Eschweilera gigantea (R.Knuth) J.F.Macbr.

  • Authority

    Mori, S. A. & Prance, Ghillean T. 1990. Lecythidaceae - Part II: The zygomorphic-flowered New World genera (Couroupita, Corythophora, Bertholletia, Couratari, Eschweilera, & Lecythis). With a study of secondary xylem of Neotropical Lecythidaceae by Carl de Zeeuw. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 21: 1-376. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lecythidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Eschweilera gigantea (R.Knuth) J.F.Macbr.

  • Type

    Peru. Loreto: Mouth of Santiago River, Sep 1924 (fl), Tessmann 4064 (holotype, B, not found; lectotype, NY, here designated).

  • Synonyms

    Lecythis gigantea R.Knuth, Chytroma gigantea (R.Knuth) R.Knuth, Chytroma mexiana R.Knuth, Eschweilera mexiana (R.Knuth) J.F.Macbr.

  • Description

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    Description - Trees, to 50 m tall. Leaf blades oblong, (14-) 20-59 x (6-) 10-18 cm, glabrous, coriaceous, with 18-29 pairs of lateral veins; apex acute to short acuminate; base obtuse to rounded; margins entire; petiole 15-33 mm long. Inflorescences usually terminal, less frequently axillary, unbranched, spicate, the rachis angled, 8-18 cm long, often drying black, with distinct scars left by caducous bracts. Flowers 5-7 cm diam.; calyx with six lobes, the lobes very widely ovate, 11-17 x 11-18 mm, ascending, imbricate, convex abaxially, flat to concave adaxially; petals six, very widely obovate to widely obovate, 34-47 x 28-39 mm, usually white, less frequently light yellow; hood of androecium 27-30 x 25 mm, forming double coil; staminal ring with stamens tightly congested, ca. 400-600, the filaments clavate, slightly curved, 4-5 mm long, the anthers 1 mm long; hypanthium truncate; ovary 2-locular, each locule with 9-12 basally attached ovules, the style obconical, erect or oblique, not well differentiated from summit, 3-5 mm long. Fruits depressed globose, 3.5-5 (excluding operculum) x 7-15 cm, truncate directly below calycine ring, the supracalycine zone erect to slightly flaring outward; operculum umbonate. Seeds triangular in cross section, ca. 4.5 x 3 cm.

  • Discussion

    Mexia (coll. no. 6243) states that the hard wood of this species is used for construction beams.

    Eschweilera gigantea is morphologically similar to E. juruensis from which it differs by its truncate vs. attenuated ovaries and larger leaves. The petals of this species are usually white whereas those of E. juruensis are yellow.

  • Common Names

    huacapu maquizapa huayo

  • Distribution

    A large tree found in non-flooded lowland forests of western Amazonia. It flowers from Oct to Mar.

    Colombia South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Pastaza Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Ucayali Peru South America|