbed areas, at 600-1300 m. Brazil, from Bahia, Tocantins, and northern Mato Grosso to Sao Paulo, in the interior.

    São Paulo Brazil South America| Tocantins Brazil South America| Distrito Federal Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America|