Erisma bracteosum Ducke

• Authority

  Andersson, Lennart. 1998. A revision of the genus (Rubiaceae--Cinchoneae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 81: 1-75.

• Family

  Vochysiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Erisma bracteosum Ducke

• Description

  
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  Species Description - Tree 10-20 m high, to 35 cm dbh; hairs where present yellowish; young twigs puberulous. Leaves opposite; blade subcoriaceous or coriaceous, elliptic or narrowly elliptic, 9.5-23 X 4-11 cm, glabrous; apex acuminate; base acute, obtuse, or subcoidate, midvein prominent on both surfaces; lateral veins 7- 10 pairs, prominent on both surfaces, angle with midvein 60-70°; tertiary veins percurrent, sinuous, oblique to midvein, arrangement alternate and opposite; marginal vein 3-6 mm from margin; petiole terete, 4-9 mm long; stipules subulate, 2 mm long, deciduous. Inflorescences terminal, 11-20 cm long, peduncles and lateral branches pubescent; cincinni 2-2.5 cm long; outer bracts cordate, ca. 12 X 12 mm; inner bracts linear, ca. 2 mm long; pedicel 2 mm long; buds 10-12 mm long, tomentose; spurred calyx-lobe to 12 X 12 mm, spur oblong, recurved, ca. 5 mm long; other calyx-lobes 4-8 mm long; petal yellow, ca. 20 X 20 mm; stamen ca. 8 mm long; style ca. 8 mm long, pilose at the base. Fruits winged, puberulous, glabrescent, to 11 cm long; major wing oblong, to 8 X 2.5 cm; second major wing oblong, to 4 X 1.5 cm.

• Discussion

  Erisma bracteosum is easily recognized from the other species of the genus with large and persistent bracts by the prominent midvein on the upper surface of the leaves. Among these species, the calyx-spur is recurved in E. bracteosum. E. floribundum, and E. bicolor. However, the outer bracts and buds of E. bracteosum are larger than those of the other two species. Erisma bracteosum, E. calcaratum, E. blancoa, and E. micranthum are distinguished from the other species of the genus by the distinctly prominent venation on the upper surface of the leaves. Among these species, E. bracteosum is the only one with large-bracteate flowers. Erisma djalma-batistae was described as closely related to E. bracteosum (Paula, 1967b) differing in height, size and number of flowers of the inflores¬cences, shape of inner bracts, curvature of the spur, and pilosity of the style. The features used to characterize E. djalma-batistae are often also observed in young specimens of E. bracteosum and they are not consistent enough to maintain it as a distinctive species.