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(Last Modified On 1/14/2013)
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(Last Modified On 1/14/2013)
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Species
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COCCOLOBA CARACASANA Meisner
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PlaceOfPublication
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DC Prodr. 14:157. 1856-57.
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Synonym
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Coccoloba caracasana forma glabra Lindau, Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 13:211. 1890.
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Description
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Tree 2.5-12 m. tall; branches sulcate, hispid pubescent to puberulent or glabrous; ocreae 1-2.5 cm. long, membranaceous, often spreading pubescent, puberulent, glabrous or covered with resinous excretions; petioles borne at the base of the ocreae, 1-2 cm. long, pilose to puberulent or glabrous; leaf blades oval, ovate or orbicular, rarely oblong or elliptic, the apex obtuse, rounded or emarginate, the base usually rounded and slightly cordate, rarely narrowed and acute, 6 X 6, 8.5 X 9, 12 X 14, 14 X 12 to 15 X 10.5 cm. long and wide, coriaceous, glabrous above, pilose or hispid below to puberulent or glabrous, the pubescence most commonly persistent in the axils of the veins or on or along the midrib, veins 10 or 11 on each side; leaves of adventitious shoots borne at the base of the ocreae
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Habit
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Tree
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Description
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3.5 cm. long petioles to 4 cm. long with blades 37 X 25 cm. long and wide; inflorescefnce terminal, to 25 cm. long, the flowering nodes usually distinct, peduncle 2 cm. long, rachis pilose to puberulent, rarely glabrous, sulcate, bracts triangular, acute, 1 mm. long, pilose, ocreolae membranaceous and transparent, pilose to puberulent, spreading, staminate flowers in clusters of 3-4, pistillate flowers borne singly at each nodule, the rachis not swollen or directed below each flower cluster, hypanthium conical, pilose, 0.5 mm. long, the perianth lobes ovate, 1-1.5 mm. long and broad, the outer ones usually densely pilose, fertile stamens 1.5 mm. long, exserted, fertile pistil with exserted styles; fruit nearly globose, 5-6.5 mm. long, 5 mm. in diameter, the base rounded or narrowed to a short stalk when dry, the apex obtuse, the perianth lobes covering 23 of the achene or more, white when fresh, brown or black when dry; achene strongly trigonous, reddish-brown or black when fresh, dull dark brown when dry.
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Note
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Type: Meisner did not select a type in describing this species. Only one (Vargas 30*) of the many specimens he did cite is currently in the Prod. Herb. and this must be considered the lectotype. Local names: "ubero", "papaturro blanco". Collected in flower in February, March and April. Collected in fruit in April.
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Common
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ubero papaturro blanco
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Distribution
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Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela.
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Specimen
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CANAL ZONE: Ancon, Pittier 2730; Gorgas Memorial Lab., White io6; below Mira- flores Dam, Stern, Chambers, Dwyer & Ebinger 4; Rio Agua Salud near Frijoles, Piper 5848; Victoria Fill near Miraflores Locks, Allen I70I. CHIRIQUI: Progreso, Cooper & Slater 270. PANAMA: Sabanas Road, Gillespie P-34, 34a; Chepo, Klug 25. LOS SANTOS: La Jagua, Bartlett & Lasser i6382.
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Note
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Collectors have noted this species to be infested with biting, stinging ants. None of the specimens seen has a hollow pith or sufficient pith for ant quarters, and I suspect that the ants may be in the ocreae sheaths. This is the only species in Panama reported to have a sweet and edible fruit. Most species of Coccoloba have astringent fruit.
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