flora neotropica - CNCFlora

66 Flora Neotropica
Table II
Differences between species of the Couepia obovata species group
C. bernardii C. obovata C. reflexa C. sandwithii
Leaf laminae (cm) 9-16
Apex acuminate
Acumen length 2-8
4-10
apiculate or acuminate
2-5
11-14
acuminate
8-10
4.5-9
acuminate, rounded or
apiculate
5-6
(mm)
Flower
exterior
Leaves
sparsely puberulous
coriaceous
glabrous or sparsely
puberulous
chartaceous to coriaceous
sparsely puberulous
chartaceous
densely tomentellous
coriaceous
a single type collection it is still hard to evaluate. 6-6.2. Couepia monteclarensis Prance, sp. nov.
The other species appear to be separate. They Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Estagao Biologica
have distinct geographical distributions, al- Caratinga, 19 Feb 1984 (fl), M. A. Lopes 113
though C. obovata and C. bernardii are sympatric (holotype, BHCB; isotype, NY). Fig. 14.
in Amazonian Peru. C. obovata is much more
widespread, in Central Amazonia and the South
Species C. sandwithii et C. bernardii affinis,
inflorescentiis
of the Guianas, however. C. sandwithii is allolaxioribus,
floribus, cum pedicellis
articulatis munitis
patric, found in the Orinoco Delta region and
(1-5 mm longis), petiolis 8-
10 mm
Guyana. These species can be differentiated
longis diversa.
by
the characters given in Table II and in the
Tree, the young branches glabrous, conspicukey
which follows. In the original description of C.
ously lenticellate. Leaf lamina oblong, chartabernardii
(Prance, 1981) I referred two collecceous,
7.5-11 x 3.3-4.6 cm, subcuneate at base,
tions from Venezuela to that species. These two
apiculate at apex, the apex 4-6 mm long, glabrous
collections
above, with a short-brown-lanate
(Steyermark 87610,
pubes-
88108) actually cence
belong to C. sandwithii.
beneath; midrib prominulous above,
The species Couepia monteclarensis is also
prominent beneath; primary veins 8-10 pairs,
closely related to this group of species, but is
plane above, prominent beneath; petioles 8-10
mm
more distinct. For differences see under that long, glabrescent, canaliculate, with a single
gland on one side or eglandular. Stipules caspecies.
ducous (not seen). Inflorescences of terminal
panicles, 6-8 cm long, with a central rachis and
short dichotomous branches bearing 2 to 4 flow-
Key to Species of Couepia obovata ers, the rachis and branches gray-puberulous. Re-
Species Group
ceptacle cylindrical, 5-7 mm long, gray puberulous
externally, glabrous within except for
1. Flower exterior densely tomentellous, forming a deflexed hairs at
complete covering; leaf underside usually ferru-
throat; pedicels 3-5 mm long,
gineous-brown-tomentose C. sandwithii. articulated at middle and with lower part per-
1. Flower exterior glabrous or sparsely puberulous, sistent after flower dehiscence. Calyx lobes five,
not forming a complete covering; leaf underside rounded to slightly acute, 2-3 mm long, gray
gray-puberulous.
2.
puberulous on exterior. Petals
Leaves membranous, venation smooth and
five, white, glanot
reticulate beneath, the apex with long acubrous
except for ciliate margins. Stamens 18-20,
men 8-10 mm long
C. reflexa. inserted almost around complete circle. Ovary
2. Leaves chartaceous to thinly coriaceous, re- inserted near mouth of tube, lanate. Style hirsute
ticulate beneath with parallel secondary ve- for three-fourths of
nation, the
length. Young fruit ovoid;
apex bluntly acute to acuminate.
3. Leaf lamina 4-10 cm long, oblong to el- exocarp smooth, glabrous; mesocarp granular;
liptic, the apex acuminate C. obovata. endocarp bony, glabrous within.
3. Leaf lamina 9-16 cm long, obovate, the Distribution. Atlantic coast forest of Minas
apex usually apiculate C. bernardii. Gerais.