Licania arianeae Prance

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Licania arianeae Prance

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Espírito Santo: Reserva Florestal CVRD, Linhares, 19 May 1980 (fl), D. A. Foli 228 (holotype, RB; isotype, NY).

  • Description

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    Latin Diagnosis - Species sectione Cymosae pertinens; a L. cuprea staminibus 6-7, stipulis 6-10 mm longis, floribus 5-6 mm longis, a L. riedelii floribus in cymulis 2-3-floris dispositis, stipulis floribusque maioribus, foliis oblongo-ellipticis differt.

    Description - Tree to 20 m tall, the young branches densely ferrugineous-tomentose. Leaf lamina oblong to oblong-elliptic, coriaceous, 7-11 × 3.5-5 cm, rounded to subcuneate at base, bluntly acuminate or acute at apex, the acumen 0-5 mm long, glabrous above, with conspicuous deep-set stomatal cavities beneath, filled with a lanate white pubescence; midrib impressed for entire length above, prominent and ferrugineous-tomentose beneath; primary veins 10-15 pairs, plane above, prominent and with a few sparse hairs beneath; petioles 6-8 mm long, densely ferrugineous-pubescent, canaliculate. Stipules 6-10 mm long, 1.5-2 mm broad at base, lanceolate, persistent, adnate to extreme base of petiole. Inflorescences of terminal and subterminal panicles, the rachis and branches densely ferrugineous-tomentose. Bracts and bracteoles minute, ca. 1 mm long, persistent. Flowers 5-6 mm long, inserted in small groups of cymules attached to primary branches by short thick peduncles; receptacle urceolate, slightly gibbous, tomentose on exterior, lanate within. Calyx lobes acute, tomentose on both surfaces. Petals absent. Stamens 6-7, unilateral with large lanate ridge opposite bearing short staminodes, filaments shorter than calyx lobes, unequal in length. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, villous; style exceeding filaments in length, lanate for entire length. Fruit not seen.

  • Discussion

    This most distinct species belongs to section Cymosa, but has thicker peduncles bearing the cymules than in other species of that section. It is closest to the Guianan species Licania cuprea, but differs in the larger flowers, larger stipules, gibbous receptacle, leaf shape, and greater number of stamens. It is one of the few species of Licania with extremely conspicuous, exposed stomatal cavities on the leaf undersurface; in this it superficially resembles L. riedelii, but differs in the inflorescence of cymules and the much larger stipules.

  • Distribution

    Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America|