Cecropiaceae: Coussapoa and Pourouma, with an ... - CNCFlora

16 Flora Neotropica
Table I
Extremes in a morphological character series in
Coussapoa, inferred to be primitive and derived
respectively.
Primitive states Derived states
Lamina broadly ovate Lamina narrowly obovate
Basal lateral veins Basal lateral veins unbranched
branched
Lateral veins numerous Lateral veins few
Petiole long
Petiole short
Stipules long Stipules short
Indument with all types Indument less diverse
of hairs and ? dense and + sparse
Inflorescences repeatedly Inflorescences unbranched
branched
Interfloral bracts present Interfloral bracts absent
Stamens 3 Stamen 1
number of stamens in arranging the species, since
for about one-third of the species recognized material
belonging to only one sex is known.
Acceptance of the number of stamens as the
basis for subdividing the genus would imply the
occurrence of parallel (or homologous) differentiation
of many characters, e.g., in the differentiation
of the leaf shape, dimensions, venation,
indumentum, and length of the petiole, in three
groups of species (judging from the comparison
of characters in the taxa of which the number of
stamens is known).
Taxonomy
1. Coussapoa Aublet, Hist. pl. Guiane 2: 955.
1775; Trecul, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Ser. 3, 8: 92.
1847; Miquel, Fl. bras. 4(1): 131. 1853; Macbride,
Publ. Field Mus. Bot. 13(2.2): 295. 1937;
Woodson & Schery, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard.
47: 168.
dominance of"derived" characters in others
1960; Berg, Fl. Suriname 5(1): 279.
(e.g.,
C. cinnamomifolia, C. trinervia, and C. viridi-
1975; Burger, Fieldiana Bot. 40: 131. 1977;
Akkermans &
folia), with the majority of the species some-
Berg, Proc. Kon. Ned. Akad.
Wetensch. Ser.
where in between. A few species have
C, 85(4): 441. 1982. Lectotype
exceptional
characters: C. trinervia has a truly terrestrial hab- species (Berg, Fl. Suriname 5(1): 279. 1975):
it, C. parviceps has fused pistillate flowers; C.
Coussapoa latifolia Aublet.
contorta has domatium-like cavities in the axils Hemi-epiphytic (or epiphytic) or terrestrial
of the lateral veins; C. asperifolia has abruptly trees or shrubs with aerial roots or stilt-roots.
thickened twigs with wide cavities and, more- Leaves in spirals, entire, venation pinnate to triover,
a thick mucilaginous mesocarp, and C. pur- nervate, margin entire to subcrenate, stipules
pusii is (often?) deciduous.
fused, fully amplexicaul, usually leaving oblique
The difference in the number of stamens ap- scars. Inflorescences mostly in pairs in the leaf
pears to be a promising basis for the arrangement axils, branched or in pistillate ones often unof
the species or the subdivision of the genus. branched, bracteate (mostly only with interfloral
The significance of these differences lies not only bracts) or ebracteate. Flowers in globose (to elin
the absence of transitions but also in the dis- lipsoid or clavate) terminal heads, free or pistiltribution
ranges: the predominance of species with late ones sometimes connate, perianth tubular,
3-staminate flowers in Central America and the in staminate flowers (2-)3(-4)-lobed, in pistillate
Pacific coastal region of Colombia and Ecuador; ones entire; stamens two or three and connate,
the predominance of species with 2-staminate or one; ovary free, stigma penicillate to subpelflowers
in eastern South America, especially east- tate. Fruit a drupelet or almost an achene, enern
Brazil; and the concentration of species with closed in the enlarged + fleshy perianth; seed
uni-staminate flowers in the Upper Amazon Ba- with endosperm, embryo straight with flat and
sin. It is not yet possible, however, to use the equal cotyledons and relatively short radicle.