Haploclathra leiantha (Benth.) Benth.

  • Authority

    Lleras, Eduardo. 1972. Review of the Genus Haploclathra (Bonnetiaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 22 (4): 129-136.

  • Family

    Clusiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Haploclathra leiantha (Benth.) Benth.

  • Description

    Species Description - Small tree, the branchlets terete, glabrous, grayish brown, leaves opposite or subopposite; petioles 10-35 mm long, 0.9-1.5 mm thick; lamina elliptic to obovate elliptic, sometimes oblong, 8-12 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, coriaceous, punctate, central nerve prominent beneath, the nervation pinnate, the margins entire, acuminate or rarely obtuse at apex, truncate at base. Inflorescence a paniculate dichasia, to 20 cm long, 73 as wide as long, central axis with opposite branches diminishing in length towards the apex; bracts subtending the branches up to 6.0 cm long, to 2.5 cm wide, elliptic to oblanceolate, coriaceous. Flowers subtended by two lanceolate pubescent bracts 0.4-0.9 mm long, 0.2-0.4 mm wide; sepals 5, quincuncial, ovate, acute, 2-3 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide, coriaceous, pubescence yellowish-brown, the central nerve prominent; petals 5, imbricately contorted, glabrous, ovate, 4-6 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, coriaceous along exposed side, the noncoriaceous half with a submucronate to mucronate appendage 73 of the way up the petal on the involute side, obtuse at apex; stamens ca 60, free, insertions forming a ring, 2-3 seriate; filaments slender, 5-6 mm long; anthers biloculate, dehiscent along a longitudinal lateral line, 3-5 mm long, 0.5-0.75 mm wide, caducous; pollen tricoporate, ca 30 µ in diameter, deltoid in a polar view, globose in equatorial view, reticulate; ovary subglobose to globose, 1.5-2.0 mm in diameter, glabrous, triloculate, with a solitary ovule (sometimes 2) attached to the lateral septum of each locule, placentation basal; style 3-5 mm long, ca 0.5 mm thick, geniculate when mature; stigma capitate, 1.5-2.0 mm in diameter, trilobate, depressed at center. Fruit a capsule, oblong-ovate, 2-3 cm long, 0.8-1.3 cm wide, acuminate, glabrous, woody, trivalvate, dehiscent from the apex down, purple grayish (in sicco); seed ca 10 mm long, 7 mm wide, acute at both ends, compressed.

  • Discussion

    Caraipa leiantha Bentham, Jour. Bot. Hook. 2: 364. 1848.

    Type. Schomburgk 935.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Brazilian Amazonia, upper and lower Rio Negro; Guyana. GUYANA. "In Guiana Anghca" - Rob Schomburgk 935 type (isotypes NY, US). BRAZIL. Amazonas: Nov 1851. "Secus Rio Negro, inter Barra et Barcellos" Spruce 755d (NY); Manaus, Rio Taruma, flower, 14 Feb 1941 Ducke 656 (NY, US), fruit, 18 Dec 1940 Ducke 675 (NY, US), 13 Mai 1936 Ducke 34687 (NY); 28 Nov 1929 "Flum. Curicuriary affl. Rio Negro" Ducke 23451 (NY, S, US); 3 Mar 1936 "Rio Negro supra locum'IManagoa" Ducke 34686 (US); 18 Ma

    Brazil South America| Guyana South America|