Tetrameranthus duckei R.E.Fr.

Westra, Lubbert Y. T. & Maas, Paul J. M., 2012, Tetrameranthus (Annonaceae) revisited including a new species, PhytoKeys 12, pp. 1-21 : 5-7

Tetrameranthus duckei R.E.Fr. Figs 1C, D 2A-D Map 1

Tetrameranthus duckei Acta Horti Bergiani 12(3): 557. 1939.

Type.

Ducke RB 23919 (holotype S; isotypes RB, S), Brazil, Amazonas: Manaus, Estrada do Aleixo, km 7, 14 June 1933.

Description.

Shrub or tree, 3-12 m tall, 4-8 cm diam., young twigs and petioles densely to rather densely covered with brown, stellate hairs>0.5 mm long, becoming glabrous. Leaves: petioles 10-40 mm long, 1.5-4 mm diam.; lamina narrowly elliptic to narrowly obovate, 10-25 by 3-10 cm (index 2.7-4), chartaceous to coriaceous, dull or slightly shiny brown or greenish brown above, dull brown or greenish brown below in sicco, rather densely covered with stellate hairs on primary vein, otherwise glabrous above, rather densely to sparsely covered with stellate hairs on primary vein and secondary veins, otherwise mostly glabrous below, the stellate hairs similar to those on branchlets, base acute, apex acuminate (acumen 5-25 mm long), primary vein impressed above, secondary veins 8-12 on either side of primary vein, impressed above, loop-forming, shortest distance between loops and margin 1.5-5 mm, or not loop-forming in basal part, tertiary veins slightly raised, flat, or indistinct above, percurrent to reticulate. Inflorescences 1(-2)-flowered, peduncles 5-15 mm long, c. 1.5 mm diam., fruiting peduncles to c. 3 mm diam., bracts 4, narrowly triangular, 3-6 mm long, soon falling after flowering, pedicels 10-25 mm long, c. 1.5 mm diam., fruiting pedicels to c. 40 mm long, 3 mm diam., peduncles and pedicels densely covered with stellate hairs, becoming glabrous. Flowers green, turning yellow in vivo; sepals elliptic to obovate, free, 5-7 mm long, outer side densely covered with stellate hairs; outer petals ovate, 20-25 by 9-12 mm, inner base with fleshy and longitudinally grooved callus 5-6 mm long and extending across the whole width, inner petals narrowly ovate to ovate, 15-22 by 6-9 mm, with similar callus to c. 8 mm long, outer side of petals densely covered with stellate hairs, the callus on the inner side glabrous; stamens 2-2.5 mm long, connective shield conical or acuminate, 1-1.5 mm long, more or less curved toward the center. Monocarps 1-6, green or shiny green, turning green-yellow in vivo, brown to dark brown in sicco, ellipsoid or oblongoid to narrowly so, 25-65 by c. 20(-25) mm, with (2-seeded forms) or without oblique constriction, apex a thick obtuse beak 2.5-10 mm long. Seeds 1-2 per monocarp, to c. 35 by c. 20 mm.

Distribution.

Amazonian regions of Venezuela (Amazonas), Colombia ( Guainía), and Brazil (Amazonas, most common in Manaus and vicinity).

Habitat and ecology.

Mostly in low forest or shrub vegetation (campina, campinarana, Amazonian caatinga, and bana) on white sand. At low elevations up to c. 200 m. Flowering and fruiting: throughout the year.

Additional specimens examined.

Colombia. Guainía: Puerto Colombia (opposite Venezuelan town of Maroa) and vicinity, alt. 800-850 ft, Schultes et al. 18157 (US). Venezuela. Amazonas: Mun. Guainía, along road from Maroa to Yavita, Aceve do-R. et al. 10250 (U); Lower Río Guainía, Raudal Lombriz, 2 km from mouth of Río Casiquiare, 140 m, Aymard et al. 9751 (MO, U); Río Casiquiare, below Capibara ( “Capihuara”), Colella et al. 1879 (U); Río Casiquiare, El Porvenir, Colella e t al. 2170 (U); San Carlos de Río Negro, Christenson 1386 (US), Liesner 6744 (MO, U), 7590 (MO, U), 8598 (MO, U), 8838 (MO, U), Steyermark & Bunting 102721 (NY, US); Río Negro, base of Piedra de Cucuy, 100-200 m, Maas et al. 6879 (INPA, NY, U); Río Pasimoni, 80 m, Velazco 1954 (MO, U). Brazil. Amazonas: Manaus and vicinity, Almeida INPA 3580 (INPA), L. Coêlho INPA 3673 (INPA, S), Ducke 1908 (F, NY), Ducke RB 35313 (RB, S), Ferreira 79/57 (S), Miralha et al. 230 (INPA, U), Morawetz et al. 21-9883 (WU), 21-23883 (WU), 22-19883 (WU), 24-12983 (WU), Personel of Centro de Pesquisas Florestais INPA 6232 (INPA, S), Plowman et al. 12647 (U), Prance et al. 2721 (INPA, NY, US), 3816 (NY, US), 4679 (NY, US), Rodrigues & L. Coêlho 2937 (U), Rodrigues & Almeida 3068-A (U), Rodrigues & Lima 3454 (U), Rodrigues & D. Coêlho 3839 (INPA, U), Rodrigues 8742 (INPA), Webber 162 (U), 163 (U); Reserva Florestal Ducke, Igarapé Acará, Ribeiro et al. 1501 (INPA),1749 (INPA, U), Sothers et al. 757 (INPA, U); Rio Negro, at its confluence with Rio Vaupés, Serra Canaleão, 150 m, Stevenson et al. 1002 (NY, U); Rio Javari, behind Estirão de Equador, Lleras et al. P17302 (NY, U); mouth of Rio Vaupés, Pires et al. 7473 (S).

Vernacular names.

Venezuela: Banayo (Liesner 7590), Cuchara (Liesner 6744), Majagua (Velazco 1954), Palo de cuchara (Liesner 7590). Brazil: Envira (Ferreira 79/57).

Note.

In a previous paper (Westra, 1985) there was some doubt about the identity of the collection Lleras et al. P17302. It should be regarded as no more than an extreme form of Tetrameranthus duckei , with pedicels to c. 40 mm long and outer petals to c. 15 mm wide.

Figures

Figure 1. Tetrameranthus umbellatus Westra A Young flower (Tunqui 62, U) B Androecium and gynoecium of same. Tetrameranthus duckei R. E. Fr. C Two-seeded monocarp (Rodrigues & Coelho 3835, U) D One-seeded monocarp (Morawetz et al. 21 - 9883, U). Tetrameranthus pachycarpus Westra E, F Two-seeded monocarp cut open and seen from outside (Foster 4271, NY). Tetrameranthus umbellatus Westra G Two-seeded monocarp (Huashikat 613, U).

Map 1. Distribution of Tetrameranthus duckei R. E. Fr. (●), Tetrameranthus guianensis Westra & Maas (■), and Tetrameranthus pachycarpus Westra (□).

Figure 2. Tetrameranthus duckei R. E. Fr. A Two-flowered inflorescence B Flowers at early anthesis C Flower at late anthesis, liberation of pollen (Webber, 1981) D Fruit. Tetrameranthus laomae D. R. Simpson E Ripe fruit, also sectioned to show seeds. Note articulation at base of fruiting stalk. Tetrameranthus umbellatus Westra F Flowers G Young inflorescence, detail of herbarium specimen (Morawetz & Wallnoefer 14 - 81085, U). A, E-F Photos by W. Morawetz, B-D Photos by A. C. Webber.