Oxandra panamensis R.E.Fr.

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 : 245

16. Oxandra panamensis R.E.Fr. — Fig. 13e, f, 17; Map 8

Oxandra panamensis R.E.Fr. (1931) 168, f. 5c. — Type: R.S. Williams 1017 (holo NY; iso NY, US), Panama, Marraganti and vicinity, 10–220 ft, 5 Apr. 1908.

Oxandra oblongifolia R.E.Fr. (1931) 169, f. 5d, syn. nov. — Type: Pennell 4633 (holo NY), Colombia, Bolívar , Tierra Alta, Río Sinu, 100–200 m, 7–10 Mar. 1918.

Tree or shrub 6–12 m tall, 6–15 cm diam; young twigs densely to rather densely covered with appressed to erect, brown hairs, soon glabrous. Leaves: petiole 2–5 mm long, 1–1.5 mm diam; lamina narrowly ovate to narrowly obovate, 7–14 by 2–4.5 cm (leaf index 2.8–4.2), chartaceous, densely to rather densely verruculose above and below, dull and greyish or brownish green above, brownish green to brown below, glabrous above, rather densely to sparsely covered with appressed, white hairs, mainly on the primary vein below, base acute to obtuse, rarely with two angular to tooth-like projections on either side when young, apex long-acute to acuminate (acumen 5–15 mm long), primary vein impressed to flat above, secondary veins indistinct, 14–17 on either side of primary vein, raised to flat above, angle of secondary veins with primary vein 65–80°, smallest distance between loops and margin 1–3 mm, tertiary veins flat above, reticulate. Flowers in 1–3-flowered inflorescences; flowering pedicels 2–3 mm long, c. 1 mm diam, fruiting pedicels 2–6 mm long, 1–3 mm diam, rather densely covered with appressed hairs to glabrous; bracts 4–6, depressed ovate, 1–2 mm long, outer side densely covered with appressed hairs to glabrous; flowers bisexual or male (plant androdioecious); flower buds ellipsoid; sepals broadly to shallowly ovate-triangular, 1–2 by 1.5–2.5 mm, outer side rather densely to sparsely covered with appressed hairs; petals cream in vivo, elliptic, 5–6 by 2.5–3 mm, outer side rather densely covered with appressed hairs;

Map 8 Distribution of Oxandra panamensis (●) and O. polyantha (●).

stamens c. 12, c. 1.5 mm long, apex of connective narrowly triangular; carpels not seen. Monocarps 5 – 25, green, maturing yellow, orange to purple-black in vivo, black in sicco, ovoid, obovoid, ellipsoid, or globose, 12–22 by 9–13 mm, glabrous, apex apiculate (apiculum 0.1–0.5 mm long), wall 0.5–1 mm thick, stipes 1–7 by 1 mm. Seed ellipsoid, 10–15 by 7–10 mm, brown, surface transversely striate, ruminations spiniform or peg-shaped.

Distribution — Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia (Antioquia, Bolívar, Boyacá, Chocó).

Habitat & Ecology — In lowland, tropical non-inundated moist forest. At elevations of 0–1000 m. Flowering: February to April; fruiting: all year through.

Vernacular names — Panama: Uichur-chichit (Kuna name, Dalle 201), Yaya (Duke 6533, 8046, Stern et al. 945), Yaya negra (Duke 14242).

Uses — Wood a good one for canoe poles (Duke 14242, Panama).

Note — Oxandra panamensis , including O. oblongifolia , comes close to O. xylopioides . For differences between both species see under the latter.