Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1978. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part XI. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 32: 1-391.
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Family
Malpighiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Shrub or small trees (0.8-)1-5(-10) m tall; stems appressed-tomentose, the wood soon fissured by elongated lenticels. Lamina of the larger leaves 6.5-11 (-15.5) cm long, 3-6.5(-8) cm wide, elliptical or broadly elliptical or somewhat obovate or suborbicular, cuneate or attenuate at the base, usually abruptly shortacuminate at the apex, occasionally obtuse or rounded, densely tomentose to glabrate on both sides, belatedly glabrescent on the midrib, the vesture often deciduous in a characteristic patchy manner below, the hairs eventually changing from brown to gray; parallel lateral veins and the reticulum prominulous, usually white above or on both sides; petiole 8-13(-19) mm long, tomentose or eventually glabrescent; stipules 2-3(-4) mm long, connate, the pair obtuse or rounded at the apex, abaxially tomentose-sericeous, adaxiaHy glabrous. Inflorescence 7-13(-17) cm long, appressed-tomentose or tomentose; bracts 1.5-3(-5) mm long, ca 1 mm wide, broadly to narrowly triangular, appressed or spreading but not revolute, usually deciduous before maturity of the fruit, often much earlier; peduncle 0-2(-3) mm long, 1-2(-3)-flowered; bracteoles like the bracts but 0.7-1.5(-2) mm long, deciduous. Pedicel 6-12(-14) mm long, tomentose or subsericeous, circinate in flower, decurved in fruit. Sepals all biglandular, 1.5-2 mm long beyond the glands, obtuse or rounded at the apex, eventually revolute, abaxially tomentose, adaxially glabrous or rarely sparsely tomentose, not or only slightly accrescent in fruit; glands 2-2.5 mm long. Petals yellow, glabrous, all eglandular. Anthers 1.8-3 mm long, the connective equaling the locules or extended beyond them up to 0.2(-0.4) mm , the locules 1.8-3 mm long, pilose with few to many spreading hairs on both sides, linear, attached at the apex. Ovary 1.3-2 mm high, glabrous or sparsely to densely tomentose-sericeous, all 3 locules usually fertile; styles 3- 3.5(-4) mm long. Fruit yellow, glabrous or sparsely tomentose to glabrate, 8-10 mm in diameter (dried), globose or depressed-globose.
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Discussion
9. Byrsonima crassifolia (Linnaeus) Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. PI. 5: 149 (4° ed.). 1821 [1822]. Fig 16c. Malpighia crassifolia Linnaeus, Sp. PI. 426, 1753, Byrsonima ferruginea Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth, Nov, Gen, Sp, PI, 5: 151 (4° ed,), tab. 446. 1821 [1822]. Type. Humboldt & Bonpland, Orinoco, Venezuela (P). Type. Linnaean Herbarium, genus 588 sheet 8 in Savage's Catalogue. See discussion below. This species is exceedingly variable, and careful revision of the complex may result in the recognition of several natural taxa. The traditionally cited non-Guayanan synonyms are omitted here, because I a m not at this time confident of their correct disposition. In the area of Guayana the species is homogeneous and easily recognized. The description given above is based only on the collections cited. Cuatrecasas (1958, p 610) has pointed out that if the type of Malpighia crassifolia came from Jamaica, the name is probably currently misapplied, since Byrsonima crassifolia in our sense seems not to occur in Jamaica. Fortunately, there is no reason to suppose the type did come from Jamaica. Cuatrecasas mentions specimens of Browne in the Linnaean Herbarium, but no specimen of Browne could be the type of a Linnaean name pubhshed in 1753, since Linnaeus acquired Browne's material only in 1758 (Stearn, 1957, p 108). The only reference to Jamaica in the protologue is "Tiliae affinis" etc. of Sloane, and that is cited with a question mark. Linnaeus gave as place of origin only "America calidiore." According to Savage (1945) there are two specimens under Malpighia crassifolia in the Linnaean Herbarium. The first (genus 588 sheet 8) is labeHed "Malpighia ß crassifolia" in Linnaeus' hand; 3 is the number assigned to this species in the Species Plantarum. This is probably the type, if the type is extant. Judging from the photograph on microfilm I would guess that it agrees well with our current concept of the species. We shall probably never know where it came from, but given the wide distribution of the species it is not surprising that a specimen reached Linnaeus before 1753. The other specimen (sheet 9) is labelled "Malpighia crassifolia varietas Br." in Linnaeus' hand. It resembles Byrsonima coriacea of Jamaica. Linnaeus presumably acquired it in 1758 and filed it here because of its general resemblance to Byrsonima crassifolia.
Distribution. Savannas from Mexico to southern South America, often the dominant species; also common in the West Indies. Collections from Guayana: GUYANA. Upper Mazaruni River, De La Cruz 2212 (NY); Kaieteur Plateau, Maguire & Fanshawe 23260 (NY); Kamarang River, Pinkus 18 (NY); Ayanganna Plateau, upper Mazaruni River, Tillett et al 44869 (NY) & 45247 (K, MICH, NY). VENEZUELA. Bolivar: Catarata Cama, 1090-1120 m , Badillo & Holmquist 6304 (MY); Cerro Perro, Cardona 754 (NY, VEN); Uriman, Cardona 1160 (NY, VEN) & 1633 (US, VEN); Rio Jakmeru, Cardona 1854 (NY, US, VEN); region de El Palmar, Upata y Guasipati, 300 m, Cardona 2123 (VEN); Alto Caroni, Cardona 2551 & 2831 (VEN); Rio Perro de Agua, Dto. Sucre, Ant. Fernandez 1598 (MY); Kavanayen, 1300 m, Ferrari 1042 (MY); Rio Paragua, between La Paragua and Salto de Auraima, 260 m, Killip 37279 (VEN); Sta Elena, Lasser 1281 (NY); Kavanayen, Lasser 1753 (NY, VEN); SE Kavanayen, 1300 m, Maguire 33709 (MICH, NY, VEN), Maguire et al 33996 (MICH, NY, US, VEN); Cerro Toribia, 450-500 m, Maguire et al 35945 (NY, VEN); Arabupu, Pinkus 67 (NY); Canaima, 400 m, Steyermark 106361 (NY); below Uarama-tepui, 1220 m, Steyermark & Nilsson 662 (NY, VEN); El Chaparro, Medio Caura, 140 m, Williams 11535 (US, VEN); Guayapo, Bajo Caura, 100 m, Williams 11730 (US, VEN) & 11971 (VEN); La Ceiba, Medio Paragua, 70 m, Williams 12633 (US, VEN); La Frontera E of Cerro Bolivar, 550 m, Wurdack 34465 (NY, VEN); 1-3 km E of Río Orinoco, between mouth of Río Horeda and Cerro Gavilan, Wurdack & Monachino 39903 (MICH, NY, US, VEN). Amazonas: W base of Cerro Parii, 200 m. Cowan & Wurdack 31481 (MICH, NY, VEN); Puerto Ayacucho, Holt & Gehriger411 (NY, US); Cerro Moriche, Rfo Ventuari, Maguire et al 30837 (NY) & 30872 (NY, VEN); Santa Barbara, Maguire et al 32050 (NY, VEN); Palomal, 100-120 m, Maguire et al 36086 (MICH, NY, US, VEN); Serranfa Parú, Phelps & Hitchcock 452 (NY); Esmeralda, Steyermark 57751 (NY), Tate 203 (NY); Puerto Ayacucho, Williams 13467 VEN), 15942 (NY, US, VEN); Esmeralda, Williams 15328 (US, VEN). BRAZIL. Terr. Roraima: Boa Vista, Black 51-12532 (IAN); Serra Tepequem, 800-900 m , Maguire & Maguire 40052 (MG, NY), Prance et al 4292 (NY); Boa Vista, Rodrigues & Aubreville 660 (IAN, MG); Rio Branco, S. Marcos, Ule 7803 (MG). Collected in flower and fruit in all months.