Pyrenacantha glabrescens (Engl.) Engl.

Rio, Cédric Del, Stull, Gregory W. & Franceschi, Dario De, 2020, Survey of the fruits and endocarps of Icacinaceae (Lamiids, Icacinales), European Journal of Taxonomy 645, pp. 1-130 : 77-78

Pyrenacantha glabrescens (Engl.) Engl.

Fig. 25.10–25.18

Material examined

Specimen used for endocarp and fruit description

IVORY COAST • 1906; A. Chevalier 17326; P [ MNHN-P-P04495475 ].

Other material

IVORY COAST • 1976; J. de Koning 6802; P [ MNHN-P-P06807655 ].

Description

FRUIT. Elliptical, slightly accrescent at the apex, red when mature. Epicarp strigose with yellow uncinate hairs, slightly ridged when dry. Mesocarp 250–300 µm thick when dry. Calyx persistent, separated from the fruit by a small gynophore. Length 24.3–35.0 mm, width 15–18 mm, thickness 10.0– 11.4 mm.

ENDOCARP. Brown, with a cardboard-like texture (due to decay, see Remark and Discussion for preservation issues), elliptical in lateral view, lenticular in transverse section, length ca 21.7 mm, width ca 13.7 mm, thickness ca 10 mm. Trace of keel present in the upper part. Apex asymmetrical in lateral view; base rounded, symmetrical. Outer surface of the endocarp pitted. Pits circular, randomly arranged with 10–12 pits longitudinally and 8–9 transversally (ca 60–80 pits per face). Pits associated with spiny tubercles protruding into the locule. Endocarp wall 550–638 µm thick (excluding pits). Endocarp wall (excluding pits) with three cell layers: outermost layer with 7–8 rows of anticlinally oriented cells, cells 31.3–56 µm in length, followed by a layer with 6–7 rows of periclinally oriented cells, cells 26.2– 31.0 µm in width; innermost layer with one row of periclinally oriented cell, cells 13.8–14.4 µm in width, lining the endocarp. Locule surface not lacunate.

Remark

The studied specimens were attacked by a saprophytic fungus. This could explain the peculiar texture of the endocarp. The tubercles are atrophied (see Discussion for preservation issues).