Buchenavia ochroprumna 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

    Buchenavia ochroprumna Eichler

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Pará: Near Santarém, Jan 1850, Spruce 309 (lectotype, selected by Exell & Stace, 1963, p. 16, M; isolectotype, FI), Spruce s.n. (probable isolectotype, since Eichler quoted  v. s. in Hb. Petrop. et Monac., A/GH, BM, F, FI, G, K, LE NY, OXF, S, TCD, U, W). Santarem, by river, Jan 1850, Spruce 619 (K, P) is not a type.

  • Synonyms

    Buchenavia discolor Diels

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub or tree 3-12(-30) m. Leaves 2-9.5 × 1-4.5 cm, subcoriaceous, obovate to oblanceolate, rounded to retuse or rarely obtuse at apex, cuneate to narrowly decurrent-cuneate at base, appressed-pubescent when very young, becoming glabrous except often sparsely pubescent on midvein when mature; domatia present in secondary vein axils. Venation brochidodromous; midvein moderate, slightly prominent; secondary veins 3-7 pairs, distant, originating at moderately acute angles, slightly curved, slightly prominent; intersecondary veins occasionally present; tertiary veins randomly reticulate; higher order veins not distinct; areolation incomplete. Petiole 0.4-1.5 cm, glabrous to sparsely appressed-pubescent, eglandular but base of leaf usually obscurely biglandular. Inflorescences 0.7-3.3 cm, more or less capitate, with densely grouped flowers; peduncle 0.9-3 cm, rufous pubescent in flower, becoming subglabrous and much thicker in fruit; rhachis 0.2-0.5 cm. Flowers 3-4.5 mm; lower hypanthium 2-2.5 mm, abruptly narrowed to thin neck 0.8-1.2 mm, densely rufous-pubescent except sparsely so on neck; upper hypanthium 1.2-2 × 2.5-3.5 mm, subglabrous. Fruits 18-30 × 7-17 mm, ovate in side view, terete or nearly so, usually irregularly and strongly ridged, abruptly narrowed to 0.4-1 cm usually strongly curved beak, rounded at base, densely tomentose. Reproductive biology. Flowering June to August; fruiting January to May. Flowers greenish, reddish, yellow with white stamens.

  • Discussion

    Illustrations. Figs. 112d, dd (fr), 113d (If). Bautista & Abreu (1978), p. 405 (as B. discolor).

    Sometimes fruits have little or no beak, and the degree of ridging is very variable, even absent, but otherwise the very distinctive fruits are diagnostic. In flower, it can usually be distinguished from Buchenavia tetraphylla by the fewer leaf secondary veins (mostly 3-4 rather than 4-6 pairs). Buchenavia discolor was misinterpreted by Diels, who wrongly compared it with B. oxycarpa, but the isotypes clearly indicate that it has a capitate inflorescence and is the same as B. ochroprumna. The smooth fruited specimens are most common in Venezuela, and the one from French Guiana is similar. It is possible that they represent a new species, but some specimens have slightly ridged fruits and, as it has not been possible to link flowering or sterile material to the smooth-fruited plants, at present it is best to identify the latter with B. ochroprumna.

    Distribution and Ecology: (Fig. 115). In forests along rivers and by lakes, usually in inundated areas and frequently partly submerged; also on sandy river and lake beaches. Lowland, to 120 m. For Amazonian associates see Buchenavia suaveolens. Mainly confined to the lower Rio Amazonas basin in Para and Amazonas, but extending sparsely north to French Guiana and the upper Río Orinoco in Venezuela and west to Colombia.

  • Common Names

    tanimbuca, tanhinbuca

  • Distribution

    Amazonas Brazil South America| Amapá Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Rondônia Brazil South America| Roraima Brazil South America| Inini French Guiana South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Apure Venezuela South America| Vaupés Colombia South America|