Virola multiflora (Standl.) A. C. Sm.

Santamaria-Aguilar, Daniel, Aguilar, Reinaldo & Lagomarsino, Laura P., 2019, A taxonomic synopsis of Virola (Myristicaceae) in Mesoamerica, including six new species, PhytoKeys 134, pp. 1-82 : 1

11. Virola multiflora (Standl.) A. C. Sm. Fig. 22 E–H

Virola multiflora (Standl.) A. C. Sm. Brittonia 2: 499. 1938.

Dialyanthera multiflora Standl. Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 8: 12. 1930. Type. [Belize] British Honduras. In jungle, Stann Creek Railway, alt. 30 m, 16 Jul 1929 [♂ fl], W. A. Schipp 279 (holotype: F!*; isotypes: A!*, BM!*, G-2 sheets!*, GH!*, K!*, MO!, S!*).

Virola brachycarpa Standl. Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 11: 131. 1932. Type. [Belize] British Honduras. Stann Creek Valley, 13 Jan 1932 [fr], J. A. Burns 20 (holotype: F!*; isotypes: BKL!*, G!*, US!*, WIS!*).

Distinctive characters.

Virola multiflora is recognised by its usually small and narrow leaf blades [5.5-15.5 × 1.5-3.6 (-4.8) cm] with an inconspicuously pubescent abaxial surface with stellate and sessile trichomes ( Fig. 3K ), lateral veins that are not very prominent ( Fig. 8K ) and long and thin petioles [0.5-0.9 (-1.1) cm long]; staminate flowers with the filament column longer (0.7-1 mm long) than the anthers (0.3-0.6 mm long); and for its small fruits [1.3-1.9 × 0.9-1.2 (-1.4) cm] ( Fig. 4J ) with the pericarp 0.7-1 mm thick.

Distribution.

Virola multiflora is known from Belize (Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo), Honduras (Gracias a Dios), Nicaragua ( Atlántico Norte, Atlántico Sur, Jinotega, Matagalpa and Río San Juan) and Costa Rica (Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia and Limón) ( Fig. 18E ). Throughout its range in Mesoamerica, it is only known from the Caribbean slope. It has been recorded from between 0-650 (-1400) m elevation.

While V. multiflora is not documented from Guatemala in herbaria, Standley and Steyermark (1946) postulated that the species is to be expected to occur in Izabal (Guatemala) and Jiménez (2007) attributes it to that country. Conversely, while it is mentioned as occurring in Peru by Jiménez (2007), specimens could not be located. The Peruvian specimen attributed to V. multiflora (R. Vásquez & C. Grández 17507, MO!; fr) in Vásquez M. et al. (2018) corresponds to a species related to V. multinervia . Finally, the report presented in the Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela ( Rodrigues 2008) is errorenous. Based on this evidence, V. multiflora is considered as restricted to Mesoamerica.

Common names.

Belize: banak, bastard banak. Honduras: asang banak, bának, banak almuk, báhanak luhpia, sangre, sebo álmut, sebo negro. Nicaragua: conchillo, samo. Costa Rica: fruta dorada.

Phenology.

Flowering of Virola multiflora has been recorded in March to August, with a noted peak in July; just one herbarium specimen with pistillate flowers was seen and it is from Nicaragua. Fruits were collected in December through April.

Field characters.

Plants are trees between 6-30 m tall and 17-35 cm DBH. Bark exudes latex red. The leaf blades are sometimes whitish abaxially. The flowers usually have yellow, golden or orange perianth. The mature fruit is yellow or orange with a red aril.

Notes.

We were not able to locate any Panamanian specimens of V. multiflora : all fertile Panamanian specimens identified as V. multiflora that the first author has studied are actually V. fosteri . However, V. multiflora is to be expected in Panama because it occurs in physiognomically similar forests in Costa Rica near the border. The similarities and differences between V. multiflora and V. fosteri (which is formally described above) are discussed under the latter species.

Selected specimens seen.

Belize. Cayo: Hummingbird Highway south of Belmopan, 200-300 ft [60-90 m] elev., 26 Jun 1973 (♂ fl), A. Gentry 8615 (MO!). Stann Creek: Big Eddy Ridge, [50-200 m elev.], 12 May 1940 (fl bud), P. H. Gentle 3333 (MO!); Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, 80 m elev., 17 Jan 2007 (fr), P. Hechenleitner 289 (MO!). Toledo: Between Rancho Chico and Cockscomb, no elev., 26 Mar 1943 (fl bud), P. H. Gentle 4342 (MO!); Big Creek, 100 ft [30 m] elev., 02 Dec 1931 (fl bud), W. A. Schipp 858 (MO-2 sheets!). Honduras. Gracias a Dios: 1 km al sureste de Krausirpe, pie de montaña de Wimpi, 90 m elev., 18 Feb 1994 (fr), P. R. House 1888 (MO!); transecto Botánico Cerro Krautara, 120 m elev., 16 Mar 1995 (♂ fl), P. R. House 2308 (MO!). Nicaragua. Atlántico Norte: El Salto, along Río Pis Pis, 100 m elev., 27 Feb 1979 (fr), J. J. Pipoly 3615 (MO!); 13 km above Kururia on road to San Jerónimo, 200 m elev., 02 Mar 1979 (♂ fl), J. J. Pipoly 3846 (MO!). Atlántico Sur: Nueva Guinea, Reserva Indio-Maíz, 200-300 m elev., 05 Jan 1999 (fr), R. Rueda et al. 9857 (MO!); 2 km de Colonia Serrano, Comarca El Escobillo, 80-100 m elev., 28 Jul 1982 (♀ fl), J. C. Sandino 3302 (MO!). Jinotega: Cua Bocay, Reserva de Bosawas, 278 m elev., 03 Oct 2005 (imm fr), I. Coronado et al. 2306 (MO!). Matagalpa: Río Blanco, Reserva Natural Cerro Musún, 500-1400 m elev., 15 Jul 2000 (♂ fl), R. Rueda & O. Caballero 14294 (MO!). Río San Juan: 1 km al NW del Río Santa Cruz, 60 m elev., 22 Feb 1984 (fr), P. P. Moreno 23253 (MO!); sobre el río Sábalo, 40 m elev., 07 Jul 1984 (♂ fl), P. P. Moreno & W. Robleto 25984 (MO!); Boca Negra, 120 m elev., 14 Feb 1990 (fr), P. P. Moreno 27266 (MO!, P!*); Estación Biológica Bartola, 50-100 m elev., 26 Jul 1998 (♂ fl), R. Rueda et al. 8196 (MO!); Estación Experimental La Lupe, 100 m elev., 22 Nov. 2000 (fr), R. Rueda & W. Velásques 15004 (MO!). Costa Rica. Alajuela: Corredor Fronterizo Costa Rica-Nicaragua, 2 km antes de Boca San Carlos, 0-100 m elev., 15 Mar 2004 (♂ fl), J. F. Morales 10322 (CR!, MO!). Cartago: 24 km northeast of Turrialba on highway to Limón, 450-525 m elev., 10 May 1983 (♂ fl), R. Liesner et al. 15390 (MO!). Heredia: Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, camino a Cerros Sardinal, Caño Negro, 71 m elev., 25 Jul 2016 (♂ fl), B. Hammel & I. Pérez 27148 (CR!); along Guácimo ridge trail, 315 m elev., 18 Jan 1983 (fr), G. S. Hartshorn 2553 (CR!, MO-2 sheets!). Limón: Siquirres, Fila Mirador, camino a Las Brisas de Pacuarito, 400 m elev., 13 Feb 2000 (fr), M. Blanco & A. Vega 1460 (USJ!); Bajo Telire, 400-600 m elev., n.d. July 1984 (♂ fl), L. D. Gómez 24151 (CR!, MO!); Talamanca, Finca La Culebra, a 1.5 km de camino Bribrí, 0-200 m elev., 26 Oct 1992 (fl), J. Gómez-Laurito & H. Gómez 12340 (USJ!); Matina, intersección de Río Barbilla y Quebrada Cañabral, 100-200 m elev., 11 Oct 1988 (imm fr), G. Herrera 2167 (MO!); Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Lomas de Sierpe, 100 m elev., 15 Aug 1988 (♂ fl), R. Robles et al. 2063 (MO!); Sixaola, San Miguel, camino entre Fila Tsipubeta y Cerro Mirador, 200-300 m elev., 12 Nov 1999 (fl), O. Valverde & S. Hernández 1237 (CR!, USJ!).

Figures

Figure 3. Trichomes in Mesoamerican Virola A Virola allenii (R. Aguilar 2224, MO) B V. amistadensis (G. McPherson 8703, MO) C V. chrysocarpa (O. Valverde 970, MO) D V. elongata (G. McPherson 13674, MO) E V. fosteri (G. McPherson 20913, MO) F V. guatemalensis (R. Cedillo 3349, MO) G V. koschnyi (R. E. Gereau et al. 3455, MO) H V. laevigata (R. Aguilar 2004, MO) I V. megacarpa (J. A. Duke 15261, MO) J V. montana (E. Bello 855, MO) K V. multiflora (R. Rueda et al. 8196, MO; inset, J. C. Sandino 3302, MO) L V. nobilis from Barro Colorado (R. J. Schmalzel 320, MO) M V. otobifolia (G. de Nevers & H. Herrera 7056, MO) N V. sebifera (F. Almeda et al. 5553, MO) O V. nobilis from Osa Peninsula (R. Aguilar 11186, MO).

Figure 4. Fruits of Mesoameican Virola, organised in groups of morphologically similar species A V. allenii (P. H. Allen 6727, GH) B V. amistadensis (G. McPherson 9715, MO) C V. otobifolia (A. Gentry & S. Mori 14199, MO) D V. macrocarpa (A. E. Lawrance 675, MO) E V. chrysocarpa (B. Hammel et al. 16864, MO) F V. koschnyi (R. Robles 1587, MO) G V. guatemalensis (S. Sinaca 1542, MO) H V. montana (J. Utley & K. Utley 5054, MO) I V. fosteri (S. Mori & J. Kallunki 4891, MO) J V. multiflora (R. Rueda et a. l 9960, MO) K V. sebifera (T. B. Croat 5959, MO) L V. elongata (J. D. Dwyer & M. Correa 8420, MO) M V. laevigata (R. Aguilar 1585, MO) N V. nobilis from Barro Colorado (T. B. Croat 8090, MO) O V. nobilis from the Osa Peninsula (G. Herrera 4222, MO) P V. megacarpa (G. de Nevers 5184, MO). Scale bars: 1 cm.

Figure 8. Pattern of the lateral veins in Mesoamerican Virola A Virola allenii (K. Thomsen 1284, NO) B V. amistadensis (G. McPherson 8703, MO) C V. chrysocarpa (B. Hammel et al. 16864, MO) D V. elongata (M. Correa & R. L. Dressler 1078, MO) E V. fosteri (G. de Nevers 7226, MO) F V. guatemalensis (G. Ibarra 957, MO) G V. koschnyi (J. Miller & J. C. Sandino 1110, MO) H V. laevigata (N. Zamora & T. D. Pennington 1583, MO) I V. megacarpa (G. de Nevers 5184, MO) J V. montana (E. Lepiz & J. F. Morales 284, MO) K V. multiflora (J. Manzanares 3561, MO) L V. nobilis from Barro Colorado (R. J. Schmalzel 320, MO) M V. otobifolia (G. de Nevers et al. 7530, MO) N V. sebifera (T. B. Croat 5959, MO) O V. nobilis from Osa Peninsula (R. Aguilar 11186, MO).

Figure 18. Geographic distribution of Virola koschnyi (A), V. laevigata (B), V. megacarpa (C), V. montana (D), V. multiflora (E) and V. nobilis (F).

Figure 22. Virola montana A juvenile tree showing branching pattern B leaf blades on adaxial side C leaf blades on abaxial side D venation. Virola multiflora. E Branch with staminate inflorescences, inset showing twig and flowers F twig, leaf blade on abaxial surface and inflorescences, inset showing immature fruit G lateral view of a perianth H close-up of staminate flowers. Photos by J. Esteban Jimenez (A-D); B. Hammel (E-H), Indiana Coronado (F, inset).