Brunellia farallonensis Cuatrec.

Authority

Cuatrecasas, José. 1970. Brunelliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 2: 1-189. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family

Brunelliaceae

Scientific Name

Brunellia farallonensis Cuatrec.

Type

Type. J. Cuatrecasas 21911, Colombia, Valle: Cordillera Occidental: Los Farallones, vert. NW, "lomas parameras entre las minas del Socorro y El Diamante, limite superior del bosque andino, 3600-3700 m alt; arbol, hoja coriacea, rigida, verde amari-llenta oscura, semibrillante haz, ferruginosa enves, perianto ocraceo," [female] flowers and fruits, 2 Jul 1946 (holotype, F; isotypes, F, P, US, VALLE).

Description

Latin Diagnosis - Arbor usque ad 20 m alta ramis terminalibus junioribus dense ferrugineo-tomentosis pilis brevibus flexuoso-crispis intricatis et pilis longis flexuosis patulisque, denique vetus-tioribus robustis glabrescentibus brunneis tuberculato-lenticellatis obtuse triangulatis striatisque; internodiis 1-3 cm longis. Stipulae subulatae dense tomentosae 3-4 mm longae una utroque latere foliorum. Folia simplicia ternato-verticillata petiolata crassius-cule rigideque coriacea. Petiolus robustiusculus primum dense tomentosus denique pubescens striolatus supra sulcatus basi paulo incrassato-vaginatus 1.0-2.5 cm longus. Lamina oblongo-elliptica vel ovato-elliptica apice rotundata subite brevissimeque acuminata basi atlenuato-cuneatissima margine anguste incrassato-revoluta leviter vel levissime bi-inden-tata dentibus 1-3 mm longis remotis interdum calloso-mucronulatis vel inconspicuis saepe grosse recurvata, 7-20 cm longa 3.0-9.5 cm lata; supra in vivo lutescenti-viridis leviter rugulosa subnitida in juvenilibus pubescens nervis tomentosis, in vetustis glabricanti sed costa nervisque pubescentibus reliqua semper plus minusve puberula, costa valde impressa tomentosaque nervis secundariis impressis ceteris venulis inter rugositatis depressis; subtus dense ferrugineo tomentosa pilis longis flexuosis vel crispis aliquis patulis tecta, costa robusta elevata nervis secundariis 10-15 utroque latere valde prominentibus sub angulo 45°-55° ascendentibus plerumque prope marginem furcatis, 7-10 mm inter se distantibus nervis tertiis transversis parallelis prominentibus reliquis venulis reticulum prominulum plus minusve velatum formantibus. Inflorescentiae femineae cymoso-paniculatae ferru-gineae 6-14 cm longae foliis breviores vel aequilongae, pedunculo 4-7 cm longo angulato sicut ramulis striato dense crispulo-tomentoso pilis flexuosis vel crispis intricatis vel patulis. Pedicelli crassi 2-4 mm longi hirtulo-tomentosi. Bracteae subulatae 3.0-1.5 mm longae valde deciduae. Flores feminei plerumque pentameri interdum hexameri. Calyx crassus ad 12 mm diametens 4-5 mm altus lobis 5 vel 6 triangularibus acutis 2.5-3.5 mm longis utrique tomentosis. Staminodia 10 vel 12 filamentis 1 mm longis basi hirta excepto glabris, antheris 0.6 mm longis sterilibus. Carpidia plerumque quinque interdum 2-6, ovario ovoideo dense hirsuto-velutino stylo 2 mm longo deorsum strigoso sursum glabres-centi apice hamato secundum sutura ventrali papilloso. Folliculi ovoidei subobtusi vel subite acutati circa 10-14 mm longi 7-9 mm lati. Endocarpium corneum 8-11 cm longum 6.3-8.0 mm latum paulo rugosum utrinque apiculatum, in sicco appertum profunde testudiniforme. Semina ellipsoidea vel oblongata 3.8-4.5 mm longa 2-3 mm lata brunnea rubescentia nitidissima gemina vel unica in capsula. Discus circa 3 mm diametens dense hispidus. Aliquando (in no. 18033) flores hermaphroditi cum staminorum filamentis 3.5 mm longis antheris 1 mm longis polliniferis.

Discussion

Brunellia farallonensis differs from B. tomentosa Humboldt & Bonpland by the very ferrugineous indumentum on branchlets, shoots, and leaves, which is rather persistent on the upper side of the blades. The flowers bear five carpels (sometimes six), all of which generally mature. The pedicels are longer and the follicles smaller and rather obtuse. Furthermore, the under side of the leaves in B. farallonensis has parallel and prominent tertiary veins, the minor veins or reticulum only prominulous and more open than in B. tomentosa. This species, in contrast, has the minor veins of fourth, fifth and sixth degree prominent and rather thick, forming very minute although well marked inter-recticular spaces. Brunellia farallonensis also has a smaller number of secondary nerves which have a rather more ascendent angle than B. tomentosa.

Distribution

(Fig 62, p 150.) Western Cordillera of Colombia in the department of El Valle. It grows on both slopes between 3500 and 4000 m elevation from Andean forest to the paramos.

Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America|