Carapichea guianensis Aubl. (Aublet 1775: 168)

Lachenaud, Olivier & Delprete, Piero, 2022, Revision of Carapichea (Rubiaceae - Psychotrieae) in the Guianas, with two new combinations and transfer of three species to Notopleura, Plant Ecology and Evolution 155 (2), pp. 275-300 : 275

4. Carapichea guianensis Aubl. (Aublet 1775: 168)

Fig. 5

Callicocca guianensis (Aubl.) J.F.Gmel. ( Gmelin 1791: 372)

Cephaelis involucrata Willd. ( Willdenow 1798: 979), nom. superfl.

Tapogomea carapichea Poir. ( Poiret 1806: 587), nom. superfl.

Carapichea aubletii DC. ( Candolle 1830: 536), nom. superfl.

Uragoga guianensis (Aubl.) Pulle ( Pulle 1906: 446)

Cephaelis guianensis (Aubl.) Standl. ( Standley 1929: 335)

Psychotria ligularis var. carapichea Steyerm. ( Steyermark 1972: 676)

Psychotria carapichea (Steyerm.) Delprete ( Delprete 2001: 401)

Type.

FRENCH GUIANA • "ad ripam amnis Galibiensis" [margin of the Galibi Creek ]; s.d. [Apr.-May 1763]; Aublet s.n.; lectotype: P-JJR [8:266], designated by Lanjouw and Uittien (1940: 149); isolectotype: BM [BM001009105]; see Delprete (2015) .

Description.

Shrub 0.4-1.5 m tall, sparsely branched; terminal branchlets terete, 1-2 mm in diam., glabrous, soon covered with a buff to pale grey corky bark. Stipules 5-9 × 1.5-3.0 mm, free, triangular to lanceolate, entire or shortly bifid for up to 3 mm, glabrous outside, villose at the base inside, becoming corky and soon damaged. Leaves with petioles 0.8-3.0 cm long, glabrous; blade elliptic, 10-18 × 3.3-7.5 cm, attenuate and decurrent on the petiole at base, narrowly acuminate at apex, rather thick when fresh (becoming papyraceous when dry), entirely glabrous, drying dark grey-green to blackish; midrib and secondary veins prominent on the upper side; secondary veins 6-9 on each side of the midrib, strongly ascending, curving towards the margin and almost reaching it; with 2-3 intersecondary veins between each pair of secondary veins; tertiary veins reticulate, rather inconspicuous in the fresh state, prominent when dry. Inflorescences in terminal involucrate heads, few-flowered; peduncle 1-3 cm long, erect to patent, glabrous; involucre green on both sides, sometimes with a reddish-brown basal part, consisting of two very unequal decussate pairs of bracts shallowly connate at base, the outer pair 19-42 × 3-10 mm, the inner pair 5-20 × 2-6 mm, both pairs with a basal stalk 4-6 mm long (that of the inner pair much narrower) and the medio-distal portion narrowly ovate to lanceolate, acute to round at apex, glabrous, persistent at fruiting stage; interfloral bracts much smaller than the involucral ones, elliptic, obovate to spathulate, 4-6 × 0.8-3.0 mm, obtuse to truncate at apex, glabrous, persistent in the fruiting stage. Flowers 5-merous, heterostylous, sessile. Hypanthium obovoid, 1.0-1.2 × 0.7 mm, glabrous. Disk bilobed to the base, 0.5-0.6 mm long. Calyx shortly cupuliform, truncate or undulate, 0.2 mm long, glabrous. Corolla hypocrateriform, white; tube infundibuliform, 5-8 mm long, 0.8-1.0 mm wide at base, 2.6-3.7 mm at mouth, glabrous outside, shortly pubescent inside around the insertion of the stamens; lobes ovate to deltoid, 2-3 × 1.5-2 mm, reflexed, glabrous throughout. Short-styled flowers: stamens inserted at distal 1/3rd of the tube, exserted beyond corolla mouth; filaments ca 3 mm long; anthers 1.3-2.3 × 0.3-0.5 mm; style included, 5-6 mm long; style branches linear, 1.5-1.7 mm long. Long-styled flowers: stamens inserted at distal 1/3rd of the tube, included; anthers subsessile, oblong-elliptic 1.5-1.8 × 0.3-0.4 mm; style exserted well beyond the mouth, 8.5-10 mm long, style branches obovate, 0.7-1.3 mm long. Fruits ellipsoid, 7-9 × 5-7 mm when dry (8-10 × 5-8 mm when fresh), vermillion, turning black at maturity, glabrous, sessile. Pyrenes plano-convex, narrowly elliptic in outline, 9 × 3.0-3.5 mm, dorsal side with 4 hardly distinct ridges, ventral side with a deep narrow excavation for the whole length, ± C-shaped in cross-section, opening by 4 dorso-basal slits running along the ridges. Seeds entire, C-shaped in cross-section.

Distribution.

Endemic to the Guiana Shield, occurring in French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and the contiguous Brazilian states of Amapá and Pará; locally common, but apparently absent from the range of C. galbaoensis (except on the Montagne Bellevue de l’Inini).

Ecology.

Commonly encountered in mature terra firme rainforest, or sometimes in seasonally flooded forest, from near sea level to 600 m elevation.

Phenology.

Flowering collections were made in January (once), March to early May (main flowering season), and August (once). Fruiting specimens were collected from April to November.

Local names.

This species is called carapiche (hence the generic name) by the Karipuna ( “Garipons”; Aublet 1775) and tapiiwapa’a by the Wayampi (Grenand 270).

Specimens examined.

GUYANA • Rupununi District , Kuyuwini landing, Kuyuwini River; 2°05'N, 59°15'W; 10 Oct. 1992; fr.; Jansen-Jacobs et al. 2844; CAY, U .

SURINAME • Tumuc Humac Mountains , Talouakem, Litani River; 2°31'N, 54°45'W; 6 Aug. 1993; fr.; Acevedo-Rodriguez et al. 5924; CAY, U , US • Upper Litany River ; 2°27'N, 54°48'W; 30 Jul. 1993; fr.; Granville et al. 11895; B n.v., BBS, CAY, MO n.v., P, U , US • Sipaliwini , vicinity of airstrip along Ulemari River , 71 km up Ulemari River from its confluence with Litani River ; 3°6 ’17” N, 54°32 ’28” W; 150 m; 29 Apr. 1998; fr.; Hammel et al. 21736; MO n.v., U • Sipaliwini, 99 km up Ulemari River from its confluence with Litani River ; 2°58 ’18” N, 54°33 ’14” W; 150 m; 8 Apr. 1998; fr.; Hammel et al. 21391; MO n.v., U • Lely Mts, SW Plateau; 27 Sep. 1975; fr.; Lindeman et al. 472; CAY, K, U • road Afobaka-Brownsweg, N of Brokopondo Lake; 10 Nov. 1974; Maas et al. 2335; U • flum. Saramacca sup.; Mar. 1903; Pulle 212; U • between Saramacca R. and Goliath Mt. ; 9 Jun. 1956; J.P. Schulz 7702; U • opposite Gansee, right bank of Suriname R.; 12 May 1964; van Donselaar 1310; U • W bank of Marowijne Creek (= Gran Creek) near Gran Dam; 20 May 1966; van Donselaar 3435; U • Brokopondo District, W. of Brokobaka; 2 Nov. 1966; van Donselaar 3830; U • ad rivulum Palaime, flum. Sipaliwinin trib.; 2°8'N 56°12'W; 23 Feb. 1963; Wessels Boer 719; U • S of Tafelberg at the margin of Kappelsavanna; 10 Jun. 1963; Wessels Boer 1532; K, U .

FRENCH GUIANA • Crique Grand Laussat; 5°25'N, 53°37'W; 11 Jul. 2004; fr.; Barrabé 77; CAY, NY, P • RN2, pk 50; 11 Jun. 1984; fr.; Feuillet 1405; B n.v., CAY, MO, P, U, US • Rivière Itany × Koulé-Koulé; 20 Jul. 1985; fr.; Feuillet 2480; CAY • ibid.; 21 Jul. 1985; fr.; Feuillet 2504; CAY, P • Montagne de l’Inini; 3°30'N 53°30'E; 9 Apr. 1986; fr.; Feuillet 3730; CAY, MO n.v., P • ibid.; 11 Apr. 1986; fl.; Feuillet 3843; CAY • Eastern Plateau of Montagne Tortue; 13 Jun. 1988; Feuillet 9974; K, U • Riviére Kourouaï, Bassin de l'Approuague ; 4°15'N, 52°1'W; 120 m; 8 Jul. 2008; fr.; Gonzalez 1361; CAY • Mont Itupé-sommet tabulaire - 15, versant W, layon D; 3°1 ’45” N, 53°5 ’28” W; 600 m; 15 Mar. 2010; fr.; Gonzalez 2158; CAY, MO, P, US • forêt à 1 km du saut “S” sur la rive droite du [fleuve] Grand Inini; 18 Aug. 1970; fr.; Granville C-1; CAY, COL, P, U • Monts Atachi Bacca; 5 Mar. 1971; fl.; Granville C-125; CAY, P • rive gauche du [Fleuve] Yaroupi, un peu au-dessus de Saut Ouaïmicouaré; 12 Apr. 1970; fl.; Granville 333; CAY [3 sheets], P, U • Crete des Monts Atachi Bacca ; 5 Mar. 1971; fallen fl.; Granville 789; CAY, P • Route de Cacao à proximité de la Crique Boulanger; Mar. 1981; fl.; Granville 4428; CAY [2 sheets], P • Haute [Fleuve] Mana, lieu dit “Bellevue”, rive gauche; 18 Aug. 1981; fr.; Granville 4920; CAY • Sud de la Crique Martin, RN 2, pk 22 environ; Apr. 1983; Granville 5559; fr.; BR, CAY, P • Sud de la Crique Martin, RN 2, pk 22 environ; Apr. 1983; Granville 5560; fl.; BR, CAY, P • Montagne de Kaw , versant nord à 2-3 km N de Camp Caïman; 1 Apr. 1984; fallen fl.; Granville 6710; BR, CAY, P, U • route de l’Est, à proximité de l’embranchement de la route de Cacao; 8 Apr. 1985; fl.; Granville 7256; CAY, P, U • Crique Gabaret, bassin de l’Oyapock, Saut Mérignan; 3°55'N, 51°48'W; 13 Apr. 1988; fl.; Granville 10279; CAY, P, U • Monts Atachi Bacca; 3°33'N, 53°55'W; 9 Jan. 1989; fl.; Granville et al. 10485; CAY, P, U • Camp Caiman , Montagne de Kaw ; 4°32'N, 52°13'W; 11 Mar. 2004; fallen fl.; Granville & Bordenave 15828; CAY, P • Trois-Sauts en face du village Zidock; 21 May 1974; fr.; Grenand 270; CAY • savane-roche [inselberg] Virginie; 6 Apr. 2014; Lachenaud 1725; BR, CAY, MO • route de Cacao juste avant la scierie; 4 May 2014; Lachenaud 1792; BR, CAY, MO • Relais de Patawa , on the Montagne de Kaw road; 9 May 2001; fl., fr.; Mori et al. 25351; CAY, NY • Fleuve Oyapock, chemin Maripa, layon ORSTOM du km 1 au km 2; 8 Jun. 1970; fr.; Oldeman T-850; CAY • Oyapock, rive française face à Mariaflor, station de jaugeage hydrologique ORSTOM; 19 May 1965; fr.; Oldeman 1290; CAY, COL, P, U • rive gauche du [Fleuve] Yaroupi, Saut Ouaimicouaré; 15 Apr. 1970; fl; Oldeman B-3082; CAY • Rivière Grand Inini, au Saut Equerre; 18 Aug. 1970; fl.; Oldeman B-3508; CAY, P • Route de l'Est , km 53; 25 Aug. 1986; fr.; Prévost 2163; CAY [2 sheets], U • s.loc.; s.d. [1781-1785]; L.C.M. Richard s.n.; P • Abattis Cotica, sur le Maroni; 26 Aug. 1961; Schnell 11468; U .

BRAZIL - Amapá • Serra do Navio, Orebody slopes and trail to Serra do Viado ; 16 Nov. 1954; fl.; Cowan 38335; K, NY, U , US • ibid.; 17 Nov. 1954; fl.; Cowan 38384; U • ibid.; fl.; Cowan 38416; U • immediately east of Colonia Agricola do Oiapoque , about 4 km N of mouth of Cricu River ; 3°43'N, 51°55'W; 14 Aug. 1960; fl., imm. fr.; Irwin et al. 47516; F, IAN, K, NY [2 sheets]. - Pará • Rio Trombetas , 4 km S of Cachoeira Porteira; 6 Jun. 1974; fr.; Campbell et al. P22528 [ Prance’s collection number]; INPA, NY, U , US.

Notes. The chaotic taxonomic history of this species has been summarized in Delprete (2003). It has often been confused with C. ligularis . Steyermark (1972), in particular, reduced it to a variety of the latter (as Psychotria ligularis var. carapichea ). It is very strange that he arrived to this conclusion, since C. guianensis and C. ligularis are quite different in leaf venation (reticulate in the former and parallel in the latter) and bract shape (narrower and lacking an unguiculate basal part in C. ligularis ) (Figs 5 , 6 ). Delprete (2001) showed that they represent separate species. Taylor and Gereau (2013), in their revision of the genus, also recognized the two species as distinct, and even placed them in different groups, chiefly on account of their strikingly different leaf venation. On the other hand, C. guianensis closely resembles C. galbaoensis , which was until now considered a synonym ( Delprete 2001, 2003; Taylor and Gereau 2013) and is here re-established as a distinct species, and C. squamelligera . The three species are almost identical in vegetative characters, and their differences are summarised in Table 2 (see also Figs 3 , 4 ). The dimensions of the involucral bracts are rather variable in C. guianensis . Two collections from French Guiana (Feuillet 3730 and 3843) have the bracts unusually broad, resembling C. galbaoensis , but their basal stalk is shorter than in the latter species, and the corolla is typical for C. guianensis . At the other extreme, Wessels Boer 719 from Suriname and Schnell 11468 from French Guiana have exceptionally narrow bracts, and also differ from the rest of the material in their shortly corniculate corolla lobes; they are provisionally referred to C. guianensis but might prove to be distinct.

Figures

Figure 3. Carapichea galbaoensis. A. Stem with leaves, stipules, and inflorescences. B. Nodes with stipules. C. Flower bud and two floral bracts. D. Corolla at anthesis with partially exserted anthers, lateral view. E. Stamens, adaxial and lateral view. F. Infructescence surrounded by bracts, top view. G. Fruit (left) and seed (right). A-E from Mori & Pipoly 15511; F-G from Marshall & Rombold 102. Drawn by Bobbi Angell. Reproduced from Mori et al. (2002: figure 279) with permission.

Figure 4. Carapichea galbaoensis. A. Inflorescence with open flowers, top view. B. Inflorescence with open flowers, side view. C. Flowering branch. D. Habit. A from plant not collected, Monts La Fumee, French Guiana; B-C from plant not collected, Mont Galbao, French Guiana; D from Lachenaud 1689. Photographs by Sebastien Sant (A-C) and Olivier Lachenaud (D).

Figure 5. Carapichea guianensis. A. Habit. B. Detail of lower leaf surface. C. Inflorescence with long-styled flowers. D. Inflorescence with short-styled flowers. E. Infructescence. A from plant not collected, Mont Itoupe, French Guiana; B-C from Lachenaud 1725; D from plant not collected, Camopi, French Guiana; E from plant not collected, Bellevue de Papaichton, French Guiana. Photographs by Sebastien Sant (A, D-E) and Olivier Lachenaud (B-C).

Figure 6. Carapichea ligularis. A. Habit, with two inflorescences. B. Detail of lower leaf surface. C. Inflorescence with open flowers. D. Infructescence with immature fruits. A from plant not collected, Montagne des Gouffres, French Guiana; B from Lachenaud 1793; C-D from plants not collected, Sauel region, French Guiana. Photographs by Sebastien Sant (A, C-D) and Olivier Lachenaud (B).