Aniba percoriacea C.K.Allen

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1964. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part V. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-278.

  • Family

    Lauraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aniba percoriacea C.K.Allen

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor ad 15 m alt. et 20 cm diam., gemmis ut videtur ovoideis dense minuteque ferrugineo-tomentosis, ramulis juventute leviter sulcatis atro-ferrugineo-tomentosis, mox teretibus leviter striatis brunneo-tomentosis gradatim glabrescentibus. Folia magna, alternata, petiolis robustis brunneo-tomentosis valde striatis ad basim intumescentibus canaliculatis ad 15 mm longis et 3-4 mm latis, laminis percoriaceis utrinque glabris costis exceptis, supra olivaceo-viridibus subtus pallidioribus brunnescentibus, ellipticis, (9-10-) 20-26 cm longis et (3.5-) 6-10 cm latis, ad basim acutis vel obtusis saepe margine leviter recurvatis, ad apicem obtuse acuminatis, acumine ad 2 cm longo, vel obtusis acuto-obtusisve, penninerviis, costa robusta aliquantum flavescenti, supra inconspicua subtus plana ad basim leviter impressa conspicue elevata, nervis ±10-paribus supra tenuissimis subtus ± succulentibus leviter elevatis, ad angulo 67-70° divergentibus, rete venularum supra obscuro subtus succulenti leviter elevato. Inflorescentia axillaris subterminalisve, robusta, ferrugineo-tomentosa, racemoso-paniculata, pauciflora, ad 7 cm longa et 3 cm lata. Flores flavescentes fide coll., ad 10 mm longi, minute pubescentes, pedicellis robustis ad 4 mm longis; perianthio (in gemma) ± globoso, lobis subrotundatis ad 3 mm longis, quam tubo duplo brevioribus; staminibus fertilibus pubescentibus, ser I & II petaloideis ad 2.5 mm longis, antheris late ovatis, locellis parvis apicali-introrsis, connectivo parvo obtuso producto, filamentis obscuris quam antheris mergentibus triplo longioribus, ser III ad 2 mm longis antheris subquadratis, locellis conspicuis quam filamentis satis crassis leviter longioribus, biglandulosis, glandulis brevistipitatis, ser IV 0; gynoecio dense pubescenti ad 5 mm longo, ovario ellipsoideo brevistipitato, stylo crasso subaequali, stigmate piano transverso inconspicuo. Infructescentia depauperata, minute pubescens, ad 6 cm longa. Fructus in sicco olivaceo-brunneus, ellipsoideus, apiculatus, ad 25 mm X 15 mm, cupula cyathiformi brunnescenti minute fulvo-verrucosa ad 15 mm longa, ± 2 0 mm diam., et ± 1 0 mm alt., subsessili vel ut videtur brevipedicellata.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. A tree to 15 m with large, extremely coriaceous, elliptic leaves, the pale brownish under contrasting with the olive-green upper surface, known only from the type locality.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 31

    Type. Tree to 15 m high, 20 cm diam., flower yellowish, between North Ridge Creek and Augustus Creek, hill no. 1, Tafelberg, Suriname, 570 m, 13 Aug 1944, Bassett Maguire 24726 (holotype fl., fr. NY; fr. A).

    The nearest alliance seemingly is the new species A. castanea, another equally arresting species from Tafelberg, Suriname. The two are easily distinguished, however, by the dense, conspicuous reticulations of the leaves of the latter species which is smaller in every dimension. Examination of the flower structure shows no near relationship.

    The type of this species also was reported (Allen, 1. c.) as Ocotea? on the fruiting material alone at the Arnold Arboretum.