Virola excisa D. Santam., 2022

Santamaria-Aguilar, Daniel & Lagomarsino, Laura P., 2022, New Species of Virola (Myristicaceae) from South America, PhytoKeys 197, pp. 81-148 : 81

7. Virola excisa D. Santam. sp. nov.

Type.

Ecuador. Pastaza: Río Curaray, dos horas río abajo del pueblo Curaray, en la boca del Rio Namoyacu , 01°24'S, 076°45'W, 275 m, 14-18 Aug 1985 (♂ fl), W. Palacios & D. Neill 622 (holotype: MO! [accession 3482884, barcode MO-1565775]; isotype: F [accession 1989048, barcode V0354346F; image!], INPA [accession 147770; image!], NY!, QCA [n.v.]). Fig. 13

Diagnosis.

Virola excisa is similar to V. obovata in the shape of its leaves, which are sparsely stellate and/or dendritic trichomes, or both kinds on abaxial side; staminate flowers with perianth that is nearly glabrous internally and the filament column of similar size to the anthers; and fruits that are covered with a conspicuous layer of ferruginous trichomes. Morphologically, it differs from V. obovata in the staminate perianth without resinous punctuations vs. resinous punctuations), long fruits (1.4-1.7 cm vs. 0.8-1 cm), with thick pericarp (1.5-2.3 mm vs. 1-1.2 mm). Given the above mentioned characteristics of leaves and pubescence, Virola excisa is similar to V. peruviana . But it is distinguished by the fruits densely pubescent at maturity (vs. glabrescent), and slightly carinate (vs. conspicuously carinate).

Tree 8-35 m × 20-40 (-60) cm diameter, inner bark described as grayish and rough. Exudate watery, red, or reddish in the trunk or without specifying from where. Twigs 0.2-0.47 (-0.55) cm thick, terete, slightly compressed to slightly angulate, tomentose, trichomes dendritic, sessile, ferruginous, without lenticels. Leaves young terminal bud 1.2-2.2 × 0.3-0.6 cm; petiole 1.3-2 (-3) × 0.28-0.42 cm, slightly canaliculate and winged, often flattened above, tomentose, sometimes glabrescent, the trichomes dendritic; leaf blades (10.5-) 23.5-46.5 × (6.7-) 9.5-13.5 (-19.7) cm, lanceolate to obovate; adaxial surface of mature leaves usually drying brown to dark brown, the surface smooth, sometimes shiny, glabrous; abaxial surface usually drying white grayish, white brownish to pale brown, sparsely pubescent, the trichomes stellate or sometimes mixture of trichomes stellate and dendritic (especially along the veins), the stellate trichomes ca. 0.1-0.2 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome pale to dark reddish, sometimes colorless, the branches pale reddish or colorless; lateral veins (13-) 18-24 per side, 3-4 veins per 5 cm, spaced 1.3-2.5 (-3.3) cm, on adaxial side the same color as the adaxial surface, flat to slightly raised, on abaxial surface darker than the surface, slightly raised, glabrescent to scattered pubescent, arcuate-ascending, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins slightly visible on both sides; midvein adaxially flat to slightly elevated, abaxially raised, rounded, tomentose to puberulent, more pubescent to the sides; base truncate to subcordate, rarely deeply cordate, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex acute to acuminate. Staminate inflorescence 4.5-15.5 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, with trichomes dendritic (0.2-0.5 mm long), ferruginous; main axes with 9-15 ramifications, the first pair opposite to subopposite, the second and third ramifications sometimes opposite to subopposite, otherwise alternate; peduncle (1.3-) 1.7-4.3 × (0.13-) 0.21-0.3 cm; bracts 2-2.2 × 1-1.6 mm (measured on immature inflorescences). Staminate flowers in dense terminal fascicles of 9-25+ flowers, on a receptacle 1.5-1.7 mm wide, sometimes absent; perianth 1.5-2.8 mm long, ovate to obovate, fleshy, cream, yellowish brown, or ferruginous (probably by the trichomes) when fresh, connate 1-1.5 mm long, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface glabrous to almost glabrous; lobes 3, 1-1.1 × 0.5-0.8 mm, and 0.1-0.2 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; stamens 3, the filament column (0.4-) 0.5-0.8 mm long and 0.3-0.4 mm wide, glabrous, fleshy, straight and wide throughout its length, constricted at the apex; anthers 0.5-0.7 mm long, 0.3-0.4 mm wide; apiculus ca. 0.1 mm long, acuminate, separate. Pistillate inflorescence 4-7 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, the trichomes dendritic, ferruginous; peduncle 1.5-4.2 × 0.18-0.46 cm; main axes with 9-10 ramifications, the first and second pair (usually) opposite to subopposite, the other alternate; bracts not seen. Pistillate flowers in terminal fascicles of 3-10+ flowers, on a receptacle 2-4 mm wide; perianth 1.7-2.5 mm long (measurement from immature flower), globose, brown when fresh, connation not seen, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface glabrous; lobes probably 3, not seen properly due to the immaturity of flowers, ca. 0.2-0.3 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; gynoecium 1.1-2 × 1.2-2 mm, globose, densely pubescent, with ferruginous trichomes; stigma 2-lobed, 0.4-0.7 × 0.2 mm, sessile, drying blackish, slightly wavy at the margins. Infructescence 3.5-7.5 (-11.5) cm long, with 4-7 fruits, peduncle ca. 1.4-3.5 (-5) × 0.3-0.5 cm. Fruits 2-2.6 × 1.4-1.7 cm, when fresh green or brown (the latter probably due to the trichomes) and covered with brown trichomes, ovoid, without stipe, densely tomentose, the trichomes dendritic (0.1-0.4 mm long), sessile, ferruginous, falling very easily like dust, the surface smooth, the line of dehiscence slightly carinate, the base truncate to obtuse, apex acute; pericarp 1.5-2.3 mm thick; pedicel 0.4-0.7 cm long. Seed 2-2.3 × 1.1-1.3 cm, the testa drying brown to dark brown, sulcate and bullate; aril when fresh described as red, dark brown, brown-reddish to blackish when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

Distinctive characters.

Virola excisa can be recognized by its long, lanceolate to obovate leaves that are truncate to subcordate at the base with an underside that is usually white grayish when dry and sparsely pubescent with stellate sessile trichomes (sometimes with dendritic trichomes along the veins) (Fig. 14B ); lateral veins that are well separated, with the marginal and tertiary veins not very conspicuous; staminate flowers with the external perianth covered with dense pubescence of dendritic trichomes and a glabrous internal surface, a fleshy filament column that is similar in length ([0.4-] 0.5-0.8 mm long) to the anthers (0.5-0.7 mm long); fruits that are densely pubescent with trichomes that fall easily like dust; and the seed with a bullate, sulcate testa sulcate (Fig. 6I ). Additionally, herbarium specimens are usually aromatic.

Etymology.

The specific epithet of the new species comes from the word excisus, meaning cut out ( Stearn 1992). The makes reference to the fact that several herbarium specimens of this new species come from felled trees that were killed to make way for oil pipes (e.g. V. Zak & S. Espinoza 4733, 5149; F. Hurtado 2980). This has created irreparable damage to nature, destroying the habitat of this and many other species, potentially paving the path toward their extinction.

Distribution.

Virola excisa is known from Colombia (Amazonas, Putumayo departments), Ecuador (Napo, Pastaza, Morona-Santiago provinces), Peru (Amazonas, Huánuco, Loreto, Pasco, Ucayali departments), and Brazil (Acre, Amazonas state) (Fig. 18B ), where it occurs in primarily moist tropical forest. Some herbarium labels mention that it grows on hills with red soils, sandy clay soil, near black water or várzea. It ranges in elevation from 130-580 m, with two collections reaching 700 and 830 m.

Phenology.

Staminate flowers of Virola excisa have been collected in February, May to October, and pistillate flowers in May, July to September. Fruits have been collected in January to April, August to December.

Common name and uses.

Common names include in Colombia: sangre de toro (J. Cuatrecasas 10653 [F, without common name at COL]). Ecuador: gomenkowe (Wao tededo; Pérez et al. 2014), gunhuékonmo (Huaorani; E. Gudiño et al. 956), lugumpapu (Huaorani; D. Rubio & T. Coba 839), huapa (Quichua; E. Gudiño et al. 2139, 2154), numpa tsempu kumpari (Huambisa; V. Huashikat 2267, 2322), puca huapa (Quichua; H. Vargas 1590), tsempu (Huambisa; V. Huashikat 682). Peru: Virola cumala blanca ([B.] Kröll 487), sempo (Aguaruna; J. J. Wurdack 2272). Brazil: ucuhuba ([W. A.] Ducke 396), ucuuba (M. Silveira et al. 840), ucuúba da folha grande (M. Silveira et al. 718). The trunk of V. excisa is used for construction of houses, while the aril attracts birds, rodents, and monkeys ( Pérez et al. 2014, as V. obovata ) or the wood used for firewood (M. Silveira et al. 840).

Preliminary conservation status.

Virola excisa is Not Threatened following IUCN criteria B1a and B2a. It is known from 25 localities, has an EOO of 810,234 km2, and an AOO of 112 km2. While this species grows in regions of the world that are threatened by human landscape modification ( Antonelli 2022), its distribution is wide enough that this species does not need to be considered threatened currently.

Discussion.

Of morphology apparent in herbarium specimens, the leaf blades and some flower and fruit features of V. excisa are similar to V. obovata , and most of the studied specimens were identified as such in Flora of Ecuador ( Jaramillo et al. 2004). Both species share similarly shaped leaves that appear to be glabrous abaxially, but actually bear sparsely stellate and/or dendritic trichomes, or both kinds; staminate flowers with perianth that is nearly glabrous internally and the filament column of similar size to the anthers; and fruits that are covered with a conspicuous layer of ferruginous trichomes. Despite these morphological similarities, V. excisa differs from V. obovata in traits related to the leaf base, the perianth of staminate flowers, and fruit, pericarp, and seed size. Differences between these species are summarized in Table 9 . In addition to the features in Table 9 , there are distinguishing traits that are difficult to describe properly; compared to V. obovata , herbarium specimens of V. excisa tend to have more elongate leaves and staminate perianth, fruits usually have more conspicuous carina, and trichomes are denser and fall more easily.

Virola excisa resembles V. calophylla and especially V. peruviana in the shape of its leaves (including the base and lateral vein pattern) and long staminate inflorescences with perianth that is glabrous internally. In addition, V. calophylla and the new species have similar fruit morphology (at least when young). Virola excisa can be distinguished from V. calophylla by its abaxial leaf blades that are sparsely pubescent and puberulent (vs. densely pubescent and appearing squamose; see Fig. 14A ), shorter, narrower staminate inflorescences, shorter perianth, and filament column that is similar in length to the anthers (vs. filament column longer than anthers). Immature fruits of V. calophylla are densely pubescent (e.g. D. Daly et al. 6773, INPA [image!], MO!, NY!) and appear similar to those of V. excisa ; however, at maturity, its fruits tend to be minutely tomentelous to glabrescent (vs. densely tomentose; see Fig. 6E, I ). Additionally, abaxial leaf blades of herbarium specimens of V. calophylla tend to be silver to golden.

Virola excisa can distinguished from V. peruviana by its staminate flowers with short anthers (0.5-0.7 mm vs. 1.1-1.6 mm long, from Smith and Wodehouse 1938) and fruits that are slightly carinate (vs. conspicuously carinate) and densely pubescent at maturity (vs. glabrescent). For a detailed comparison of the indument and carina of fruits between these two species see Figs 6I, K (fruits) and 14B, D (indument). Although, some specimens of V. excisa have a cordate leaf base (e.g. V. Huashikat 2267, MO; D. Rubio & T. Coba 839, MO), they are never as deeply cordate or as narrow as in V. peruviana , whose lobes also sometimes overlap or cover the twig (e.g. W. H. Lewis et al. 10074, MO).

Notes.

The majority of specimens cited here as V. excisa , including the source of illustrations in Pérez et al. (2014) and Jaramillo et al. (2004) were previously identified as V. obovata . In addition to the list of paratypes of V. excisa below, we provide a list of specimens that correspond to V. obovata . Our comparison between these two species is based on these specimens, as well as images of the original material of V. obovata collected and described by the Italian-Brazilian botanist, Adolpho Ducke (A. Ducke 1509, A, F, IAN, MG, NY!, RB-2 sheets, US-2 sheets).

Specimens examined.

Colombia. Amazonas: Araracuara, Río Caquetá, margen derecha 3 km arriba de la isla Sumaeta, 00°36'S, 072°10'W, 200-300 m, 31 May 1990 (fl bud), E. Alvarez et al. 668 (COAH [n.v.], NY!); Parque Nacional Nataural Amacayacu, 03°47'S, 070°15'W, 200-220, 11 Nov 1991, J. Pipoly et al. 15818 (COL!). Putumayo: selva higrófila del río Putumayo, Puerto Porvenir, arriba de Puerto Ospina, 230-250 m, 19 Nov 1940 (fr), J. Cuatrecasas 10653 (COL!, F [image!]). Ecuador. Napo: Parque Nacional Yasuní, Carretera y Olecoducto de Maxus en construcción, Km 27, 00°35'S, 076°30'W, 250 m, 4-27 July 1993 (fl bud), M. Aulestia 23 (MO!, UPCB [n.v]); Parque Nacional Yasuní, Pozo petrolero Daimi 2, 00°55'S, 076°11'W, 200 m, 26 May-8 Jun 1988 (♂ fl bud), C. E. Cerón & F. Hurtado 3834 (INPA [image!], MEXU [image!], MO!, QCNE [n.v.], US [image!]); ibid., 26 May-8 Jun 1988 (♀ fl bud), C. E. Cerón & F. Hurtado 4147 (COL!, INPA [image!], MO!, NY!); Parque Nacional Yasuní, Pozo Petrolero "Amo II" de Conoco, 00°52'S, 076°05'W, 230 m, 11-17 Jan 1988 (fr), F. Coello 59 (MO!, NY!); La Joya de los Sachas, Comunidad de Pompeya, lado sur del Río Napo, Campamento de Maxus, Río Jivino, carretera Maxus Km 1-5, 00°25'S, 076°37'W, 220 m, 1-28 Sep 1992 (fr imm), A. Grijalva & G. Grefa 115 (MO!, NY!); ibid., 23-29 Nov 1992 (fr), A. Grijalva et al. 239 (MO!, QCA [n.v.]); La Joya de los Sachas, Pompeya, 00°25'S, 076°37'W, 250 m, 16-17 Aug 1992 (fr imm), E. Gudiño 1677 (COL!, MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); Pompeya, Río Indillama, entre la desembocadura al Napo y el cruce de la carretera de MAXUS, 00°25'S, 076°37'W, 250 m, 13 Dec 1992 (st, fr), E. Gudiño et al. 2139 (COL!, LOJA [n.v.], MO!, NY!, QCA [n.v.], UPCB [n.v.]); Pompeya, Carretera MAXUS km 3.9-5.2, 00°25'S, 076°37'W, 250 m, 14-15 Dec 1992 (fr), E. Gudiño et al. 2154 (COL!, LOJA [n.v.], MEXU [image!], MO!, QCA [n.v.], QCNE [n.v.]); Estación Experimental INIAP-Payamino, costado oeste del Río Payamino, 5 km al NW de Coca, 00°13'S, 077°10'W, 300 m, 25 Sep 1985 (fr), D. Neill et al. 6891 (INPA [image!], MO!, QCA [n.v.]); Maxus petroleum pipeline road, under construction, 2 km south of Río Napo, Comuna Pompeya, 00°30'S, 076°40'W, 220 m, 4 Dec 1992 (♀ fl, fr imm), D. Neill et al. 10182 (MO!, NY!); 5 km al Norte de Coca y de la vía Coca-Payamino, Finca Tipán, 00°25'S, 077°00'W, 250 m, 22 Oct 1988 (fr), W. Palacios 3186 (INPA [image!], MO!, PMA [image!], QCA [n.v.]); Tena, Estación Biológica Jatun Sacha, 10 km al oeste de la Estación, carretera hacia Tena, 01°03'S, 077°40'W, 500 m, 20 Sep 1989 (♀ fl bud), W. Palacios & C. Iguago 4435 (INPA [image!], MO!); Añangu, Parque Nacional Yasuní, 00°31'32"S, 076°23'W, 260-350 m, 30 May-21 Jun 1982 (bud fl), SEF no. 8934 (NY-2 sheets!); Estación Experimental INIAP-San Carlos, Reserva Florística EL Ahuano, 00°19'S 076°50'W, 250 m, 8 Sep 1986 (fr), J. Zaruma 605 (NY!). Pastaza: Arajuno, Campamentos temporales 9, 22 y 25, línea propuesta del oleoducto Villano-CPF por ARCO, Km 25 noroeste del pozo Villano 2, 01°27'S, 077°36'W, 700 m, 3-14 Sep 1998 (♂ fl bud), E. Freire & L. Santi 3380 (MO!); Pozo petrolero “Moretecocha” de ARCO, 75 km al este de Puyo, 01°34'S, 077°25'W, 580 m, 4-21 Oct 1990 (imm fr), E. Gudiño et al. 956 (MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); Pozo petrolero Villano 2 de ARCO, 01°25'S, 077°20'W, 400 m, 1-18 Dec 1991 (fr), F. Hurtado 2980 (MO!); Río Capihuari, tributary of Río Pastaza, 02°30'S, 076°50'W, 285 m, 23 July 1980 (bud fl), B. Øllgaard et al. 35140 (NY!); Río Curaray, dos horas río abajo del pueblo Curaray, en la boca del Río Namoyacu, 01°24'S, 076°45'W, 275 m, 14-18 Aug 1985 (♂ fl bud), W. Palacios & D. Neill 612 (INPA [image!], MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); Pozo Petrolero Villano 2, 01°29'S, 077°27'W, 24 July 1992 (♀ fl bud), W. Palacios 10279 (MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); Pozo Petrolero "Danta 2" de UNOCAL, 50 km al sur-sureste de Curaray, 01°47'S, 076°48'W, 365 m, 1-19 Oct 1990 (fr), D. Rubio & T. Coba 839 (INPA [image!], MEXU-2 sheets [image!], MO!); Ruta del oleoducto propuesto por ARCO, Villano-La Independencia, Km 24, 3 km al sur de San Virgilio, 01°24'S, 077°39'W, 830 m, 4 Sep 1997 (♂ fl), H. Vargas et al. 1590 (MO!, QCNE [n.v.]). Morona-Santiago: Pozo petrolero “Garza” de TENNECO, 35 km (aprox.) al noreste de Montalvo, 01°49'S, 076°42'W, 260 m, 2-12 Jul 1989 (♂ fl bud), V. Zak & S. Espinoza 4733 (INPA [image!], MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); [without province], margen izquierda del río San Miguel, entre Puerto Nuevo y Conejo, 28 Mar 1953 (fr), G. Gutierréz 2716 (COL!). Peru. Amazonas: Valle del Río Santiago, aprox. 65 km N de Pinglo, quebrada Caterpiza, 2-3 km atrás de la comunidad de Caterpiza, [03°50'00"S, 077°40'00"W], 200 m, 19 Sep 1979 (fr), V. Huashikat 682 (INPA [image!], MO!); ibid., 15 Mar 1980 (fr), V. Huashikat 2267 (INPA [n.v.], MO!); ibid., 21 Mar 1980 (fr), V. Huashikat 2322 (MO!); Condorcanqui, Distrito El Cenepa, Comunidad de Mamayaque, 04°34'49"S, 078°14'01"W, 400 m, 11 Aug 1997 (fr), R. Rojas et al. 0272 (MO!); Bagua, Rainforest along Río Marañón 2-10 km above mouth of Río Santiago, 250-275 m, 14-15 Oct 1962 (fl), J. J. Wurdack 2272 (NY!). Huánuco: Yuyapichis, Puerto Inca, 00°40'S, 075°02'W, 270 m, 01-15 Jul 1989 (bud fl), [B.] Kröll 476 (NY!); ibid., 1-15 Jul 1989 (bud fl), [B.] Kröll 487 (NY!); ibid., 1-15 Aug 1987 (♀ fl), [B.] Kröll 527 (NY!); ibid., 16-31 Dec 1989 (fr), [without collector name] Flores & Tello 192 (NY!); ibid., 16-30 Jun 1990 (fl bud), [without collector name] Flores & Tello 1801 (NY!); ibid., 16-31 Aug 1990 (♀ fl), [without collector name] Flores & Tello 1995 (NY!); ibid., 1-15 Aug 1987 (♂ fl), [without collector name] Saito 14 (NY!). Loreto: Habanillo, Km 67, carretera Dtto. Iquitos-Nauta, 04°10'S, 073°30'W, 130 m, 03 Jun 1988 (fl bud), R. Vásquez et al. 10712 (INPA [image!], MO!); Ucayali, vicinity of LSV base camp, Quebrada Shesha, tributary of Rio Abajao, ca, 65 km NE of Pucallpa, 08°02'S, 073°55'W, 250 m, 25 Jun 1987 (♂ fl), A. [H.] Gentry & C. Díaz 58536 (MO!, NY!). Pasco: 6 km N of Puente Lorencillo No. 1 on Carretera Marginal, 32 km S of Dantas, 09°56'S, 075°00'W, 350 m, 30 Jun 1987 (st), A. [H.] Gentry & C. Díaz 58640 (MO!). Ucayali: Río Blanco, [not elev.], 30 Jul 1923 (♂ fl), G. Tessmann 3055 (NY!). Brazil. Acre: Cruzeiro do Sul, Rio Juruá, right margin of Igarapé Viseu, ca. 6 km from left bank of Rio Juruá, 08°15'S, 072°44'W, [not elev.], 05 Nov 1991 (fr), C. A. Cid Ferreira et al. 10586 (NY!, UFACPZ [n.v.], UPCB [n.v.]); Jordão, along Rio Jordão, 09°13'28"S, 071°58'26"W, 230-250 m, 06 Feb 2009 (fr), R. Goldenberg 1316 (NY!, RB [image!]); Porto Acre, Bacia do Rio Purus, Reserva Florestal de Humaitá, margem esquerda do Rio Acre, ca. 4 horas de barco abaixo de Rio Branco, 10°07'S, 069°13'W [not elev.], 03 Nov 1993 (fr), M. Silveira et al. 718 (INPA [image!], NY, UFACPZ [n.v.]); Sena Madureira, trail from W bank of Rio Iaco to Rio Purus, 3 km above confluence, [not elev.], 5 Oct 1968 (fr), G. T. Prance et al. 7862 (F [image!], INPA [image!], NY!, P [image!], U [image!], US [image!]); Tarauacá, 1-3 km east of Rio Tarauacá, at Tarauacá, [not elev.], 24 Sep 1968 (fr), G. T. Prance 7510 (INPA [image!], NY!, US [image!]); Bacia do Rio Juruá, Rio Tarauacá, 08°27'39"S, 071°22'46"W, [not elev.], 19 Sep 1994 (imm fr), M. Silveira et al. 840 (INPA [image!], NY!). Amazonas: Limoeiro, Est. Ecológica do Juamí Japurá, Rio Japurá margem direita abaixo da confluência com Rio Puruê, [not elev.], 16 Apr 1986 (fr), C. A. Cid Ferreira et al. 7240 (NY!, UPCB [n.v.]); Parana do Autaz-Mirim, lago de Cobra, [not elev.], 25 Aug 1973 (♀ fl & imm fr], C. C. Berg et al. P19742 (INPA [image!], NY!, US [image!]); Rio Solimões, loco Bom Futuro (ripa boreali fluvii, super São Paulo de Olivença), [not elev.], 4 Feb 1937 (♂ fl), [W. A.] Ducke 396 (NY!, US [image!]); near mouth of Rio Embira (tributary of Rio Tarauaca), 07°30'S, 070°15'W, [not elev.], 06 Jun 1933 (♂ fl), B. A. Krukoff 4713 (NY-2 sheets!, US [image!]); Lábrea, trail from W bank of Rio Purus, opposite Labrea, [not elev.], 30 Oct 1968 (fr), G. T. Prance 8106 (NY!, US [image!]); Rio Purus, Lago Preto, 2 km north of Lábrea, [not elev.], 25 Jun 1971 (bud fl), G. T. Prance et al. 13692 (NY!, US [image!]).

Specimens examined of Virola obovata .

Colombia. Amazonas: Puerto Nariño, [not elev.], 24 Jul 1965 (♂ fl), G. Lozano C. et al. 588 (COL!); trapecio Amazónico, entre los ríos Loretoyacu y Hamacayacu, [not elev.], [s.d.] Dec 1945 (fr), J. M. Duque-Jaramillo 2366 (COL); Araracuara, Pintadillo (frente a la tercer isla), margen izquierda río Caquetá, [not elev.], 14 Apr 1986 (fr), J. H. Torres et al. 3159 (COL) . Peru. Loreto: Maynas, Rio Yuvineto, affluent du Putumayo, [not elev.], 06 Feb 1978 (fr), S. Barrier 549 (NY!); Maynas , near Villa Nueva , Borro Indian village on upper Rio Yaguasyacu , tributary of Rio Ampiyacu , [not elev.], 8 Nov 1977 (fr), A. [H.] Gentry & J. Revilla 20448 (MO!); Maynas , in vicinity of Mishana , between Río Nanay and Río Itaya, 130 m, 29 Nov 1977 (fr), A. [H.] Gentry et al. 21006 (MO); Maynas , Mishana , Rio Nanay , halfway between Iquitos and Santa María de Nanay, 130 m, [s.d.] 1979 (♂ fl), R. Ramírez 10 (MO!); Iquitos , Allpahuayo , bosque del Instituto de Investigacion de la Amazonia Peruana , km 21 carretera Quistococha-Nauta , [03°58'16"S, 073°25'07"W], [not elev.], 5 Jul 1992 (♂ fl), R. Rueda & J. Ruíz 621 (MO!); Maynas, Llachapa, (Explor Napo), Rio Napo , 130 m, 21 Jan 1983 (fr), R. Vásquez & N. Jaramillo 3822 (MEXU [image!], MO!, NY!); Iquitos , Allpahuayo, Estacion Experimental del Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana (IIAP), [03°58'16"S, 073°25'07"W], [not elev.], 22 Aug 1990 (imm fr), R. Vásquez et al. 14250 (MO!) .

Figures

Figure 6. Comparison of fruits of newly described Virola species, with those species that are morphologically similar to them, noting the shape, indument, a pericarp thickness A V. aguarunana (C. Diaz et al. 7195, MO) B V. alvaroperezii (D. Rubio et al. 2205, MO) C V. bombuscaroensis (J. Homeier 4507, MO) D V. calimensis (M. Monsalve 158, MO) E V. calophylla (J. J. Pipoly 15614, MO) F V. calophylloidea (S. R. Lowrie et al. 54, MO) G V. cogolloi (D. Cardenas & E. Alvarez 3239, MO) H V. macrocarpa (A. E. Lawrance 675, MO) I V. excisa (W. Palacios 3186, MO) J V. obovata (R. Vasquez & N. Jaramillo 3822, MO) K V. peruviana (D. N. Smith & V. Garcia 13841, MO). L V. parkeri (A. Monteagudo et al. 10761, MO) M V. yasuniana (A. Perez & W. Santillan 4361, MO; right and below from V. Zak & S. Espinoza 5149, MO) N V. tuckerae (A. Cogollo et al. 3924, COL). Scale bars: 1 cm.

Figure 13. Virola excisa A branch with staminate inflorescence B partial staminate inflorescence C staminate perianth D medial section of staminate flower and androecium detail (right) E branch with pistillate inflorescence, with detail of trichomes on abaxial surface (right) F lateral view of perianth (left) and medial section of pistillate flower (right), with enlargement of trichomes on perianth (above right) G medial section of pistillate flower, with an enlargement of trichomes on gynoecium (right) H branch with fruits, including an enlargement trichomes (middle left), and an open fruit showing seed covered with laciniate aril (right). Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on W. Palacios & D. Neill 622 (A-D MO), W. Palacios & C. Iguago 4435 (E-G MO), and W. Palacios 3186 (H MO).

Figure 14. Comparison of abaxial surface, veins, and trichomes of A V. calophylla B V. excisa C V. obovata and D V. peruviana A from J. E. L. S. Ribeiro et al. 1138, MO B from A. [H.] Gentry & C. Diaz 58536, MO C from R. Rueda & J. Ruiz 621, MO D from C. A. Grandez & A. Chiquispama 1065, MO. Scale bars: 1 cm.

Figure 18. Geographic distribution of the new species of Virola.