Parinari obtusifolia Hook.f.

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. 1972. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9: 1-410. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Parinari obtusifolia Hook.f.

  • Type

    Type. Gardner 3137, Brazil, Goiás, fl (holotype, K; isotypes, BM, CGE, F, NY, OXF, P).

  • Synonyms

    Ferolia obtusifolia (Hook.f.) Kuntze

  • Description

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    Description - Suffrutex or small shrub o.2-3.0 m tall, the young branches tomentose, becoming glabrous and lenticellate with age. Leaves oblong-elliptic, 5.0-10.0 cm long, 2.5-4.0 cm broad, rounded to slightly cordate at base, obtuse to acute at apex, glabrous or with short-ferrugineous pubescence, especially near nerves above; with dense silvery white lanate appressed pubescence completely obscuring the stomatal cavities beneath; midrib prominent above; primary veins 11-16 pairs, prominent beneath, often ending in a small gland at margin; petioles 2.0-3.0 mm long, terete, densely tomentose, with two medial sessile glands. Inflorescences axillary or terminal panicles, with ferrugineous to brown pubescence. Stipules to 3.0 mm long, caducous. Receptacle subcampanulate-turbinate, brown-tomentose on exterior. Petals 5, white, equalling the calyx lobes. Stamens 7-8 fertile, with 7-8 staminodes opposite them, some reduced to mere teeth. Ovary and base of style villous. Fruit oblong, 2.5-4.0 cm long, 2.0 cm broad; epicarp verrucose; mesocarp fleshy; endocarp hard, thick, with a rough channelled exterior, densely tomentose within.

  • Discussion

    This species is easily recognized by its Suffruticose habit as well as by the lower surface of the leaves which are densely white-lanate. Comparable to this species of Suffruticose habit in central Brazil is P. capensis Harv. of the sandy savanna regions of southern and eastern Africa. P. capensis, however, differs from P. obtusifolia in many characters such as the foliar shape and size and the pubescence of the leaf undersurface and inflorescence.

  • Common Names

    Fruta de ema

  • Distribution

    Cerrado and open disturbed areas of the planalto of Central Brazil.

    Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Distrito Federal Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America|