Gustavia foliosa Cuatrec.

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. & Mori, S. A. 1979. Lecythidaceae - Part I. The actinomorphic-flowered New World Lecythidaceae (Asteranthos, Gustavia, Grias, Allantoma & Cariniana). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21: 1-270. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Gustavia foliosa Cuatrec.

  • Type

    Type. Cuatrecasas 14394 (holotype, F; isotype, COL). Colombia. Valle: Cordillera occidental, hoya del Río Anchicaya, lado derecho, bosques entre Pavas y Miramar, 350-450 m alt, 16 Apr 1943 (fl).

  • Description

    Description - Trees, to 20 m x 40 cm. Leaf blades obovate or oblanceolate, 15-57.5 x 18.5 cm, glabrous, with 18-24 pairs of lateral veins, the apices short acuminate, the bases acute or cuneate, the margins entire. Petioles 15-105 x 5 mm. Inflorescences axillary or in the axils of leaf scars just below the leaves, solitary, without a rachis; pedicels 75-95 mm, bearing above the middle 2 lanceolate bracteoles 6.5 x 2 mm. Flowers 10-16 cm in diameter; calyx subentire or with 4 shallow, rounded lobes; petals broadly obovate, rounded or subtruncate at the apex, 50-60 x 30-45 mm, whitish-pink to pale violet or red on the outside, white inside; androecium 35 mm in diameter, yellowish-white, the connate base 12-13 mm high, the outermost filaments 10-18 mm, puberulous, the anthers 2.5-4 mm, yellow. Fruits globose, unknown at maturity. Seeds without well developed arils.

  • Discussion

    This species is characterized by its solitary flowers in the axils of the leaves or leaf scars.

  • Distribution

    Ecuador South America|