Chrysobalanus icaco

Barros, Natália, Menezes, Luis Fernando Tavares de, Sothers, Cynthia & Peixoto, Ariane Luna, 2025, Flora of Espírito Santo: Chrysobalanaceae, Rodriguesia (e 00872024) 76, pp. 1-39 : 4

1.1. Chrysobalanus icaco L., Sp. Pl. 1: 513. 1753.

Figs. 1 a-b; 2

Shrub to subshrub, prostrate to erect, to 1.5 m tall; branches glabrous, lenticellate. Leaves widely elliptic to rounded, 4–5.5 × 3–4.7 cm, chartaceous, discolorous, stomatal crypts absent, base cuneate, apex rounded to subcordate, glabrous on both sides, eglandular, midrib glabrous on both sides, impressed adaxially and prominent abaxially, primary veins 5–7 pairs, glabrous; petiole 2.5–5 mm long, terete, glabrous, eglandular; stipules 2, triangular to lanceolate, caducous, 1–2 mm long.

Inflorescence axillary to terminal, compound cymes, puberulent; bracts triangular to lanceolate, ca. 2 mm long, puberulent; bracteoles triangular to lanceolate, ca. 1 mm long, glabrescent adaxially and puberulent abaxially. Flowers 7–8 mm long, puberulent, pedicel 1–1.5 mm long; receptacle campanulate, ca. 1.5 mm long, sericeous inside; sepals triangular, 1.5–3 mm long, pubescent inside; petals 5, lanceolate, ca. 5 mm long, glabrous, white; stamens 15–20, filaments 3.5–6 mm long, inserted in a complete circle, exserted, tomentose; ovary 1.5 mm, sericeous to tomentose, at base of the receptacle; style ca. 7.5 mm long, tomentose. Drupe ellipsoid, 2.2–2.4 × 1.7–1.9 cm; epicarp glabrous to glabrescent, red or vinaceous.

Selected material examined: Aracruz, Rebio de Comboios , restinga holocênica, formação arbustiva aberta não inundável, 4.XII.2018, fl., O.J. Pereira 8644 ( SAMES) . Conceição da Barra, estrada entre Guriri e Farol , 3.X.2016, fr., K.S. Valdemarin 197 ( ESA, RB) ; Itaúnas, vegetação de restinga sobre dunas, com elevação de até 30 m, distante do mar aproximadamente 80 m, dunas localizadas depois da ponte do Rio Itaúnas , na direção de Riacho Doce, 6.X.2007, fl., A. Giaretta 239 ( RB, SAMES, VIES) . Guarapari , X.1980, fr., B. Weinberg 692 ( RB, SPF) ; Praia do Sol , 13.IX.1986, fl., L.D. Thomaz 15 ( RB, VIES) ; Parque Estadual Paulo Cesar Vinha , 15.V.2017, fr., R.H. Mota 25 ( VIES) . Linhares, Pontal do Ipiranga , moita próxima a praia, 1.XI.2010, fl., M.C.F. Jesus 372 ( RB, SAMES, VIES) ; Rebio de Comboios , 20.III.1987, fl. and fr., O.J. Pereira 800 ( RB, VIES) . Presidente Kennedy, Praia das Neves , na restinga, propriedade da Ferrous, 30.V.2015, fr., I.G. Costa 642 ( RB) . São Mateus, Guriri, Mata de restinga próxima à foz do Rio São Mateus ( Cricaré ), à 14 km do Projeto Tamar , 5.IX.2008, fl., A. Giaretta 333 ( RB, SAMES, VIES) ; mata seca de restinga, localizado próximo ao Projeto Tamar , herbácea pós-praia, 25.IV.2010, fr., M.M. Monteiro et al. 227 ( RB, SAMES, VIES) . Vila Velha , 14.VI.1986, fl., M.A. Milanezi ( VIES908 ) .

The prostrate shrub to subshrub habit is a helpful character for Chrysobalanus icaco subsp. icaco , as it is not common in the family. It can also be recognized by the widely elliptic to rounded leaves with rounded to subcordate apex, completely glabrous on both surfaces and a red to vinaceous drupe. Collected with flowers throughout the year and fruits from May to July and October to December.

Chrysobalanus icaco is a widespread species, present in the African and American continent, typical from coastal areas ( Prance 1972). Chrysobalanus icaco subsp. icaco is the only one recognized in Brazil, and it occurs in the states of Alagoas, Amapá, Bahia, Ceará, EspÍrito Santo, Maranhão, Pará, ParaÍba, PiauÍ, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo ( Sothers & Prance 2023a). In EspÍrito Santo it has been recorded in restinga, in the municipalities of Aracruz, Conceição da Barra, Guarapari, Linhares, Presidente Kennedy, São Mateus and Vila Velha. It occurs in four protected areas (Área de Proteção Ambiental de Conceição da Barra, Parque Estadual de Itaúnas, Parque Estadual Paulo César Vinha and Reserva Biológica de Comboio) and is not considered threatened.

Some research shows its medicinal properties and reports on its use in traditional medicine, with antiangiogenic, diurectic and reduction of blood glucose effects (Feitosa et al. 2012). As a result, this species is commercialized in local markets and is sometimes confused with Eugenia astringens Cambess. ( Myrtaceae ), due to the rounded leaf shape (Silva & Peixoto 2009).

The common name for this species is maçãde-praia (B Weinberg 692).