Theobroma hylaeum Cuatrec.
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Authority
Cuatrecasas, José. 1964. Cacao and its allies, a taxonomic revision of the genus Theobroma. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 35: 379-614. pl. 1-12.
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Family
Malvaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type in the U.S. National Herbarium, No. 2028683, collected in the heavy rain forest around Villa Arteaga, northern region of Antioquia, Colombia, at 200 meters altitude, August 14, 1948, by J. Araque and F. A. Barkley no. 18C745.
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor circa 10 m. alta, apicaliter crescens, ramis primariis ternatis, ramulis brunneis juvenilibus minute ferrugineo-tomentosis denique glabratis, cortice rugoso-fissiirato; stipulae lineari-subulatae acutae vel subacutae ferrugineo-tomentosae, circa 6 mm. longae, 1 mm. latae. Folia mediocriter coriacea, petiolo crassiusculo subtereti minute ferrugineo-tomentoso, 6-10 mm. longo; lamina elliptico-oblonga vel obovato-oblonga, basi symmetrica attenuata obtusa vel subobtusa, apice leviter attenuata interdum rotundata subite acuteque acuminata, margine integra vel apicem versus leviter undulata, 12-20 cm. longa, 4-9 cm. lata, apiculo 6-15 mm. longo, supra in sicco viridibrunnescens glabra, costa et nervis principalibus filiformi-impressis reliquis vix conspicuis, subtus cinereo-ochracea vel nervatione ferruginea, areolis venulisque cinereo-tomentosis pilis stellatis minutis albidis intricatis dense tectis et pilis stellatis crassioribus ferrugineis sparsis vel in nervis copiosis, costa crassa elevata, nervis secundariis 7 vel 8 utroque latere eminentibus arcuato-ascendentibus, prope marginem tenuioribus anastomosantibus, nervis tertiaris transversis prominentibus, nervulis venulisque tenuioribus sed prominulis reticulatis. Inflorescentiae breves axillares cymis 1-3 floribus instructae, ramulis brevissimis tomentosis, pedunculis tenuibus erectis vel subflexuosis ad 12 mm. longis ferrugineo-tomentosis apice 3-bracetolatis et cum pedicello articulatis; bracteolae anguste lineares subacutae, 3-6 mm. longae, 1-2 mm. latae, extus tomentosae; pedicelli erecti tomentosi pedunculis leviter crassiores, 5-6 mm. longi. Sepala crassiuscula ovato-oblonga acuta, basi ad 2 mm. coalita, patulo-reflexa, extus ochraceo-tomentosa, intus margine minutissime albido-tomentella excepta glabra, aurantiaca, basi ad insertionem pilis crassiusculis oblongis glandulosis annulum formantibus, 8-9 mm. longa, 4-5 mm. lata; petala cucullo aurantiaco obovoideo, basi angustato, apice rotundato, saccato-cucullato, 3 mm. longo, 2 mm. lato, extus glabro ruguloso, intus minute hispidulo, 7-nervato, pediculo 2.5 mm. longo, parce puberulo, lamina obovato-subrhomboidea crassa brunneo-rubra, faciebus sparsis minutissimis pilis margine pilis flexuosis tenuibus praedita, 4-5 mm. longa, circa 4 mm. lata; androecium tubo circa 1.5 mm. longo; staminodia petaloidea aestivatione reflexa in anthesin curvato-patula, brunneo-rubra obovato-oblonga apice rotundata vel leviter retusa, 5-5.5 mm. longa, 2.2 mm. lata, minute pilosula; filamenta fertilia 1 mm. longa; antherae 3. brevissime pedicellatae; ovarium obovatum 1.2 mm. longum, 1 mm, latum, crasse tomentosum; styli circa 1 mm. longi coaliti. Fructus coriaceus circa 7 x 4 cm., viridi-brunnescens, adpresse tomentosus laevis ellipsoideus, utrinque rotundatus, epicarpio rigido lignoso in sicco 1 mm. crasso; pedunculus fructifer 1.5-1.8 cm. longus, 0.8 cm. crassus.
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Discussion
Theobroma hylaeum is closely related to T. nemorale from which it differs essentially by the narrow-linear bracts and stipules, by the subrhomboid lamina, and by the narrower obovate-oblong, rounded and notched staminodia; furthermore, the peduncles and the pedicels are short, the pedicels shorter than the peduncles, and the fruit is harder, smaller and not constricted above the base. From T. subincanum it differs by the shape of the petal-laminae and staminodes, by the tomentose ovary, by the smaller fruit and leaves, and by the venation, in which the minor veins are less conspicuous.
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Common Names
chocolate do monte, cacao silvestre