Taxonomie : Espèce du groupe de
Sloanea latifolia (Rich.) K.Schum. 1886 (Pennington & Wise 2017).
D'après Molino
et al. (Adansonia, 44(26):
[345-]450[-903]. 13/12/2022): "Pennington &
Wise (2017: 77) placed
S. acutiflora in synonymy under
S. latifolia
(Rich.) K.Schum., arguing that they have the same floral morphology,
and that there are intermediate states throughout the range of
the species (i.e. most of Amazonia) in fruit spine development and
leaf shape; the typical form of
S. latifolia has long petiole and large
broad leaves with rounded bases while other “forms”, typified by
S.
acutiflora in the Guiana Shield and
S. inermis Ducke in Southern
and Western Amazonia, have smaller leaves with acute or cuneate
base and short petioles. Our observations contradict these statements.
In French Guiana, all specimens that correspond to the
Pennington and Wise concept of
S. latifolia can easily be separated
into two very distinct groups. In the first group, which includes the
original material (see Notes under
S. latifolia), trees have both buttresses
and stilt roots, petioles of very variable length on the same
branchlet, the longest 3-15 cm, and large leaves drying yellowish
brown, of variable size but frequently 20 cm long, with rounded to
obtuse, rarely cuneate base and a densely reticulate venation. Inflorescences
are large, well-developed many-flowered corymbs, flower
buds are slender, the base gradually attenuated on the pedicel, and
covered with a dense yellow tomentum. Fruit is up to 4.5 cm long,
brown, smooth, and seeds are surrounded by a white to pink aril
(Fig. 22D). Trees of the second group have buttresses but no stilt
roots. Petioles are shorter (usually < 1 cm, rarely 1-1.5 cm). Leaves
dry to a light green, and are much smaller (rarely up to 15 cm long),
with an acute-attenuated base, never round or obtuse, and a much
looser reticulum. Inflorescences are short, more or less cymose,
bearing 1-3 (-5) flowers. Buds are subglobose to ovoid, the base
abruptly reduced at the junction with the pedicel, the whitish, much
less dense pilosity making them appear greyish rather than yellow.
Fruit is red or pink, less than 2.5 cm long, sometimes covered with
sparse, short conic spines, and the aril is orange (Fig. 22A). This
last group corresponds with the type of
S. acutiflora. [...]
Although the distributions of these two groups overlap throughout
much of French Guiana (west, center and south), no intermediate
states have yet been found between the character syndromes defining
these two groups. It is also interesting to note that, except in
the extreme south of the territory (Tumuc-Humac Mounts), the
“typical”
S. latifolia form has never been found within 50 km of
the border with Suriname. In view of the above, the reinstatement
of
S. acutiflora appears necessary.
Type : "Das Material wurde im Reservat Brownsberg am Surinameflusze gesammelt, Baumnummer 1214 B B, blühend am 27. October 1923, Hb. No. 6298; fruchtend, am 11. Mai 1923, Hb. No. 6117 und 2. Mai 1924, Hb. No. 6460; Baumnummer 1124 BB am 23. März 1916, Hb. No. 1671 und fruchtend am 3. April, 1924, Hb. No. 6434.
Auszerdem von J. W. Gonggrijp am Tapanahoniflusz bei Malobbi, fruchtend am 9. März 1918, Hb. No. 3701. Einheimischer Namen: (arowakisch), Boesi koesoewe. Der Habitus erinnert lebhaft an eine Euphorbiacee,
Pogonophora Schomburgkiana Miers." [protologue].
Suriname, Brownsberg, arbre numéro 1214, 27/10/1923, fleurs. C.J. Zaandam BW-6298 (LT:
U0001682,
U0001683,
U0001684 [désigné par Pennington &
Wise, 77. 2017]; ILT: K,
L0013589,
RB00538334,
US00098537).
Suriname, Brownsberg, arbre numéro 1214, 23/03/1916, BW-1671 (ST: U?).
Suriname, Brownsberg, arbre numéro 1214, 11/05/1923, fruits. BW-6117 (ST: U?).
Suriname, Brownsberg, arbre numéro 1214, 03/04/1924, BW-6434 (ST: U?).
Suriname, Brownsberg, arbre numéro 1214, 02/05/1924, fruits. BW-6460 (ST: U?).
Suriname, fleuve Tapanahoni, près de Malobbi, 09/03/1918, fruits. Nom natif : (Arowakian), Boesi koesoewe. J.W. Gonggrijp BW-3701 (ST: U?).
Voir aussi les commentaires de Molino
et al. (Adansonia, 44(26):
[345-]450[-903]. 13/12/2022) qui indiquent et valident le fait que le lectotype choisit par Pennington & Wise (2017) soit bien constitué de trois planches.
