Eschweilera cyathiformis S.A.Mori

  • Authority

    Mori, S. A. & Lepsch da Cunha, Nadia M. 1995. The Lecythidaceae of a central Amazonian moist forest. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 75: 1-55.

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Eschweilera cyathiformis S.A.Mori

  • Description

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    Species Description - Canopy trees, to 35(-40) m, unbuttressed. Bark nearly smooth but with conspicuous vertically oriented cracks and lines of lenticels, the outer bark 1-5 mm thick, the inner bark 5-12 mm thick, red. Leaves: petioles 12-20 mm long; blades usually elliptic, 7-11 x 2.5-5 cm, coriaceous, smooth and shiny adaxially, dull abaxially, glabrous, with 8-12 pairs of lateral veins, all orders of venation salient abaxially, only midrib salient adaxially; base obtuse to rounded; apex acute to bluntly acuminate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, of simple racemes; pedicels 12-18 mm long, subtended by persistent bract and 2 persistent bracteoles, the bracts and bracteoles congested. Flowers 2.5-3 cm diam.; calyx-lobes 6, not or scarcely imbricate, 4-5.5 x 4-5 mm; petals 6, white or yellow; androecial hood yellow, the staminal ring with 290-350 stamens; ovary 2-locular, the hypanthium gradually tapered into pedicel, the style obconical, ca. 1.5 mm long. Fruits turbinate, 2-5 (excluding pedicel and operculum) x 2-6 cm, the calycine ring inserted near apex, calyx often persisting as woody, triangular lobes, the pericarp 6-9 mm thick; operculum convex, without umbo.

  • Discussion

    Phenology. Flowers in Oct and Nov and fruits mostly in Mar and Apr. Common name. Matamatá. Comments. This species is characterized by its (1) cylindric bole, (2) smooth but often vertically cracked bark, (3) thick, red inner bark, (4) leaf blades with smooth, shiny adaxial surface and abaxial surface with all orders of venation salient, (5) persistent, congested bracts and bracteoles subtending the pedicels, and (6) turbinate fruits. The only other species of Lecythidaceae in this area with persistent bracts and bracteoles is Eschweilera bracteosa, which differs in its smaller habit, larger more oblong leaves, and less congested bracts and bracteoles.

  • Distribution

    Habitat. Terra firme. The 100-ha plot contains 275 individuals of this species = 10 cm dbh.

    Brazil South America|