Licania grandibracteata Prance

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. 1989. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9S: 1-267. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania grandibracteata Prance

  • Type

    Type. Ecuador. Pichincha: Reserva Florestal Endesa, Río Silanche, 0°5'N, 79°02'W, 650700 m, 7 Dec 1984 (fl), J. Jaramillo 7413 (holotype, NY; isotype, QCA).

  • Description

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    Latin Diagnosis - A L. durifolio inflorescentiis minoribus, ramifloris, floribus haud agglomeratis, receptaculo extus sparse puberulo, bracteolis persistentibus differt.

    Description - Tree to 30 m tall, the young branches glabrous, conspicuously lenticellate. Leaf lamina oblong, coriaceous, 31-33 x 7-13.5 cm, rounded at base, bluntly acute at apex, with short appressed gray-brown pubescence beneath; midrib prominulous above, prominent beneath; primary veins 21-24 pairs, impressed above, prominent beneath; secondary veins more or less parallel, forming a conspicuous parallel reticulate pattern; petioles 8-12 mm long, puberulous, terete, eglandular. Stipules intrapetiolar, ca. 2 mm long, persistent. Inflorescences ramiflorous, little-branched racemose panicles, to 15 cm long, the rachis and branches brown-shaggy-tomentose. Bracts 4-4.5 cm long, membranous, glabrous except for margins. Flowers 5-6 mm long, solitary and not densely crowded on inflorescence branches. Receptacle cupuliform, sessile, sparsely puberulous on upper part of exterior, tomentose only around base, densely tomentose within. Calyx lobes five, acute, puberulous on exterior, tomentellous within. Petals five, white. Stamens ca. 40, inserted around complete circle, exserted, connate at extreme base, with dense villous mass at base of filaments. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, lanate. Style lanate for two-thirds of length, exceeding filaments. Fruit not seen.

  • Discussion

    Closely related to Licania durifolia and L. filomenoi, this species shares with them leaves with a gray pubescence and conspicuous parallel secondary venation. It differs from L. durifolia in the smaller unbranched inflorescence with less dense flowers, the persistent bracteoles and the sparse pubescence of the receptacle. It differs from both species in the ramiflorous inflorescence and from L. filomenoi in the much sparser pubescence of the inflorescence and flowers, and the larger membranous bracteoles.

  • Distribution

    Known only from Andean foothills of Ecuador. Primary forest.

    Ecuador South America| Azuay Ecuador South America| Pichincha Ecuador South America|