Hirtella hebeclada Moric. ex DC.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hirtella hebeclada Moric. ex DC.

  • Type

    Type. Sellow sn (in Herb. Moricand), Brazil, fl (holotype, G; isotypes, L, M).

  • Synonyms

    Hirtella tomentella Schott, Hirtella selloana Hook.f., Hirtella gardneri Benth.

  • Description

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    Description - Tree to 15.0 m tall, the young branches tomentose, becoming glabrous with age. Leaves ovate to elliptic, thick-coriaceous, 5.5-16.o(-21.o) cm long, 2.5-9.0 cm broad, acute to acuminate at apex, with acumen 0-12.0 mm long, rounded to subcuneate at base, hirsute beneath, rarely with two palisade glands at base; primary veins 8-13 pairs, usually slightly impressed above, less often plane; prominent beneath; midrib prominulous and tomentellous above, prominent beneath; petioles 3.0-6.0 mm long, terete, eglandular, tomentose when young. Stipules 3.0-6.0 mm long, linear, subpersistent, tomentellous, eglandular. Inflorescences terminal and axillary racemes, or rarely slightly branched panicles, 3.0-15.0 cm long, the rachis tomentose to tomentellous. Bracts 1.0-3.0 mm long, oblong to lanceolate, acute, persistent, tomentellous, eglandular. Flowers 5.0-8.0 mm long. Receptacle campanulate, tomentose to tomentellous on exterior, glabrous within except at throat; pedicels 5.0-15.0 mm long, eglandular. Calyx lobes acute, tomentellous on both surfaces, the margins eglandular. Petals 5, white, glabrous. Stamens 6, unilateral, often with short filamentous staminodes opposite them, the filaments far exceeding calyx lobes, glabrous. Style hirsute up to half its length. Ovary inserted at mouth of receptacle, pilose. Fruit ellipsoid, tapering at base; epicarp smooth, glabrous when mature; mesocarp thin, fleshy; endocarp thin, hard, bony, hirsute within.

  • Discussion

    Hooker (Mart. Fl. Bras. 14(2): 28. 1867) divided this species into three varieties which he left unnamed, basing them on small leaf differences. The further material now available shows that the presumed differences do not exist. This distinct species is not easily confused with others of Hirtella.

    Flowering throughout the year, but mostly from November to February.

  • Common Names

    Cinzeiro, Pau de lixa

  • Distribution

    Primary forest in eastern and southern Brazil from Minas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul.

    Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America| Guanabara Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America| Rio Grande do Sul Brazil South America|