Oxandra mediocris Diels

Junikka, L., Maas, P. J. M., Maas-van de Kamer, H. & Westra, L. Y. Th., 2016, Revision of Oxandra (Annonaceae), Blumea 61 (3), pp. 215-266 : 243-245

15. Oxandra mediocris Diels — Fig. 13c, d, 16; Map 7

Oxandra mediocris Diels (1905) 125. — Type: Ule 5796 (holo B; iso F, G, HBG, K 2 sheets, MO, S), Brazil, Acre, Rio Jurua-Mirim , Sept. 1901.

Oxandra acuminata Diels (1906) 410. — Type: Weberbauer 1897 (holo B), Peru, Junín,Prov.Tarma,near La Merced (in Chanchamayo valley ), 1000 m, Dec. 1902.

Tree 6–30 m tall, 10–70 cm diam; young twigs densely covered with appressed to semierect hairs, soon glabrous. Leaves: petiole 1–3 mm long, 1–2 mm diam; lamina narrowly elliptic to narrowly obovate, 5–10 by 2–3 cm (leaf index 2.7–3.3), coriaceous, densely to sparsely verruculose above and below, dull and often greyish brown above, greyish brown below, glabrous above, sparsely covered with appressed hairs below, base acute, apex acuminate (acumen 20–30 mm long), primary vein flat to impressed above, secondary veins indistinct, 9–15 on either side of primary vein, raised above, angle of secondary veins with primary vein 45–65°, smallest distance between loops and margin 1–2 mm, tertiary veins flat above, reticulate. Flowers in 1(–3)-flowered inflorescences; pedicels 2–3 mm long, 0.5–1 mm diam, fruiting pedicels 2–5 mm long, 1– 2 mm diam, rather densely covered with appressed hairs to glabrous; bracts 4–5, depressed ovate, 0.5–1 mm long, outer side densely to rather densely covered with appressed hairs; flowers bisexual or rarely male (plant androdioecious); flower buds ellipsoid; sepals broadly ovate-triangular, c. 1 by 1 mm, outer side rather densely covered with appressed hairs; petals green, yellow, or white in vivo, narrowly elliptic, 6–9 by 2–3 mm, outer side sparsely to rather densely covered with appressed hairs; stamens 10–25, c. 2.5 mm long, apex of connective narrowly triangular; carpels ≤ 12. Monocarps 7–12, green, maturing yellow to orange and black in vivo, black in sicco, ellipsoid, 10–15 by 7–10 mm, glabrous, apex apiculate (apiculum <0.5 mm long) or not, wall 0.3–0.4 mm thick, stipes 3–5 by 1–1.5 mm. Seed ellipsoid, 10–12 by 5–8 mm, pale reddish brown, surface minutely pitted to transversely striate, ruminations spiniform.

Distribution — Colombia (Amazonas, Caquetá,Bolivar, Meta), Ecuador (Napo, Pastaza, Sucumbios, Orellana), Peru (Amazonas, Huánuco, Junín, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Ucayali), Bolivia (La Paz, Pando), Brazil (Acre, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia).

Habitat & Ecology — In non-inundated or periodically inundated (igapó, tahuampa or várzea) forest. At elevations of 0–350(–1700) m. Flowering: all year through; fruiting: all year through.

Vernacular names — Bolivia: Piraquina (DeWalt 16), Piraquina colorada (L. Vargas et al. 146), Sipiko (Tacana name, DeWalt 16). Brazil: Vassourinha ( Daly et al. 8782). Colombia: Faak+o cugao (Muinane name, Murillo & Rodríguez A. 562). Ecuador: Anshilo caspi (Quichua name, Gudiño & Andi 2086), Moncataweimo (Huaorani name, Dik & Andi 934), Uñitahue (Huaorani name, Aulestia & Ima 1578). Peru: Espintana (KrÖll Saldaña 536, 537, 538, 540, 648, 650, 655, 657, 754, 762, 771, 777, Tello E. 331, 513, 1118, 1150, 1291), Espintana negra ( Flores & Tello E. 435, 523, 546, 649, 724, 775, 2053, KrÖll Saldaña 146, 157, 183, 545, 664, Tello E. 2942, 2968), Kepiseróki (Weiss 184), Micha (Ese-ejha) (Alexiades et al. 98, 112, 160, 164, 197, 203, 274, 291, 295, 322, 367), Pintana (Alexiades et al. 203), Pintana colorada (Alexiades et al. 152),

Fig. 16 Oxandra mediocris Diels. Flowering twig ( Timaná 2327, U).

Pintana negra (Alexiades et al. 98, 112, 160, 164, 197, 274, 291, 295, 322, 367).

Uses — Element for house beams and poles (Alexiades et al. 98, Peru); wood used for house rafters ( Daly et al. 8782, Bolivia); corteza fuerte, facil para sacar panchos (DeWalt 16, Bolivia); construcción para casa y armasón (DeWalt 16, Bolivia); con el tronco se elaboran vigas para construir viviendas ( Colombia: Sánchez Sáenz 1997); se utiliza para hacer casas (Tunqui 192, Peru).

Note — Oxandra mediocris is recognizable by its small leaves, ellipsoid flower buds, and distinctly stipitate monocarps (stipes 3–5 mm long). It resembles some small-leaved species of Xylopia (and therefore is sometimes confused with that genus).