Parinari chocoensis Prance

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. 1972. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9: 1-410. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Parinari chocoensis Prance

  • Type

    Type. Fuchs & Zanella 21793, Colombia, Chocó, Rio Baudó, 18.5 km from mouth, fl fr (holotype, NY; isotypes, COL, SRR7, US).

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor ca 30.0 m alta, ramulis juvenilibus pubescentibus mox glabris lenticel-latis. Folia alternata petiolata, petiolo 5.0-8.0 mm longo, glanduloso, canaliculata; laminae oblongae, 8.0-15.5 cm longae, 2.5-4.7 cm latae, basi subcuneatae, apice in acuminem 7.0-13.0 mm longum contractae, superne glabrae, subtus cum cavis stomatalis, tomentosae; costa media supra versus basim leviter canaliculata, versus apicem piano vel leviter prominente; costis secundariis 22-26 jugis, subtus prominentibus. Stipulae ca 2.0 mm longae, tomentosae, caducae. Flores in paniculis terminalibus subterminalibusque dispositi, rachi ramisque tomentellis. Bracteae bracteolaeque 2.5-4.0 mm longae, ovatae, caducae, calicem aequantae. Receptaculum subcam-panulatum, extus griseo-tomentosum, intus pilis longis ubique dense viloso-tomento-sum. Calycis-lobi acuti. Petala 5. Stamina 7, unilateralia; staminodiis opposita. Ovarium villosum. Stylus e basi ovarii ortus, basi villosus. Drupa elongato-ellipsoidea, ad 7.0 cm longa; epicarpio dense lenticellato, glabro; mesocarpio tenue, carnoso; endocarpio duro, fibroso, 5.0-7.0 mm crasso, intus dense lanato-tomentoso.

  • Discussion

    Parinari chocoensis is apparently different from any other species of Parinari by the narrowly ellipsoid fruit (the fruit of several other species is still unknown). It is most closely related to P. parilis but differs by the slightly impressed lower portion of the midrib, the fewer primary veins, the dull upper surface of the lamina, and the shorter inflorescences. It is also closely related to P. klugii, P. pachyphylla and P. brasiliensis but differs from all three in the laxer inflorescence, the slightly impressed midrib, and the narrowly ellipsoid fruit. It differs from each of these 3 species individually by many additional characters.

    Collected in flower and fruit in February.