25. Guatteria brevipetiolata Maas & Westra — Map 6

Guatteria brevipetiolata Maas & Westra in Erkens et al. (2008) 478, f. 4. —

Type: T.D. Pennington et al. 14941 (holo U 2 sheets; iso K 2 sheets), Ecuador, Esmeraldas, Anchayacu, Eloy Alfaro, Mayronga, 100–250 m, 14 Apr. 1994.

Guatteria sp. 5 Chatrou et al. (1997) 110.

Tree or shrub 3–20 m tall, to c. 30 cm diam, slash orange-brown; young twigs densely covered with erect and appressed, pale brown, somewhat curly hairs. Leaves: petiole 2– 5 mm long, 1–3 mm diam; lamina narrowly oblong-elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 16–28 by 7.5–10 cm (leaf index 2.6–3.2), chartaceous, not verruculose, shiny, green above, green below, sparsely covered with erect and appressed, pale brown, somewhat curly hairs above, rather densely covered with erect and appressed, pale brown, somewhat curly hairs below, base obtuse, sometimes oblique, apex acute to shortly and very gradually, bluntly acuminate (acumen 5–10 mm long), primary vein impressed above, secondary veins distinct, 10–15 on either side of primary vein, raised above, smallest distance between loops and margin 2–3 mm, tertiary veins raised above, reticulate. Flowers 1– 2-flowered inflorescences in axils of or on leafless branchlets; pedicels 30–55 mm long, 1–2 mm diam, densely to rather densely covered with erect and appressed, pale brown, somewhat curly hairs, articulated at 0.1–0.2 from the base, bracts 4–6, soon falling; flower buds not seen; sepals free, ovate, 6–7 by 4–5 mm, spreading to reflexed, outer side densely covered with appressed hairs; petals pale green, greenish brown or greenish red in vivo, oblong-elliptic to narrowly oblong-elliptic, 13–20 by 5–11 mm, outer side densely covered with mostly appressed hairs; stamens 1.5–2 mm long, connective shield papillate, hairy or glabrous. Monocarps and seed not seen (but on label of Aulestia & Gonti 1736: ‘frutos jovenes cremas’).

Distribution — Ecuador (Esmeraldas, Napo).

Habitat & Ecology — In primary forest, on red, clayey soil. At elevations of 60– 250 m. Flowering: February to April; fruiting: February (?).

Vernacular name — Ecuador: Oitahumo (Aulestia & Gonti 1736).

Note — Guatteria brevipetiolata can be recognized by a short petiole, an oblique and obtuse leaf base, a bluntly acuminate leaf apex and long-pedicellate flowers.