Picrasma tetramera W.W.Thomas, J.D.Mitch. & A.Noa
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Authority
Thomas, Wm. Wayt, et al. 2011.
(Anacardiaceae) is (Simaroubaceae): The genus in Cuba. Brittonia. 63 (4): 419-424. -
Family
Simaroubaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Shrub, 6-8 ft high (Jack 7430) twigs reddish brown, puberulent, longitudinally striate with beige fissures. Leaves imparipinnate, 6-13 cm long, the leaflets 5-9, opposite to subopposite, the distal ones largest; petiole 1.2- 2.5 cm long, puberulent; rachis 1.5-5.2 cm long, puberulent; blades obovate to elliptic, the apex acute to rounded, the base acute to acuminate, the margins serrate with teeth api cally oriented, adaxial surface mostly glabrous but sparsely puberulent at very base, along midvein and along secondary veins, the abaxial surface densely pubescent; terminal leaflet usually with a well-defined petiolule, but occasionally with a short petiolule and resembling lateral leaflets, the petiolule 2-12 mm long, puberulent, the blade 2.3-5.5 x 1.3-2.5 cm; largest lateral leaflets with petiolules sessile to 3 mm long, the blades 2.2-4.4 x 1.2-2.5 cm. Inflorescence a subterminal or axillary cymose panicle, ferruginous pubescent; staminate inflorescence unknown; bisexual inflorescence 1.5-3.5 cm long. Flowers 4-merous, greenish white {Jack 7430); pedicels 3-6 mm long; sepals narrowly elliptic, 1.3-1.6 x 0.3-0.5 mm, glabrous adaxially, densely ferruginous pubes cent abaxially; petals elliptic to narrowly so, 1.7-2.2 x 0.6-0.9 mm, glabrous adaxially, glabrous except for pubescence along midvein abaxially; disc intrastaminal, 4-lobed, each lobe at the base of a filament; stamens 1.2-1.5 mm long; filaments inserted on the intrastaminal disc, tapering, 0.9-1.2 mm long, sparsely hispid on basal half; anthers longitudinally dehiscent, dorsifixed, 0.5-0.6 mm long; carpels 4, distinct, roughly spherical, 0.8 mm in diameter, reddish brown with scattered hairs; styles apical on each carpel, distally connate, the free portion 0.2-0.3 mm long, the connate portion ca. 1.5 mm long; stigmas 4, free, recurved, 0.4-0.6 mm long, darker than the style, ventral surface papillose. Infructescence 4-7 cm long. Fruit comprising one or more drupe-like monocarps (collectively a drupa rium), roughly spherical, 5 mm in diameter, black, shiny, the exocarp thin, fleshy, wrinkled when dry, the endocarp bony.
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Discussion
Distribution and ecology.-Picrasma tetra mera is a prominent shrub of the "montane karstic forest," the karst vegetation of the high limestone peaks of the Macizo Guamuhaya (Escambray) at elevations over 800 m (Borhidi, 1996). The dominant trees in this association are Tabebuia sauvallei Britt. and Garrya fadyenii Hook.
Distribution and ecology.—Picrasma tetra mera is a prominent shrub of the "montane karstic forest," the karst vegetation of the high limestone peaks of the Macizo Guamuhaya (Escambray) at elevations over 800 m (Borhidi, 1996). The dominant trees in this association are Tabebuia sauvallei Britt. and Garrya fadyenii Hook.