Licania Aubl.

Sothers, C. A., Prance, G. T., Chase, M. W. 2016. Towards a monophyletic Licania: a new generic classification of the polyphyletic Neotropical genus Licania (Chrysobalanaceae). Kew Bulletin 71:58. DOI 10.1007/S12225-016-9664-3.

Morphology General Habit

Trees

Morphology Leaves

Leaf lanate, pulverulent-furfuraceous, pulverulent-farinaceous, or glabrous, with or without stomatal cavities

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole with a pair of glands present or not

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles usually much shorter than or rarely equalling calyx, not enclosing flower buds

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences racemose panicles, panicles or spikes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2 – 7 (8 – 11), rarely more than 8 (8 – 11 only in L mollis, L stewardii and L majuscula), unilateral or less frequently inserted in a complete circle; filaments shorter than or equalling the calyx lobes, mostly free to base (a few species with filaments slightly connate at base) and glabrous or less often sparsely pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pilose, tomentose, hirsutulous, inserted at the base of receptacle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit globose to elliptic, to 10 × 6 cm, epicarp tomentose, pubescent, pulverulent, or smooth; endocarp glabrous or variously pilose within

Distribution

A genus of c. 100 species, two of which imperfectly known, distributed throughout Central and South America and in the Leeward Islands, from Mexico and Costa Rica to southeastern Brazil.

Note

The genus Licania s.s. (= core Licania) now comprises the former sections Licania, Cymosa and Pulverulenta of subgen. Licania, and the apetalous species of sect. Hymenopus of the previous classification, and three new species described since the last monograph of the family (Prance & Sothers 2003a, b). A priori here we have not circumscribed sections Cymosa and Pulverulenta, despite species appearing in subclades within the Licania clade, and these may in fact represent sections of Licania s.s., but at present we are not proposing any sections. Licania s.s. holds morphological affinities with Leptobalanus (both genera are apetalous), but differ in the number and the exsertion of stamens. In Fig. 1 Licania appears in a clade with Hirtella, and distant to Leptobalanus and Moquilea.