Trichilia singularis C.DC.

Pennington, Terence D., 2016, Systematic Treatment Of American Trichilia (Meliaceae), Phytotaxa 259 (1), pp. 18-162 : 89-90

36. Trichilia singularis C.DC. in Mart., Fl. Bras. 11(1): 217 (1878); T. D.Penn., Fl. Neotrop. 28: 218 (1981). Type :— BRAZIL. Pará, banks of the Amazon, fl., Martius 2749 (lectotype, M, (designated FN 28: 219 (1981)). Map 42

For synonymy see FN 28: 218 (1981). Illustration: FN 28: 212, fig. 45 (1981). MAP 42. Distribution of Trichilia singularis C.DC. Solid dots, distribution pre-1981, open dots new records 1981–2010.

Abbreviated Description. Indumentum of appressed stiff medifixed hairs, leaflets 1–8, opposite to alternate, (2–)10 × (1–)3–22 × 6.5 cm, oblanceolate, elliptic, oblong or lanceolate, unifoliolate leaves usually with 2 minute appendages or tufts of hair at the base of the pulvinus; inflorescence 1–7(–12) cm long, a raceme or slender panicle with very short lateral branches, with flowers in small cymose fascicles, petals (4–)5(–6), (2–) 2.5–3 mm long, usually fused in the lower half, less frequently free, valvate, filaments completely fused in a staminal tube, margin with small teeth or lobes alternating with the anthers, anthers (9–)10(–11), ovary 2-locular, locules with 2 collateral ovules, capsule 1.5–2 cm long, 2-valved, narrowly ovoid to ellipsoid or rarely globose, smooth, papillose and with some appressed hairs, seeds 1–2, completely surrounded by a fleshy arillode.

Field Characters. Treelet or small tree to 10 m high, flowers whitish or pale cream, and capsule maturing olive or green, containing a single seed surrounded by a bright red or orange arillode. Flowering July to November, fruit maturing January to June.

Distribution & Ecology. Widespread across northern South America where it occurs along the Amazon and Orinoco and their tributaries. Not yet recorded from Ecuador. A plant of permanently and periodically flooded forest, recorded from both black water igapo and white water varzea, also river banks and wet savanna ( Bolivia) below 300 m elevation.

Representative Additional Collections. COLOMBIA. Amazonas: Parque Nacional Amacayacu, near Mocagua (SW0370), Gentry et al. 60764 (MO)).

VENEZUELA. Anzoategui: Municipio Independencia, Rio Orinoco, Las Galderas-El Guano (NW0863), Diaz & Acosta 6537 (MO). Apure: Distrito Munoz, Rio Apuré, between Brouzuel and Rio Paguey (NW0869), Ortega & Palacios 3273 (K).

PERU. Loreto: Prov. Requena, Yucuruchi, Rio Ucayali (SW0473), Vásquez 3215 (NY). Madre de Dios: Tambopata Province, Las Piedras, Cusco Amazónico (SW1269), Timaná 2361 (MO). Ucayali: Coronel Portillo, Yarinacocha, Cashivo cocha (SW0874), Graham & Schunke 384 (K).

BRAZIL. Amazonas: Rio Solimoes, Manacapurú (SW0360), Mori & Gracie 21877 (NY). Maranhão:Mineirinho, Rio Pindare (SW0345), Jangoux & Bahía 956 (MO). Pará: Lago de Monte Alegre (SW0254), Hornung 2-18-95 (K).

BOLIVIA. Beni: Prov. Ballivian, Estación Biológica del Beni (SW1466), Solomon 12402 (MO). Santa Cruz: Obispo Santiesteban, Rio Chame (SW1663), Pennington et al. 13272 (K).