Desmopsis erythrocarpa Lundell

Schatz, G. E., Maas, P. J. M., Kamer, H. Maas-van de, Westra, L. Y. T. & Wieringa, J. J., 2018, Revision of the Neotropical genus Desmopsis (Annonaceae), Blumea 63 (1), pp. 67-86 : 75

8. Desmopsis erythrocarpa Lundell — Map 5

Desmopsis erythrocarpa Lundell (1974) 26. — Type: Contreras 5976 (holo LL; iso DUKE,ENCB,F), Guatemala, Petén, Cadenas,bordering Río Sarstun, in high forest of wet land, W of km 170 of Poptun Road , 14 Aug. 1966.

Tree or shrub 3–6 m tall, 2.5–5 cm diam; young twigs and petiole sparsely covered with appressed hairs. Leaves: petiole 2–8 mm long, 1–2 mm diam; lamina narrowly elliptic to elliptic, 8–22 by 3–8 cm, chartaceous, glabrous above, glabrous, but primary vein often densely covered with appressed hairs below, base acute to attenuate, apex long-acuminate (acumen 5–25 mm long), the extreme tip obtuse, primary vein impressed above, secondary veins 8–12 on either side of primary vein, slightly raised above, tertiary veins flat above, reticulate. Inflorescence and flower indument: pedicels and outer side of bracts, sepals, and petals sparsely to densely covered with appressed hairs. Inflorescences 1- or 2-flowered, leaf-opposed; flowering and fruiting pedicels 20–80 mm long, 0.5–1 mm diam; basal and upper bracts scale-like, broadly ovate-triangular, 1–3 mm long; sepals ovate-triangular, 3–12 by 3–4 mm, spreading to reflexed; petals green to yellow, subequal, linear to narrowly ovate-triangular 20–45 by 2–4 mm, margins revolute. Monocarps 5–15, pale green, yellow, maturing dark red, spherical to ellipsoid, 8–15 by 6–12 mm, sparsely covered with appressed hairs, soon glabrous, apex rounded, wall c. 0.5 mm thick, stipes 5–15 mm long, c. 1 mm diam, strongly verruculose. Seeds 1 or 2, in one row, subspherical or hemispherical, 8–10 by 5–8 mm, grooved.

Distribution — Belize and Guatemala.

Habitat & Ecology — Semi-evergreen forest, on limestone soil. At elevations of 45– 420 m. Flowering: May, June, August; fruiting: March, May.

Vernacular names — Guatemala:Anona ( Contreras 5976), Anonilla, Cabo de Hacha.

Note — Desmopsis erythrocarpa is recognized by long-acuminate leaves, non-foliaceous scale-like bracts, and small (8–15 by 6–12 mm), 1- or 2-seeded monocarps.