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(Last Modified On 1/22/2013)
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(Last Modified On 1/22/2013)
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Genus
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COUSSAPOA Aubl.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Hist. P1. Guian. Fr. 2:955. 1775.
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Description
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Dioecious trees, usually epiphytic when juvenile. Leaves spiral, basifixed, entire to more or less definitely undulate or crenate; stipules fully amplexicaul, leaving a scar completely surrounding the stem. Inflorescences usually paired at the nodes, the staminate dichotomously compounded small globular heads, the pistillate superficially simple or (in C. magnifolia) obscurely compound heads. Staminate flowers with 4 (-3) free tepals and 2 completely fused stamens. Pistillate flowers tubular or clavate, the limb thickened and calyptriform and minutely porous much as in Cecropia, the ovary superior, with a barely exserted penicillate stigma. Fruit a scantily fleshy syncarp.
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Habit
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tree
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Note
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About 30 species ranging from southern Mexico to Brazil and Peru. Coussapoa resembles Ficus in its frequently epiphytic germination and strangling habit, but it is less aggressive in the latter trait. The hollow branches frequently are inhabited by ants.
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Key
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a. Leaves more or less deeply cordate, the venation subpalmate, with 6-8 pairs of upper secondaries, the tertiaries prominently dendroid and forming a coarse and irregular reticulum; pistillate heads obscurely compound, 2- to 4-lobed. ---------------------------------------1. C. MAGNIFOLIA aa. Leaves obtuse or rounded at the base, rarely truncate or obscurely cordate, the venation typically and closely pinnate with 10-20 pairs of secondaries, the tertiaries densely parallel and forming a delicate uniform reticulum; pistillate heads apparently simple, spherical. b. Pistillate heads long-pedunculate; leaves persistently arachnoid- tomentellous beneath .---------- -- 2. C. PANAMENSIS bb. Pistillate heads subsessile or very shortly pedunculate; leaves nearly glabrate beneath. - .-------------------.--..---3. C. BREVIPES
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