Peru. Amazonas: Bagua, distrito Imaza, Comunidad Aguaruna Putuim (anexo Yamayakat), zona de colinas altas 24SW de Putuim, [05°00'47"S, 078°23'20"W], 700 m, 22 Sep 1994 (fr), C. Díaz, A. Peña, & P. Ataim 7195 (holotype: MO! [accession 04808693, barcode MO-1405111]; isotypes: UPCB [n.v.]). Fig. 5

Figure 5. 

Virola aguarunana A branch with staminate inflorescence, including detail of abaxial leaf surface B partial staminate inflorescence C staminate perianth, with detail of trichomes (left) D medial sections of staminate perianth, showing the internal surface and androecium, with a closeup of the filament column and anthers (right) E fruit with detail of trichomes (left), with open fruit showing laciniate aril. Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on C. Díaz et al. 7700A (A–E; MO) and C. Díaz et al. 7195 (F; MO).

Virola aguarunana was mainly confused with V. calophylla. Both species share stellate and sessile trichomes and well-separated lateral veins. Morphologically, it differs because the new species has sparsely pubescent abaxial leaf surface (vs. densely pubescent), long staminate perianth ([2–] 2.5–2.7 mm vs. 1–2.1 mm long), and fruits that are covered by a dense layer of trichomes (vs. covered with an inconspicuous layer of trichomes).

Tree 16–20 m tall, diameter and inner bark not described. Exudate transparent, oxidizing to red, location of exudate on plant not stated. Twigs 0.18–0.27 cm thick, terete to slightly angled, tomentose to puberulent, trichomes dendritic, sessile, brown to ferruginous, sometimes slightly lenticellate. Leaves young terminal bud 0.8–1 × 0.16–0.18 cm; petiole 0.9–1.5 (–1.7) × 0.18–0.28 cm, slightly canaliculate, sometimes with very short alate, tomentose, the trichomes dendritic or sometimes stellate; leaf blades (10.7–) 14–22.7 × 4–8.5 cm, oblong-elliptic to ovate; adaxial surface of mature leaves that dry pale to dark brown or blackish, the surface smooth, sometimes shiny, glabrous; abaxial surface dries grayish pale to dark brown, sparsely pubescent, the trichomes stellate or sometimes stellate with dendriform trichomes along the main veins, the stellate trichomes 0.1–0.15 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome reddish, the branches pale brown-reddish or colorless; lateral veins 13–16 per side, 4–6 per 5 cm, spaced 0.8–1.1 (–1.5) cm, on adaxial side, the same color as the adaxial surface, flat, on abaxial surface raised, laterally compressed, tomentose, arcuate-ascending, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins slightly visible on both leaf surfaces; midvein adaxially flat to slightly elevated, abaxially raised, rounded, laterally compressed or something triangular, tomentose; base acute to rounded, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex acuminate. Staminate inflorescences 2.2–2.5 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, the trichomes dendritic, ferruginous; peduncle 0.8–1.1 × 0.1–0.2 cm; main axes with 5 ramifications, the first pair opposite, the others alternate; bracts not seen. Staminate flowers (in bud) in dense terminal fascicles of 8–16+ flowers, borne on a receptacle (2–) 3.5–4.5 mm wide; perianth (2–) 2.5–2.7 mm long, obovate, fleshy, brown to brown greenish, connateconnate by 1.3–1.6 mm long, 1.3–1.6 mm long, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous dendritic trichomes, internal surface moderately pubescent on the lobes; lobes 3, 0.9–1.2 (–1.4) × 0.3–0.8 mm and 0.1–0.2 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; stamens 3, the filament column 0.4–0.5 mm long and ca. 0.2–0.3 mm wide, glabrous, straight or rarely as a bottle shape, not constricted at the apex; anthers 0.6–0.9 mm long and 0.2–0.4 mm wide; apiculus 0.1–0.2 mm long or appearing absent (R. Rojas et al. 486), obtuse, connate. Pistillate inflorescences and pistillate flowers not seen. Infructescence 3.4–5 cm long, with 1–2 fruits, peduncle 1.5–2 cm × 0.35–0.46 cm. Fruits 2.9–3.5 × 1.8–2.2 cm, green or brown (probably due to pubescence) when fresh, pyriform to subglobose (with narrow base), stipitate, densely tomentose, the trichomes dendritic (ca. 0.2 mm long), ferruginous, and falling easily to the touch as dust, the surface slightly rugose, the line of dehiscence smooth to slightly carinate, the base obtuse, the apex acute to obtuse; pericarp 2–2.5 mm thick; pedicel 0.5–0.6 cm long. Seed ca. 2 × 1.6 the testa drying brownish reddish, grooved; aril color when fresh not described, blackish to brownish reddish when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

Virola aguarunana is recognized by its very short staminate inflorescences (2.2–2.5 cm long) with dense fascicles of flowers, relatively thin perianth that is externally densely pubescent and internally moderately pubescent, and a filament column that is shorter (0.4–0.5 mm long) than the anthers (0.6–0.9 mm long). It is further distinguished by its pyriform to subglobose fruits covered with ferruginous trichomes (Fig. 6A) that fall easy to the touch and leaf blades usually that are narrow with well-separated later veins and scattered pubescence of stellate and sessile trichomes, on the abaxial surface (Fig. 4A).

Figure 6. 

Comparison of fruits of newly described Virola species, with those species that are morphologically similar to them, noting the shape, indument, a pericarp thickness A V. aguarunana (C. Díaz et al. 7195, MO) B V. alvaroperezii (D. Rubio et al. 2205, MO) C V. bombuscaroensis (J. Homeier 4507, MO) D V. calimensis (M. Monsalve 158, MO) E V. calophylla (J. J. Pipoly 15614, MO) F V. calophylloidea (S. R. Lowrie et al. 54, MO) G V. cogolloi (D. Cárdenas & E. Alvarez 3239, MO) H V. macrocarpa (A. E. Lawrance 675, MO) I V. excisa (W. Palacios 3186, MO) J V. obovata (R. Vásquez & N. Jaramillo 3822, MO) K V. peruviana (D. N. Smith & V. García 13841, MO). L V. parkeri (A. Monteagudo et al. 10761, MO) M V. yasuniana (Á. Pérez & W. Santillán 4361, MO; right and below from V. Zak & S. Espinoza 5149, MO) N V. tuckerae (Á. Cogollo et al. 3924, COL). Scale bars: 1 cm.

The specific epithet honors the Aguaruna people, who live in the area where this species was collected.

Virola aguarunana is known only from the Amazonas Department of Peru (Fig. 18A). This tree has been collected along creek margins on rocky soils with abundant organic material at 700–800 m elevation. The region is also home to other notable species, including many magnoliids— Compsoneura diazii Janovec (Myristicaceae), Cremastosperma bullatum Pirie, Cremastosperma yamayakatense Pirie (Annonaceae), Ocotea imazensis van der Werff, Ocotea leptophylla van der Werff (Lauraceae)— as well Dacryodes uruts-kunchae Daly, M. C. Martínez & D. A. Neill (Burseraceae) and Quipuanthus epipetricus Michelang. & C. Ulloa (Melastomataceae), among many others.

Staminate buds and flowers of Virola aguarunana have been recorded in January, October, and November; pistillate flowers were not seen in the studied material. Fruits have been collected in August and September.

No common names or uses are mentioned among the herbarium specimens observed.

Virola aguarunana is Endangered following IUCN criteria B1a and B2a. It is known from two localities, has an EOO of 98 km², and an AOO of 12 km². Further justifying this status, this very small distribution is combined with occurrence in areas known to be impacted by forest declines driven by shifting agriculture demands (Antonelli 2022). Of the few species we were able to verify, the most recent was collected in 1997.

Most of the specimens of Virola aguarunana were previously determined as V. calophylla or V. sebifera, both widely distributed in South America. The new species shares some characteristics with V. calophylla, including a mixture of stellate and sessile trichomes and well-separated lateral veins (a feature shared with V. sebifera). However, V. aguarunana can be distinguished by its sparsely pubescent abaxial leaf surface (vs. densely pubescent; Fig. 4A, E), longer staminate perianth ([2–] 2.5–2.7 mm vs. 1–2.1 mm long), a filament column that is shorter than the anthers (vs. longer than anthers), and fruits that are covered by a dense layer of trichomes (vs. covered with an inconspicuous layer of trichomes; Fig. 6A, E). Virola aguarunana shares the following traits with V. sebifera: a filament column that is shorter than the anthers, fruits covered by a dense layer of trichomes, and the same leaf traits as shared with V. calophylla. The new species differs from V. sebifera, by the sessile trichomes on the abaxial leaf surface (vs. usually pediculate; compare with Fig. 4M) and larger fruits (2.9–3.5 × 1.8–2.2 cm vs. 1–1.9 [–2.1] × 0.7–1.4 [–1.7] cm). Additionally, V. aguarunana can be differentiated in both species for its short and narrow staminate inflorescences with flowers borne in dense terminal fascicles. Further, V. calophylla and V. sebifera tend to have larger leaf blades.

The only seed that could be measured is from one of the two fruits of the specimen C. Díaz et al. 7195 (MO), which is not well preserved. The typical seed size for V. aguarunana is likely larger than presented here.

The specimen D. Neill & Dendrology course students 15280 (MO; fr), from Cordillera del Cóndor, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador may correspond to this species, though it is difficult to tell without flowers.

Peru. Amazonas: comunidad Aguaruna Putuim, anexo de Yamayakat, 700–750 m, 19 Jan 1996 (♂ fl), C. Díaz et al. 7700A (MO!); Comunidad Aguaruna de Wanás (Km 92 Carretera Bagua-Imacita), Cerros Chinim, 700–800 m, 29 Aug 1996 (fr), C. Díaz et al. 8054 (F [image!], MO!); Comunidad Aguaruna de Kusú-Listra, Cerro Apág, margen derecha Quebrada Kusú, [05°02'24"S, 078°19'12"W], 550 m, 19 Nov 1996 (fl bud), C. Díaz et al. 8086 (MO!); Tayu Mujaji, Comunidad de Wawas, 05°15'25"S, 078°21'41"W, 800 m 25 Oct 1997 (♂ fl bud), R. Rojas et al. 486 (MO!).

Ecuador. Carchi: Tulcan Cantón, Parroquia Tobar Donoso, Reserva Indígena Awá, Centro El Baboso, 00°53'N, 078°25'W, 1800 m, 17–27 Aug 1992 (♀ fl and fr), G. Tipaz, M. Tirado, C. Aulestia, N. Gale & P. Ortiz 1789 (holotype: MO-2 sheets! [flowers: accession 05005569, barcode MO-1528199; fruits: accession 05005570, barcode MO-1528198]; isotypes: QCNE [n.v.]). Fig. 7

Figure 7. 

Virola alvaroperezii A branch with pistillate inflorescence B lateral view of pistillate perianth (right), as well as a medial section (left) showing the internal side and gynoecium C medial sections of gynoecium, with enlargement of trichomes (right) and stigma (top) D lateral view of gynoecium after perianth has fallen E leaf blade with infructescence F abaxial surface of leaf blade showing the midvein with enlargement of trichomes G fruit with detail of indument (right). Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on G. Tipaz et al. 1789 (A–B MO-05005569), and G. Tipaz et al. 1789 (C–G MO-05005570).

Virola alvaroperezii is more similar to V. macrocarpa and V. otobifolia from Colombia, Panama, respectively. All these species have relatively large leaf blades and fruits, with lateral veins that are well separated and the abaxial leaf surface covered with stellate, sessile trichomes. Morphologically, it differs from V. macrocarpa and V. otobifolia by the abaxial leaf surface densely pubescent (vs. sparsely pubescent). Additionally, it differs from V. macrocarpa in having lateral veins that are more separated ([2–] 2.4–2.7 cm apart vs. 0.8–1.5 cm apart), and large fruits (4.3–4.5 × 3–3.6 cm vs. 2.7–3.3 × 2–2.3 cm). It differs from V. otobifolia by its wide fruit (3–3.6 cm vs. [1.9–] 2.3–2.9) and thin pericarp (2.8 mm vs. [2.7–] 3–4.7 mm).

Tree 30–40 m × 60–70 cm diameter, inner bark and exudate not described. Twigs 0.37–0.4 cm thick, terete to slightly compressed, inconspicuously pubescent, trichomes dendritic, sessile, ferruginous, without lenticels. Leaves young terminal bud not seen; petiole 1.5–2 × 0.34–0.5 cm, terete to slightly canaliculate, sometimes slightly winged, tomentose to tomentulose, the trichomes dendritic; leaf blades 26–28.5 × 12.1–14 cm, widely elliptic; adaxial surface of mature leaves drying brown to brown-olivaceous, the surface smooth, sometimes shiny, glabrous; abaxial surface drying dark brown-reddish to brown-whitish, densely pubescent, the trichomes stellate, ca. 0.1 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome dark reddish or colorless, the branches brown-reddish or colorless; lateral veins ca. 15, ca. 3 veins per 5 cm, spaced (2–) 2.4–2.7 cm, adaxially the same color as the leaf surface or slightly darker, flat to slightly raised, abaxially brown to blackish, raised, glabrescent above, densely pubescent to the sides, arcuate-ascending distally, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins lightly visible on both sides, but especially below; midvein adaxially flat to slightly elevated, abaxially raised, rounded, glabrescent to tomentose; base obtuse, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex absent. Staminate inflorescence and flowers unknown. Pistillate inflorescence ca. 4.2 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, with trichomes dendritic, ferruginous; peduncle ca. 1.2–1.7 × 0.3–0.35 cm; main axes with 5 ramifications; bracts not seen. Pistillate flowers in terminal fascicles of 2–3 flowers, on a receptacle ca. 6 mm wide; perianth ca. 6 mm long, lanceolate, fleshy, brown when fresh, connate by ca. 3–3.2 mm long, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface pubescent (especially on the lobes); lobes 3, ca. 2.8 × 1.2–1.5 mm and ca. 0.5–0.6 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; gynoecium ca. 2.5–3.1 × 1.5–1.6 mm, conical to subglobose, densely pubescent, the trichomes ferruginous; stigma 2-lobed, ca. 0.5 × 0.3 mm, erect, flat seen from above, drying blackish, slightly wavy at the margins. Infructescence ca. 4.5 cm long, with 1 or 4 fruits in immature infructescence, peduncle ca. 1.5 × 0.8 cm. Fruits 4.3–4.5 × 3–3.6 cm, brown when fresh (probably by the indument), ellipsoid, shortly stipitate, densely tomentose, the trichomes dendritic, sessile, ferruginous, not falling to the touch like dust, the surface rugose, the line of dehiscence smooth to faintly carinate, the base obtuse to truncate, the apex obtuse; pericarp 2.8 mm thick; pedicel 0.6–1 cm long. Seed ca. 2.7 × 1.6 cm, the testa dark brown to blackish when dry, sulcate; aril described once as red when fresh, dark brown when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

Virola alvaroperezii is a distinctive species characterized by generally large, wide leaf blades with well-separated lateral veins that are abaxially covered with dense pubescence of stellate, sessile trichomes (Fig. 4B) and large fruits (4.3–4.5 × 3–3.6 cm) with thick pericarp (2.8 mm) (Fig. 6B). It is also distinctive for being a large tree (30–40 m tall).

It is a great pleasure to dedicate this new species to the Ecuadoran botanist Álvaro Javier Pérez Castañeda. He is an excellent botanist, collector and expert of the flora of Ecuador, especially the flora of Yasuní. Among other contributions, he has described at least 26 from different angiosperm families (e.g., Pérez et al. 2013; Torke and Pérez 2013; Kawasaki and Pérez 2015, 2016) and is coauthor of Árboles emblemáticos de Yasuní, Ecuador (Pérez et al. 2014) and the treatment of Myrtaceae for the Flora of Ecuador (Kawasaki et al. 2019). Pérez Castañeda collected specimens of some of the Virola species described here.

Virola alvaroperezii is know from Carchi and Esmeraldas provinces in Ecuador (Fig. 18A). It grows in primary vegetation in premontane rain and very wet forest from (500–) 1600–1800 m.

Only a single studied specimen of Virola alvaroperezii has pistillate flowers; it was collected in August. Staminate flowers were not observed in the studied material. Fruits were collected in August and September.

Guangare macho (Ecuador; C. Aulestia & M. Aulestia 1017).

Virola alvaroperezii is Endangered following IUCN criteria B1a and B2a. It is known from three localities, has an EOO of 966 km², and an AOO of 12 km². Further justifying this status, this new species occurs in a region of very high rates of deforestation due to agricultural pressures (Kleemann et al. 2022). The only specimens of V. alvaroperezii that we were able to verify were collected on the Awá Reserve, and this species may be locally protected by sustainable forestry practices by the Awá indigenous community (Oviedo 2006).

Herbarium specimens of Virola alvaroperezii have been confused with another montane species, V. macrocarpa from Colombia (1100 m elevation). It could be confused with another Colombian species, V. cogolloi (840–1500 m elevation), which is formally described here, as well with V. otobifolia D. Santam., recently described from Panama (50–850 m elevation) (Santamaría-Aguilar et al. 2019). All these species have relatively large leaf blades and fruits, with lateral veins that are well separated and the abaxial leaf surface covered with stellate, sessile trichomes. Differences among the three species are summarized in Table 2.

The holotype deposited at Missouri Botanical Garden (MO) represents a single collection mounted on two sheets that are clearly labeled (i.e., “Sheet 1 of 2” and “Sheet 2 of 2”) as being parts of the same specimen (ICN Art. 8.3; Turland et al. 2018); one of the sheets carries pistillate flowers (MO-05005569) and the other, fruits (MO-05005570).

Leaf size and the number of lateral veins may be higher than presented here, as most of the material examined had broken leaves.

The collection C. Aulestia & M. Aulestia 1017 (MO) from Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador bears a fruit (possibly immature) that is smaller (ca. 3.7 × 2.6 cm) with thinner pericarp (ca. 2 mm) than other specimens of V. alvaroperezii. However, it otherwise matches very well including in its leaf morphology, tall tree habit, and occurrence Río Mira basin; for this reason, it is included in the concept we have adopted, although the fruit measurement is not included in the description.

The fruit specimen H. Vargas et al. 4603 (MO, QCNE [image!]), also from Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador, could not be confirmed to the species. It is similar to V. alvaroperezii in its leaf morphology (e.g. size, pubescence and trichomes, lateral vein spacing); however, its fruits are rounded and smaller (ca. 3.2–3.3 × 2.6–2.7 mm) with a conspicuous carina.

The two collections of V. macrocarpa from Carchi Province that are cited in Flora of Ecuador (Jaramillo et al. 2004) correspond to this new species.

Ecuador. Carchi: Tulcán cantón, Reserva Indígena Awá, Comunidad El Baboso, 12 km al norte de Lita, 00°53'N, 078°20'W, 1600 m, 20 Sep 1991 (fr), D. Rubio et al. 2205 (MO!, QCNE [n.v.]). Esmeraldas: Reserva Etnica Awá, Parroquia Ricaurte, Centro Pambilar, 01°08'N, 078°36'W, 500 m, 21 Jan 1993 (fr), C. Aulestia & M. Aulestia 1017 (MO!, QCNE [n.v.]).

Ecuador. Zamora-Chinchipe: PN [Parque Nacional] Podocarpus, Bombuscaro entrance, 04°07'S, 078°58'W, 1350 m, 25 Jan 2011 (fr), J. Homeier 4507 (holotype: MO! [accession 6863380, barcode MO-3053475]; isotypes: n.v.). Fig. 8

Figure 8. 

Virola bombuscaroensis A branch with staminate inflorescence and detail of trichomes on abaxial surface B partial staminate inflorescence in bud C external surface of staminate perianth (in bud), with detail of trichomes (top right) D medial section of staminate perianth showing the internal surface and androecium, with a close-up of the filament column with trichomes at bas and anthers (right) E branch with infructescence F different views of the fruits, detail of trichomes (left), and open fruit showing the seed with laciniate aril (above). Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on J. Homeier 1090 (A–E MO), and J. Homeier 4507 (F–G MO).

Virola bombuscaroensis differs morphologically from all other species by the combinations of abaxial leaf surface covered by stellate, sessile trichomes, perianth of staminate flowers densely pubescent on both faces, and the column of filaments that has scattered trichomes at the base.

Tree 6–15 m tall, diameter, inner bark and exudate not described. Twigs 0.43–0.62 cm thick, terete to laterally flattened, tomentose to tomentulose, trichomes dendritic, sessile, ferruginous to whitish, the bark sometimes with small lenticels. Leaves young terminal bud 2.5–2.9 × 0.4–0.48 cm, with conspicuous veins; petiole 1.5–2.2 × 0.33–0.5 cm, canaliculate, sometimes very short alate, tomentose, the trichomes dendriform; leaf blades 23.3–30 × 7.1–10.3 cm, ovate; adaxial surface of mature leaves dries brown to olivaceous, glabrous or with very few and scattered trichomes (densely pubescent on new leaves), the surface smooth, sometimes shiny; abaxial surface when drying brown or whitish-grayish, densely pubescent, but inconspicuous to the naked eye, trichomes stellate or sometimes dendriform trichomes along the main veins, the stellate trichomes 0.1–0.2 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome (usually) reddish and contrasting in color with the hyaline to reddish branches, or the branches the same color as the central part, the dendriform trichomes ca. 0.4 mm long, ferruginous, persistent; lateral veins (13–) 18–23 per side, (3–) 4–5 veins per 5 cm, spaced (0.9–) 1.4–1.8 cm apart, on adaxial surface flat or elevated, the same color as the adaxial leaf surface or a little darker, on abaxial surface raised or flat, rounded or laterally compressed, tomentose to glabrescent, arcuate-ascending, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a very marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins slightly visible on both sides, more prominent on adaxial side; midvein adaxially slightly elevated, abaxially raised, usually rounded, tomentose; base cordate, not revolute, flat; margin flat to slightly revolute; apex acuminate. Staminate inflorescences ca. 5.4 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, the trichomes dendritic, ca. 0.3–0.4 mm long, ferruginous; peduncle ca. 2 × 0.27 cm; main axes with 5 ramifications, the first pair opposite, the others alternate; bracts not seen. Staminate flowers (in bud) in dense terminal fascicles of 13–15+ flowers, on a receptacle 2–2.7 mm wide; perianth 2.8–3.4 mm long, obovoid, fleshy, brown when fresh, connation not seen (young flowers), external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface densely pubescent; lobes 3, not measured (young flowers), ca. 0.2 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; stamens 3, the filament column ca. 1.4 mm long, ca. 0.4 mm wide, slightly pubescent at the base, straight to slightly thickened at the base, not constricted at the apex; anthers ca. 0.9 mm long, ca. 0.4 mm wide; apiculus ca. 0.1 mm long, apiculate, separate. Pistillate inflorescences and pistillate flowers not seen. Infructescence 3–3.5 cm long, with 2–6 fruits, peduncle 1.8–3 × 0.43–0.5 cm. Fruits 2.4 × 1.8–1.9 cm, brown when fresh (probably by the pubescence), globose, stipitate, densely tomentose, the trichomes dendritic, ca. 0.1–0.3 mm long, ferruginous, and falling easily to the touch as dust, the surface slightly rugose, the line of dehiscence slightly carinate, but not very conspicuous, the base obtuse, the apex acute to obtuse; pericarp 1.6–2.2 mm thick; pedicel 0.5–0.7 cm long. Seed 1.8–1.9 × 1.2–1.4 cm, the testa whitish grayish to brownish when dry, grooved; aril color when fresh not described, blackish to brownish red when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

Virola bombuscaroensis can be recognized by many pubescence characters. Dendritic trichomes cover its branches, petioles, inflorescence axes, and sometimes along the main veins on the abaxial sides of leaves; the abaxial leaf surface always is marked by stellate, sessile trichomes (Fig. 4C); its fruits are covered by ferruginous trichomes that fall very easily to the touch (Fig. 6C); the perianth of staminate flowers is densely pubescent on both sides; and the column of filaments has scattered trichomes at the base. Finally, the filament column is straight, not constricted at the apex, and is longer (ca. 1.4 mm) than the anthers (ca. 0.9 mm).

The specific epithet makes reference to the Bombuscaro River in the Podocarpus National Park of southern Ecuador, where most of the collections of this new species were made.

Virola bombuscaroensis is known only from Ecuador (Zamora-Chinchipe Province) (Fig. 18A). It is found in premontane forest at elevations between 1200 to 1350 m, with a single collection from 1930 m in elevation.

Staminate flowers of Virola bombuscaroensis have been recorded in April and fruits in January. Pistillate flowers were not seen in the studied material.

None recorded.

Virola bombuscaroensis is Critically Endangered following IUCN criterion B2a. While its very small range from only a single locality justifies this status, V. bombuscaroensis benefits from its occurrence in Podocarpus National Park and surrounding areas, which are highly protected within Ecuador (Kleemann et al. 2022).

Virola bombuscaroensis is difficult to confuse with other species of Virola described to date. However, it shares the combination of a cordate leaf base, well-separated lateral veins, sessile trichomes on abaxial leaf surface, and fruits with a conspicuous layer of trichomes with V. excisa (described here). Other species with similar leaf morphology, but with fruits with less conspicuous trichomes include: V. calophylla (Fig. 6E), V. peruviana (Fig. 6K), and V. schultesii A. C. Sm.; they can be distinguished by the characters in Table 3.

Figure 9. 

Virola calimensis A branch with staminate inflorescence and detail of trichomes on abaxial surface B closeup of partial staminate inflorescence C staminate perianth, with detail of trichomes (left) D medial sections of staminate flower showing the internal surface and androecium, with a closeup of filament column and anthers (right) E partial infructescence and open fruit (above), showing the seed with laciniate aril. Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on C. Jativa & C. Epling 1143 (A–D MO), and M. Monsalve 158 (E MO).

Other species with similar leaf morphology (i.e., a usually deeply cordate base and well-separated lateral veins) are: V. divergens Ducke, V. mollissima (Poepp. ex A. DC.) Warb., and V. sebifera. However, these species differ in having pediculate trichomes on the abaxial leaf surface (vs. sessile in V. bombuscaroensis), internally puberulent staminate perianth (vs. densely pubescent), a glabrous filament column (vs. with scattered trichomes at the base; Fig. 10D) that is shorter (vs. longer) than the anthers. In fruiting material, V. divergens, and V. mollissima are covered with a thick layer of long hairs (at least 1.4 mm long) that differ from V. bombuscaroensis. While the layer of trichomes on the fruit are somewhat similar to the new species in V. sebifera, the fruits are notably smaller (1–1.9 [–2.1] × 0.7–1.4 [–1.7] vs. 2.4 × 1.8–1.9 cm), and V. sebifera usually occurs at lower elevations.

Figure 10. 

Virola cogolloi A branch with staminate inflorescence, with detail of trichomes on abaxial surface B closeup of partial staminate inflorescence C staminate perianth, with detail of trichomes (left) D medial sections of staminate flower showing the internal surface and androecium, with a closeup of filament column and anthers (right) E partial infructescence and open fruit showing the seed with laciniate aril. Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on Á. Cogollo 4198 (A–D MO), and D. Cárdenas & E. Alvarez 3239 (E MO).

Additionally, compared to the species with with it can be confused, V. bombuscaroensis tends to have longer staminate inflorescences and more obviously pubescent twigs, petioles, and abaxial leaf surface, very often with dendritic trichomes.

The specimen J. Homeier 1090 was cited as Virola sp. 1, in Spermatophyta/Checklist Reserva Biológica San Francisco (Prov. Zamora-Chinchipe, S-Ecuador) (Homeier and Werner 2007), while W. Palacios & M. Tirado 13379 was discussed under V. peruviana in Flora of Ecuador (Jaramillo et al. 2004).

Two collections from Cajamarca Department, Peru collected at 1500–1700 m elevation, J. Campos & S. Nuñez 4589 (MO!, NY-2 sheets!, UPCB [n.v.]) bearing staminate flowers and J. Campos & S. Nuñez 4188 (MO, NY, UPCB [n.v.]) bearing an infructescence with very immature fruits, have similar leaf morphology to V. bombuscaroensis (i.e., cordate base and abaxial surface with stellate, sessile trichomes). However, these specimens differ in their longer staminate inflorescences (ca. 8 cm vs. ca. 5.4 cm long) and the shorter (ca. 0.4 mm vs. ca. 1.4 mm long), glabrous (vs. pubescent) filament column. Additional, more complete material is needed to assess whether these are conspecific. These specimens have been identified as V. calophylla and duplicates may have been distributed under this name.

Ecuador. Zamora-Chinchipe: Area of the Estación Científica San Francisco, road Loja-Zamora, ca 35 km from Loja, 03°58'S, 079°04'W, 1930 m, 6 Apr 2002 (fl ♂), J. Homeier 1090 (MO!); Zamora cantón, Parque Nacional Podocarpus, guardería Río Bombuscaro, 04°05'S, 078°57'W, 1200 m, [s.d.] Jan 1995 (fr), W. Palacios & M. Tirado 13379 (MO!, UPCB [n.v.]).

Colombia. Valle del Cauca: Bajo Calima, concesión Pulpapel/ Buenaventura, 03°55'N, 077°00'W, 100 m, 03 Aug 1984 (fr), M. Monsalve 158 (holotype: MO! [accession 3624779, barcode MO-2657915]; isotype: INPA [accession 147738; image!], JAUM [accession 007410]). Fig. 9

Virola calimensis was previously confused with V. calophylla and V. macrocarpa. Perhaps because of stellate, sessile trichomes and lateral veins that are well separated. Morphologically it differs from V. calophylla in having flowers with longer staminate perianth (2.5–3.5 mm vs. 1–2.1 mm), the internal surface densely pubescent (vs. glabrescent), long anthers (0.6–1 [–1.2] mm vs. 0.4–0.5 mm), and large fruits (2.8–3.1 cm long vs. 1.6–1.5 cm). Differs from V. macrocarpa in leaf blades abaxially densely pubescent (vs. sparsely pubescent), fruits globose (vs. ellipsoid), shorter (2.8–3.1 cm long vs. [2.7–] 3.5–4.5 cm).

Tree 5–20 or 30 m tall × 25–28 cm in diameter, inner bark described once as brown, cracked, rough. Exudate reddish, location of exudate on plant not stated, or described as being present in the inflorescence, but with no information about color. Twigs 0.3–0.33 cm thick, terete or slightly compressed, inconspicuously pubescent, trichomes dendritic, sessile, brown reddish, without lenticels. Leaves young terminal bud not seen; petiole 1.5–2.4 × 0.22–0.4 cm, slightly canaliculate, sometimes slightly winged, glabrescent, or inconspicuously tomentose to tomentulose, the trichomes dendritic; leaf blades 19–25 × 7.3–11 cm, widely oblong to elliptical; adaxial surface of mature leaves drying brown to olive, the surface smooth, sometimes shiny, glabrous; abaxial surface drying brown reddish to grayish brown, densely pubescent, the trichomes stellate, ca. 0.1 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome dark reddish, the branches pale reddish; lateral veins ca. 12–13 (W. Devia 3086), 3–4 veins per 5 cm, spaced 1.3–2.3 cm apart, flat to slightly raised on adaxial surface, raised on abaxial surface and slightly darker than on adaxial surface, puberulent, densely tomentose to glabrescent above, densely pubescent to the sides, arcuate-ascending distally, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins slightly visible on both sides; midvein adaxially slightly elevated, abaxially raised, rounded to rectangular, glabrescent to tomentose; base obtuse, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex acuminate. Staminate inflorescence 6–8 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, with trichomes dendritic, brown-reddish; peduncle 1.3–2.8 × 0.28–0.4 cm; main axes with 5–11 ramifications, the first pair opposite to subopposite, the others alternate; bracts not seen. Staminate flowers (in bud) in lax terminal fascicles of 3–5 flowers, on a receptacle 3–5 mm wide; perianth 2.5–3.5 mm long, elongate to rhomboid, fleshy, ferruginous when fresh (probably by the trichomes), connate to 1.1–1.7 mm in length, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface densely pubescent (especially in the lobes) with ferruginous trichomes; lobes 3, 1.3–2 × 0.9–1.5 mm and 0.3–0.7 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; stamens 3, the filament column 0.4–0.6 (–0.8) mm long and 0.2–0.4 mm wide, glabrous, straight, not constricted at the apex; anthers 0.6–1 (–1.2) mm long and 0.2–0.3 mm wide; apiculus 0.1–0.2 mm long, acuminate, slightly separated distally. Pistillate inflorescence and flowers unknown. Infructescence ca. 4.5 cm long, with 2 fruits, peduncle ca. 1.7 × 0.5 cm. Fruits ca. 3.3–4.2 × 2.8–3.1 cm, color not described when fresh, globose, shortly stipitate, densely tomentose, the trichomes dendritic, sessile, ferruginous, the trichomes not falling easily like dust, the surface slightly rugose, the line of dehiscence slightly carinate, the base obtuse, the apex acute; pericarp ca. 3.8–4 mm thick; pedicel ca. 0.6 cm long. Seed ca. 2.5 × 2.1 cm, the testa when dry brown reddish, slightly ribbed from the base to the apex; aril color when fresh not described, blackish to brown reddish when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

Virola calimensis can be recognized by its broad staminate inflorescence, few-flowered inflorescences, elongate to rhomboid, fleshy, densely pubescent perianth, very fleshy filament column and shorter (0.4–0.6 [–0.8] mm long) than the anthers (0.6–1 [–1.2] mm long), and globose, tomentose fruit with trichomes that do not fall easily and with a thick (3.8–4 mm) pericarp (Fig. 6D). Like other species described here, the abaxial side of V. calimensis’ leaves are covered with stellate, sessile trichomes whose central portion is darker than the branches on their abaxial surfaces. It further has lateral veins that are well separated (1.3–2.3 cm spaced) (Fig. 4D) and a relatively long and thick petiole.

The specific epithet of the new species refers to the Bajo Calima region (Valle del Cauca department, Colombia), the region where most specimens of this new species come from.

Virola calimensis occurs in the Pacific coast of Colombia (Valle del Cauca department) and Ecuador (Esmeraldas province) at elevations ranging from 5 to 260 m (Fig. 18C). According to the field notes of the specimens collected in Colombia (e.g., M. Monsalve 158), the species grows in nutrient poor soils with a high concentration of aluminum. See Gentry (1986), Faber-Langendoen and Gentry (1991) and Marcano-Berti and Aymard C. (2021) for more information about this region.

Staminate flowers of Virola calimensis have been recorded in March, May, June, July, and September. Fruits have been observed in June and August. Pistillate flowers were not seen in the studied material.

Cuangare (Colombia; M. Monsalve 158).

Virola calimensis is Endangered following IUCN criteria B1a and B2a. It is known from three localities, has an EOO of 313 km², and an AOO of 12 km². While its small range justifies this preliminary status, V. calimensis benefits from growing in regions with relatively low rates of deforestation compared to the rest of the region (Antonelli 2022), which is in part due to collective land titling by Afro-Colombian communities in Valle del Cauca, Colombia (Vélez et al. 2020) and proximity to the Awá Reserve (Oviedo 2006).

Herbarium specimens of Virola calimensis were previously identified as V. calophylla and/or V. macrocarpa. This misidentification was probably due to characteristics shared with V. calophylla: stellate, sessile trichomes and lateral veins that are well separated, as well as their lax, few-flowered staminate inflorescences that are relatively wide (these traits are unknown in V. macrocarpa). However, V. calimensis differs from V. calophylla in having fleshier, longer staminate perianth with indument on the internal surface and a filament column that is shorter than the anthers. The new species also differs in the size and shape of its fruit as compared to V. calophylla and V. macrocarpa). A summary of the characteristics that differentiate these three species is presented in Table 4, and 5.

The first collection of Virola calimensis was made 76 years ago by José Cuatrecasas (J. Cuatrecasas 17540; 5–15 May 1944) in Río Cajambre, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Six years later, Smith (1950) attributed this Cuatrecasas collection to V. macrocarpa, which he used to describe staminate inflorescences; however, he expressed doubt in this and stressed the need for more material, stating that this collection “has leaves considerably smaller, although similar in texture, shape, and indument.” Smith (1950) refers to two additional collections from Colombia with very young inflorescences, which we could not study, as V. macrocarpa; these are J. Cuatrecasas 15596, 16613 (A, F [as Ch]) from the Western Cordillera (1250–1400 m elevations) and Chocó region (5–50 m elevations) respectively.

Walker and Walker (1979; fig. 44) illustrated the pollen of the first collection of this species (again, J. Cuatrecasas 17540; 5–15 May 1944), then attributed to V. macrocarpa. It was assigned to Pollen Type I (more information can be found in their publication).

The specimens C. Jativa & C. Epling 1143 and M. Monsalve 158, mentioned under V. macrocarpa in Flora of Ecuador (Jaramillo et al. 2004) and La Familia de Árboles Tropicales Myristicaceae en el Departamento del Valle del Cauca, Colombia (Taylor and Devia Álvarez 2000) correspond to this new species. The digital images of W. Devia et al. 5091 (st), 5461 (st), all at TULV, appear to correspond with V. calimensis as well.

Colombia. Valle del Cauca: Bajo Calima, 15–20 m, 28 Jun 1961 (fr), I. Cabrera 556 (COL);

Costa del Pacífico, Río Cajambre, Silva, 5–80 m, 5–15 May 1944 (♂ fl), J. Cuatrecasas 17540 (A!, F [image!]); Buenaventura, Carton de Colombia, Vía a Malaga Km. 22, Frente Hans, [03°59'47"N, 076°58'28"W], 20 m, 01 Mar 1990 (fl bud), W. Devia 3086 (MO-2 sheets!, TULV [image!], UPCB [n.v]); B/ventura [Buenaventura], Canalete, km 28 vía Málaga, 50 m, [s.d.] May 1991 (fr), W. Devia 3253 (NY!); Bajo Calima, concesión Pulpapel/ Buenaventura, 03°55'N, 077°00'W, 100 m, 11 Mar 1986 (♂ bud fl), M. Monsalve 968 (INPA [image!], MO!); ibid., 22 Sep 1987 (♂ bud fl), M. Monsalve 1769 (F [image!], INPA [image!], MO!). Ecuador. Esmeraldas: At Tobar Donoso, junct. of Río San Juan and Río Camumbi, [01°11'24"N, 078°30'30"W], 260 m, 25 Jul 1966 (♂ fl), C. Jativa & C. Epling 1129 (NY!); ibid., 27 Jul 1966 (♂ fl), C. Jativa & C. Epling 1143 (MO!, NY!, US [image!]).

Colombia. Antioquia: Parque Nacional Natural “Las Orquídeas”, Sector Cruces, margen derecha del Río Calles, camino de Cruces hacia Venados, 06°30'N, 076°19'W, 840–870 m, 23 Feb 1989 (♂ fl), Á. Cogollo 4198 (holotype: MO! [accession 4235971, barcode MO-2560852]; isotypes: COL [n.v.; accession 333167]). Fig. 10

Virola cogolloi previously confused with V. macrocarpa both from Colombian montane forests. These species have similar size and shape of the fruits and abaxial leaf blades with stellate, sessile trichomes. Morphologically, it differs from V. macrocarpa in leaf blade densely pubescent abaxially (vs. sparsely pubescent), small fruits (2.7–3.2 cm long vs. [2.7–] 3.5–4.5 cm), cover with persistent trichomes (vs. caducous trichomes), and thinner pericarp (1.9–2.1 mm vs. [2.7–] 3–4.7 mm).

Tree (7–) 14–20 m × (8–) 17–24 cm diameter, inner bark not described. Exudate watery, oxidizing reddish, location of exudate on plant not stated. Twigs 0.43–0.54 cm thick, terete or laterally compressed, tomentose, trichomes dendritic, sessile, ferruginous, without lenticels on young twigs, but present on mature twigs. Leaves young terminal bud 2 × 0.4 cm; petiole 1.7–2.4 × (0.28–) 0.32–0.6 cm, slightly to deeply canaliculate, very often shortly winged, glabrescent to tomentulose, the trichomes dendritic; leaf blades 25–29.7 × (9.2–) 10.8–15 cm, widely elliptical; adaxial surface of mature leaves drying blackish to dark brown, the surface smooth, sometimes shiny, glabrous; abaxial surface drying brown, densely pubescent, the trichomes stellate, ca. 0.1 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome reddish to dark reddish, the branches reddish to brown-reddish; lateral veins ca. 12–14 per side, 3 veins per 5 cm, spaced 1.9–2.5 cm apart, on adaxial side the same color as the adaxial surface, flat to slightly raised, on abaxial surface blackish, raised, puberulent to glabrescent above, densely pubescent to the sides, arcuate-ascending, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a very marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins very slightly visible on both sides; midvein adaxially flat to slightly elevated, abaxially raised, rounded to laterally compressed, tomentose to puberulent, more pubescent to the sides; base obtuse, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex acute or obtuse. Staminate inflorescence 7.5–9 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, trichomes dendritic, ferruginous; peduncle 2.3–2.5 × 0.32–0.37 cm; main axis with 4–6 ramifications, the first pair opposite to subopposite, the others alternate; bracts not seen. Staminate flowers (in bud) in lax terminal fascicles of 5–8 flowers, on a receptacle 1.6–2 mm wide; perianth 3.5–4.1 mm long, elliptic to elongate, fleshy, yellowish when fresh, connate by 1.5–2.3 mm long, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface densely pubescent (especially in the lobes); lobes 3 (4), 1.8–2 × 0.6–0.9 (–1.4) mm and 0.2–0.3 (–0.5) mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; stamens 3, the filament column 1.2–1.4 mm long and 0.2–0.3 (–0.5) mm wide, glabrous, straight to bottle-shaped, constricted at the apex; anthers 1.1–1.2 mm long, ca. 0.4 mm wide; apiculus 0.2–0.3 mm long, acuminate, slightly separated distally. Pistillate inflorescence and flowers unknown. Infructescence 6–6.5 cm long, with 1–3 fruits, peduncle 2–3.4 × 0.75 cm. Fruits 2.7–3.2 × 1.7–2.2 cm, when fresh brown or ferruginous (probably by the trichomes), or green and covered with brown trichomes, subglobose to ellipsoid, sessile or shortly stipitate, densely tomentose, persistent, the trichomes dendritic, sessile, ferruginous, the trichomes not falling easily like dust, the surface smooth to slightly rugose, the line of dehiscence smooth, the base obtuse, the apex obtuse to acute; pericarp 1.2–1.6 mm thick on the thinnest side, 1.9–2.1 mm thick on the thickest side; pedicel 0.5–0.8 cm long. Seed 2.2–2.4 × 1.3–1.4 cm, the testa brown to brown reddish when dry, slightly ribbed distally; aril color when fresh described as red or creamy, brown to brown reddish when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

Virola cogolloi is best distinguished by the combination of its wide leaf blades that are abaxially covered with dense but inconspicuous stellate and sessile trichomes and with lateral veins that are well-separated (Fig. 4G); wide staminate inflorescences with few flowers per fascicle; and staminate flowers with fleshy perianth lobes that are internally covered by a dense layer of trichomes (especially on the lobes) and filament columns that are longer (1.2–1.4 mm long) than the anthers (1.1–1.2 mm long). It is also distinctive for its densely tomentose fruits with relatively thin pericarp (1.2–1.6 mm thick, the thinnest side) (Fig. 6G) and a seed covered by a thin aril that is laciniate almost to the base.

The specific epithet honors Álvaro Cogollo Pacheco, the Colombian botanist who collected most known specimens of this new species as well for his valuable contribution to our knowledge of the Colombian flora. We celebrate his important contributions to botany, epitomized by his numerous collections, ~48 of which now represent type specimens (Tropicos 2021). Álvaro is author of the Myristicaceae treatment for the Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares de Antioquia (Cogollo 2011), among others.

Virola cogolloi is known only from Colombia (Antioquia department) (Fig. 18C). It is found between 840–1500 m elevation in premontane forest in Las Orquídeas National Park in the Western Cordillera of Colombia.

Specimens with staminate flowers of Virola cogolloi were collected in February and May. Fruits have been observed in February, April to July. Pistillate flowers were not seen in the studied material.

Sebo (Colombia; Á. Cogollo et al. 4195).

Virola cogolloi is Endangered following IUCN criteria B1a and B2a. It is known from three localities, has an EOO of 24 km², and an AOO of 24 km². While V. cogolloi benefits from its occurrence within Las Orquídeas National Park, this region (including within the national park) is still vulnerable to deforestation to expand human activities, including agriculture and livestock grazing (González-Caro and Vásquez 2017; Pedraza-Peñalosa 2015).

Prior to our study, most of the specimens with fruits of Virola cogolloi were identified as V. macrocarpa. Both species grow in Colombian montane forests, respectively in the departments of Antioquia (840–1500 m elevation) and Boyacá (1100 m elevation). In addition to a shared habitat, these species have similar size and shape of the fruits and, like other species described here, abaxial leaf blades with stellate, sessile trichomes with a reddish central portion. However, V. cogolloi is distinguished by the size of its leaf blades, petiole thickness, separation of the lateral veins, and other features summarized in Table 6.

A second Virola species (V. tuckerae, formally described below) occurs with V. cogolloi. In addition to their similar distributions, these species share leaf blades that are densely pubescent abaxially (Fig. 4G, N). However, V. tuckerae, has narrower leaf blades with more lateral veins, a filament column that is shorter than the anthers, and a fruit that is covered by a dense layer of trichomes. A comparison between these two species is presented in Table 7.

The specimens Á. Cogollo et al. 4195, cited as V. macrocarpa in Cogollo (2011), and [Á.] Cogollo 3331, included in Gradstein (2016), both cited as V. macrocarpa, correspond with this new species.

Colombia. Antioquia: Urrao, Parque Nacional Natural “Las Orquídeas”, Vereda Cruces, camino a Piñares, poco después de la escuela La Esperanza, orilla izquierda del río Calles, 06°28'56"N, 076°19'20"W, 960 m, 5 May 2013 (♂ fl), J. Betancur et al. 18081 (COL!, NY!); Parque Nacional Natural “Las Orquídeas”, Sector Calles, quebrada La Bironda, 06°31'N, 076°19'W, 1300–1500 m, 02 Apr 1992 (fr), D. Cárdenas & E. Alvarez 3239 (MO!); Parque Nacional Natural “Las Orquideas”, Camino a San Mateo, margen izquierda de la Quebrada San Mateo, 06°33'N, 076°19'W, 1060 m, 07 Jun 1988 (fr), Á. Cogollo et al. 3331 (JAUM!, MO!); Parque Nacional Natural “Las Orquídeas”, sector Venados arriba, margen izquierda del río Venados, 06°34'N, 076°19'W, 1110–1240 m, 27 Jul 1988 (fr imm), Á. Cogollo et al. 3553 (COL!, JAUM-2 sheets!, MO!); Parque Nacional Natural “Las Orquídeas”, Sector Cruces, margen derecha del río Calles, camino de Cruces hacia Venados, 06°30'N, 076°19'W, 840–870 m, 23 Feb 1989 (fr), Á. Cogollo et al. 4195 (COL!, JAUM!, MO!); Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas, Vereda Cruces, sitio Piñares, camino a Perdidas, poco después de la escuela La Esperanza, 06°28'35.5"N, 076°19'39.5"W, 980 m, 3 May 2013 (fr), S. E. Hoyos et al. 2254 (COL!).

Peru. Amazonas: Bagua, distrito Imaza, Región Nororiental del Marañón, Comunidad de Kampaenza, Ribera de la quebrada Shimutaz, Río Marañón, 04°55'S, 078°19'W, 320 m, 09 Sep 1994 (fr), N. Jaramillo, R. Apanu, G. Apanu 388 (holotype: MO! [accession 5096935, barcode MO-254989]; isotypes: UPCB [n.v.]). Fig. 11

Figure 11. 

Virola cumala A branch with leaf blades, with detail of abaxial surface showing trichomes and tertiary venation B part of staminate inflorescence C lateral view of staminate perianth with detail of trichomes (top) D medial section of staminate flower and androecium (right) E fruits with detail of trichomes (left), and open fruit showing seed covered with laciniate aril. Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on R. Vásquez & C. A. Grández 17532 (A–D MO), and N. Jaramillo et al. 388 (E MO).

Virola cumala is most similar to V. decorticans and V. multinervia; all these species have large leaves, numerous lateral veins, dense indument of dendritic brown to ferruginous trichomes in almost all parts of the plant, and large fruits. Morphologically, it differs from V. decorticans in having leaf blade on upper surface glabrous (vs. pubescent), the staminate perianth is subcarnose, without lines or dots (vs. submembranous, and with lines), long filament column (0.5–0.7 mm vs. 0.3–0.4 mm), and anthers (0.7–0.9 mm vs. 0.5–0.6 mm), and narrow fruits (2.3–2.9 cm vs. 1.7–2.2 cm). It differs from V. multinervia in the staminate perianth subcarnose (vs. membranous), densely pubescent on all the surface (vs. glabrous or pubescent only at the base and apex), long anthers (0.7–0.9 mm vs. 0.3–0.4 mm), and large fruit (2.3–2.9 cm vs. 1.5–2.5 cm).

Tree 15–35 m × 38 cm diameter; inner bark and exudate not described. Twigs 0.52–1.2 cm thick, laterally flattened to angled, densely tomentose, trichomes dendritic, branched from the base (1–2 mm long) with short lateral branches (0.1–0.2 mm long), brown, sometimes the bark in mature twigs cracks and flakes in small pieces. Leaves young terminal bud 2–2.5 × 0.6–2 cm; petiole 0.9–2.2 × 0.43–0.9 cm, strongly canaliculate, densely pubescent, trichomes dendritic; leaf blades 33.1–50.7 (–56.5) × (9.5–) 11.7–15.5 cm, elliptic-oblong to elliptic to obovate, sometimes gradually tapering towards the base; adaxial surface of mature leaves (usually) drying brown to dark grayish, glabrous, smooth; abaxial surface drying brown to pale brown, densely pubescent, the trichomes dendritic, yellowish to pale brown, shortly pediculated (branched almost at the base), with 5–8 branches, the branch 0.3–0.7 mm long, persistent; lateral veins 49–65 per side, with 5–7 (–11) veins per 5 cm, spaced 0.4–1.1 cm apart, the same color as the adaxial surface or sometimes slightly contrasting in color, impressed, on abaxial surface the same color as the surface, very conspicuous and raised, slightly straight to arcuate distally, anastomosing very near the margin, forming an intramarginal vein; tertiary veins slightly prominent adaxially, very prominent abaxially; midvein adaxially flat, pubescent, abaxially raised, rounded, pubescent; base cordate to subcordate, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex acute to cuspidate. Staminate inflorescences 7.5–12 cm long, axes slightly flattened at the apex of the defoliated branches, densely pubescent, the trichomes dendritic (1–1.6 mm long), ferruginous; peduncle 1.3–1.5 × 0.34–0.47 cm; bracts 0.4–0.7 × 0.2–0.4 cm, ovate, sometimes triangular, with 3 vertical lines, pubescent on both sides, caducous. Staminate flower not very dense, terminal fascicles of 13–21+ flowers, on a receptacle ca. 2 mm wide; pedicel 1.5–2 mm long, pubescent; perianth 2–3 mm long, elongate, subcarnose, brown when fresh, connate to 0.6–1 mm in length, external surface densely pubescent with brown trichomes, internal surface glabrous; lobes 3, 1.1–1.5 × 0.4–0.6 mm, 0.1–0.2 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; stamens 3, the filament column 0.5–0.7 mm long and 0.1–.0.2 mm wide, thin, straight, not constricted at the apex; anthers 0.7–0.9 mm long, and ca. 0.2 mm wide; apiculus inconspicuous or obtuse. Pistillate inflorescences and flowers not seen. Infructescence 3.5–5.5 cm long, with 1–3 fruits, peduncle 1–2.7 × 0.4–07 cm. Fruits 3–3.5 × 2.3–2.9 cm, brown (possibly by the indumentum) when fresh, rounded to ellipsoid, densely and persistently pubescent with a layer of trichomes of 1–2.3 mm thick, the trichomes dendritic, brown to ferruginous, the surface not seen, the line of dehiscence not carinate, the base and apex obtuse; pericarp 3–6 mm thick; pedicel ca. 0.5 mm long. Seed (1.9–) 2.3–2.5 × (0.8–) 1.1–1.9 cm, the testa pale brown to brown reddish when dry, grooved (N. Jaramillo 550), aril when fresh not described, brown to blackish when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate in very narrow bands, almost to the base.

The most distinctive characteristic of Virola cumala is the dense indument of dendritic brown to ferruginous trichomes that cover almost all parts of the plant. Vegetatively, this species also has large leaves with numerous lateral veins that are prominent (including the tertiary veins, especially below), thick twigs, and bark that sometimes cracks and flakes into small pieces. Further, the staminate flowers have a subcarnose perianth that is densely and uniformly pubescent outside and glabrous inside with narrow lobes, a filament column that is straight and similar in length to the anthers, and large fruits that are covered with a thick layer of trichomes, thick pericarp, and a seed covered by an aril that is laciniate in very narrow bands almost to the base (Fig. 12D).

Figure 12. 

Diversity of fruits from Virola species that have numerous and close lateral veins, notice the shape, indument, and pericarp thickness A V. caducifolia (W. Rodrigues & D. Coêlho 8700, MO) B V. chrysocarpa (B. Hammel et al. 16864, MO) C V. crebrinervia (N. A. Rosa 4446, NY) D V. cumala (C. Grá[n]dez et al. 4919, MO) E V. decorticans (C. A. Cid Ferreira et al. 9961, MO) F V. koschnyi (L. D. Gómez et al. 22725, MO) G V. megacarpa (G. de Nevers 5184, MO) H V. multinervia (C. A. Sothers & E. D. C. Pereira 1069, MO) I V. multicosta (R. Vásquez & C. Grández 17507, MO). Scale bars: 1 cm.

The specific epithet is taken from the common name on the label of R. Vásquez & N. Jaramillo 7879, MO). This common name is often used in Peru to refer to various species of Virola, as well to other species in Otoba (A. DC.) H. Karst., Iryanthera (A. DC.) Warb., and Osteophloeum Warb. (e.g. Vásquez Martínez 1997; Zárate-Gómez et al. 2019).

Virola cumala is known only from Peru (in the Amazonas, Loreto, and Pasco departments) (Fig. 18C). It occurs in primary forests in non-inundated, lateritic soil. It ranges in elevation from 120–320 m, although one collection from Pasco reaches 700–800 m (H. van der Werff 20095). It is possible that this species also occurs in Ecuador, as some collections were made close to the border of Peru and Ecuador.

Staminate flowers of Virola cumala have been recorded in July; pistillate flowers were not seen in the studied material. Fruits have been collected in May, August to October, and December.

Cumala negra (Peru; R. Vásquez & N. Jaramillo 7879, MO).

Virola cumala is Endangered following IUCN criterion B2a. It is known from five localities, has an EOO of 219,024 km², and an AOO of 20 km². Justifying its status, the western Amazonian region where this species occurs is modeled to be modestly impacted by new road construction, a threat that is likely to be superseded by the development of oil palm plantations in the region (Arima 2016).

Virola cumala is found among a morphological group of ca. 17 species (personal count) that correspond to the group Rugolosae of Smith and Wodehouse (1938). Generally, this group is characterized by leaves with numerous, closely adjacent lateral veins, percurrent tertiary veins that are usually conspicuous, cordate bases, and dendritic trichomes; staminate inflorescences often with large bracts that cover flowers; staminate flowers that are small and usually densely aggregated with membranous to sub membranous perianth, the tube almost split to the base, and a slender filament column. Within this group, the new species is most similar to V. decorticans Ducke and V. multinervia Ducke, both from South America, and V. megacarpa A. H. Gentry from Panama. All four species have large leaves, numerous lateral veins, dense indument of dendritic brown to ferruginous trichomes in almost all parts of the plant, large fruits with a thick layer of trichomes (thin in V. megacarpa), and thick pericarp. Virola cumala further shares bark that cracks and flakes into small pieces and the thick young terminal bud of leaves. These species are distinguished by the characteristics presented in Table 8.

Virola cumala can be distinguished from other species with numerous lateral and relatively close veins (e.g., V. caducifolia W. A. Rodrigues, V. chrysocarpa D. Santam. & Aguilar, V. flexuosa A. C. Sm., V. guggenheimii W. A. Rodrigues, V. koschnyi Warb. and V. polyneura W. A. Rodrigues) by its fruits: these are large (3–3.5 × 2.3–2.9 cm vs. 1.6–3 × 1.3–2.5 cm), covered with a thick layer of trichomes (vs. tomentose or glabrescent), and have a thick pericarp (3–6 mm vs. 1–4 mm).

The fruits of Virola divergens, V. loretensis A. C. Sm., and V. mollissima (species of Mollissimae group in Smith and Wodehouse 1938) are also covered by a dense layer of trichomes that is similar to V. cumala (cf. Fig. 3E). However, these species have fewer lateral veins (15–30 vs. 49–65), anthers with an apiculate apex (vs. inconspicuous or obtuse), and thin pericarp (0.3–0.7 vs. 3–6 mm).

The type specimen of V. cumala (N. Jaramillo et al. 388, MO) was cited as V. multinervia in Vásquez et al. (2018). Peruvian specimens identified as V. multinervia are very variable, likely representing a combination of misidentifications and undescribed species. Within these, we identified three morphologically distinct groups. The first group corresponds to V. cumala. The second, represented by the fruiting specimens A. H. Gentry et al. 42594 (MO), C. Grández et al. 4929 (MO), R. Vásquez & C. Grández 17507 (MO-2 sheets), we tentatively identify as V. multicostata Ducke (due to lack of flowers). This group is characterized by scant pubescence covering twigs, petioles, and axes of the infructescence, large leaf-blades (28–37 × 8.1–10 cm) with numerous lateral veins (54–62), the tertiary veins prominent below, and inconspicuously pubescent to glabrescent fruits that are 2.1–2.3 × 1.5–1.8 cm (Fig. 12) with a rugose surface and thin pericarp (1.3–1.5 mm). Finally, the third group is represented by the specimens A. H. Gentry et al. 19014 (♂ fl.), A. H. Gentry et al. 21736 (very young fl. bud.; F [image], MO!), and R. Vásquez & N. Jaramillo 9379 (♀ fl; MO!). This group is characterized by deciduous (i.e. all leaves fall off the tree), oblong leaves (32.7–44 × 8.5–12.6 cm), brown trichomes that cover the entire plant, staminate inflorescences with bracts that are 0.9–1.5 × 1–1.2 cm, staminate flowers with a ca. 2 mm long perianth which is connate to 0.5 mm in length and densely pubescent externally, glabrous internally, and without dots or lines when rehydrated, perianth lobes that are ca. 1.5 × 0.6 mm, and a filament column ca. 0.4–0.5 mm long with anthers 0.4–0.6 mm long.

Peru. Amazonas: Bagua, distrito Imaza, Región Nororiental del Marañón, Comunidad de Kampaenza, Ribera de la quebrada Shimutaz, Río Marañón, 04°55'S, 078°19'W, 320 m, 10 Oct 1994 (fr), N. Jaramillo & C. Peas 550 (MO!, UPCB [n.v.]). Loreto: Yanamono, Explorama Tourist Camp on Río Amazonas between Indiana and mouth of Río Napo, 03°28'S, 072°48'W, 120 m, 26 July 1980 (♂ fl), A. H. Gentry et al. 29027 (INPA [image!], MO!); ExplorNapo Camp (Río Sucusari), 03°15'S, 072°54'W, 140 m, 29 July 1991 (♂ fl), R. Vásquez & C. A. Grández 17532 (MEXU [image!], MO-2 sheets); Maynas, IQ [Iquitos]–Nauta, Km 32, 150 m, 20 Aug 1986 (fr), R. Vásquez & N. Jaramillo 7879 (MO!); Maynas, Distrito Las Amazonas, Explor Napo (Suwzari), 03°20'S, 072°55'W, 124 m, 5 Dec 1992 (fr), C. Grá[n]dez et al. 4919 (MO!). Pasco: Distr. Palcazú, El Paujil, 10°20'12"S, 075°15'39"W, 700–800 m, 13 May 2005 (fr), H. van der Werff 20095 (F [image!]).

Ecuador. Pastaza: Río Curaray, dos horas río abajo del pueblo Curaray, en la boca del Río Namoyacu, 01°24'S, 076°45'W, 275 m, 14–18 Aug 1985 (♂ fl), W. Palacios & D. Neill 622 (holotype: MO! [accession 3482884, barcode MO-1565775]; isotype: F [accession 1989048, barcode V0354346F; image!], INPA [accession 147770; image!], NY!, QCA [n.v.]). Fig. 13

Figure 13. 

Virola excisa A branch with staminate inflorescence B partial staminate inflorescence C staminate perianth D medial section of staminate flower and androecium detail (right) E branch with pistillate inflorescence, with detail of trichomes on abaxial surface (right) F lateral view of perianth (left) and medial section of pistillate flower (right), with enlargement of trichomes on perianth (above right) G medial section of pistillate flower, with an enlargement of trichomes on gynoecium (right) H branch with fruits, including an enlargement trichomes (middle left), and an open fruit showing seed covered with laciniate aril (right). Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on W. Palacios & D. Neill 622 (A–D MO), W. Palacios & C. Iguago 4435 (E–G MO), and W. Palacios 3186 (H MO).

Virola excisa is similar to V. obovata in the shape of its leaves, which are sparsely stellate and/or dendritic trichomes, or both kinds on abaxial side; staminate flowers with perianth that is nearly glabrous internally and the filament column of similar size to the anthers; and fruits that are covered with a conspicuous layer of ferruginous trichomes. Morphologically, it differs from V. obovata in the staminate perianth without resinous punctuations vs. resinous punctuations), long fruits (1.4–1.7 cm vs. 0.8–1 cm), with thick pericarp (1.5–2.3 mm vs. 1–1.2 mm). Given the above mentioned characteristics of leaves and pubescence, Virola excisa is similar to V. peruviana. But it is distinguished by the fruits densely pubescent at maturity (vs. glabrescent), and slightly carinate (vs. conspicuously carinate).

Tree 8–35 m × 20–40 (–60) cm diameter, inner bark described as grayish and rough. Exudate watery, red, or reddish in the trunk or without specifying from where. Twigs 0.2–0.47 (–0.55) cm thick, terete, slightly compressed to slightly angulate, tomentose, trichomes dendritic, sessile, ferruginous, without lenticels. Leaves young terminal bud 1.2–2.2 × 0.3–0.6 cm; petiole 1.3–2 (–3) × 0.28–0.42 cm, slightly canaliculate and winged, often flattened above, tomentose, sometimes glabrescent, the trichomes dendritic; leaf blades (10.5–) 23.5–46.5 × (6.7–) 9.5–13.5 (–19.7) cm, lanceolate to obovate; adaxial surface of mature leaves usually drying brown to dark brown, the surface smooth, sometimes shiny, glabrous; abaxial surface usually drying white grayish, white brownish to pale brown, sparsely pubescent, the trichomes stellate or sometimes mixture of trichomes stellate and dendritic (especially along the veins), the stellate trichomes ca. 0.1–0.2 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome pale to dark reddish, sometimes colorless, the branches pale reddish or colorless; lateral veins (13–) 18–24 per side, 3–4 veins per 5 cm, spaced 1.3–2.5 (–3.3) cm, on adaxial side the same color as the adaxial surface, flat to slightly raised, on abaxial surface darker than the surface, slightly raised, glabrescent to scattered pubescent, arcuate-ascending, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins slightly visible on both sides; midvein adaxially flat to slightly elevated, abaxially raised, rounded, tomentose to puberulent, more pubescent to the sides; base truncate to subcordate, rarely deeply cordate, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex acute to acuminate. Staminate inflorescence 4.5–15.5 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, with trichomes dendritic (0.2–0.5 mm long), ferruginous; main axes with 9–15 ramifications, the first pair opposite to subopposite, the second and third ramifications sometimes opposite to subopposite, otherwise alternate; peduncle (1.3–) 1.7–4.3 × (0.13–) 0.21–0.3 cm; bracts 2–2.2 × 1–1.6 mm (measured on immature inflorescences). Staminate flowers in dense terminal fascicles of 9–25+ flowers, on a receptacle 1.5–1.7 mm wide, sometimes absent; perianth 1.5–2.8 mm long, ovate to obovate, fleshy, cream, yellowish brown, or ferruginous (probably by the trichomes) when fresh, connate 1–1.5 mm long, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface glabrous to almost glabrous; lobes 3, 1–1.1 × 0.5–0.8 mm, and 0.1–0.2 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; stamens 3, the filament column (0.4–) 0.5–0.8 mm long and 0.3–0.4 mm wide, glabrous, fleshy, straight and wide throughout its length, constricted at the apex; anthers 0.5–0.7 mm long, 0.3–0.4 mm wide; apiculus ca. 0.1 mm long, acuminate, separate. Pistillate inflorescence 4–7 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, the trichomes dendritic, ferruginous; peduncle 1.5–4.2 × 0.18–0.46 cm; main axes with 9–10 ramifications, the first and second pair (usually) opposite to subopposite, the other alternate; bracts not seen. Pistillate flowers in terminal fascicles of 3–10+ flowers, on a receptacle 2–4 mm wide; perianth 1.7–2.5 mm long (measurement from immature flower), globose, brown when fresh, connation not seen, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface glabrous; lobes probably 3, not seen properly due to the immaturity of flowers, ca. 0.2–0.3 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; gynoecium 1.1–2 × 1.2–2 mm, globose, densely pubescent, with ferruginous trichomes; stigma 2-lobed, 0.4–0.7 × 0.2 mm, sessile, drying blackish, slightly wavy at the margins. Infructescence 3.5–7.5 (–11.5) cm long, with 4–7 fruits, peduncle ca. 1.4–3.5 (–5) × 0.3–0.5 cm. Fruits 2–2.6 × 1.4–1.7 cm, when fresh green or brown (the latter probably due to the trichomes) and covered with brown trichomes, ovoid, without stipe, densely tomentose, the trichomes dendritic (0.1–0.4 mm long), sessile, ferruginous, falling very easily like dust, the surface smooth, the line of dehiscence slightly carinate, the base truncate to obtuse, apex acute; pericarp 1.5–2.3 mm thick; pedicel 0.4–0.7 cm long. Seed 2–2.3 × 1.1–1.3 cm, the testa drying brown to dark brown, sulcate and bullate; aril when fresh described as red, dark brown, brown-reddish to blackish when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

Virola excisa can be recognized by its long, lanceolate to obovate leaves that are truncate to subcordate at the base with an underside that is usually white grayish when dry and sparsely pubescent with stellate sessile trichomes (sometimes with dendritic trichomes along the veins) (Fig. 14B); lateral veins that are well separated, with the marginal and tertiary veins not very conspicuous; staminate flowers with the external perianth covered with dense pubescence of dendritic trichomes and a glabrous internal surface, a fleshy filament column that is similar in length ([0.4–] 0.5–0.8 mm long) to the anthers (0.5–0.7 mm long); fruits that are densely pubescent with trichomes that fall easily like dust; and the seed with a bullate, sulcate testa sulcate (Fig. 6I). Additionally, herbarium specimens are usually aromatic.

Figure 14. 

Comparison of abaxial surface, veins, and trichomes of A V. calophylla B V. excisa C V. obovata and D V. peruviana A from J. E. L. S. Ribeiro et al. 1138, MO B from A. [H.] Gentry & C. Díaz 58536, MO C from R. Rueda & J. Ruíz 621, MO D from C. A. Grández & A. Chiquispama 1065, MO. Scale bars: 1 cm.

The specific epithet of the new species comes from the word excisus, meaning cut out (Stearn 1992). The makes reference to the fact that several herbarium specimens of this new species come from felled trees that were killed to make way for oil pipes (e.g. V. Zak & S. Espinoza 4733, 5149; F. Hurtado 2980). This has created irreparable damage to nature, destroying the habitat of this and many other species, potentially paving the path toward their extinction.

Virola excisa is known from Colombia (Amazonas, Putumayo departments), Ecuador (Napo, Pastaza, Morona-Santiago provinces), Peru (Amazonas, Huánuco, Loreto, Pasco, Ucayali departments), and Brazil (Acre, Amazonas state) (Fig. 18B), where it occurs in primarily moist tropical forest. Some herbarium labels mention that it grows on hills with red soils, sandy clay soil, near black water or várzea. It ranges in elevation from 130–580 m, with two collections reaching 700 and 830 m.

Staminate flowers of Virola excisa have been collected in February, May to October, and pistillate flowers in May, July to September. Fruits have been collected in January to April, August to December.

Common names include in Colombia: sangre de toro (J. Cuatrecasas 10653 [F, without common name at COL]). Ecuador: gomenkowe (Wao tededo; Pérez et al. 2014), gunhuékonmo (Huaorani; E. Gudiño et al. 956), lugumpapu (Huaorani; D. Rubio & T. Coba 839), huapa (Quichua; E. Gudiño et al. 2139, 2154), numpa tsempu kumpari (Huambisa; V. Huashikat 2267, 2322), puca huapa (Quichua; H. Vargas 1590), tsempu (Huambisa; V. Huashikat 682). Peru: cumala blanca ([B.] Kröll 487), sempo (Aguaruna; J. J. Wurdack 2272). Brazil: ucuhuba ([W. A.] Ducke 396), ucuuba (M. Silveira et al. 840), ucuúba da folha grande (M. Silveira et al. 718). The trunk of V. excisa is used for construction of houses, while the aril attracts birds, rodents, and monkeys (Pérez et al. 2014, as V. obovata) or the wood used for firewood (M. Silveira et al. 840).

Virola excisa is Not Threatened following IUCN criteria B1a and B2a. It is known from 25 localities, has an EOO of 810,234 km², and an AOO of 112 km². While this species grows in regions of the world that are threatened by human landscape modification (Antonelli 2022), its distribution is wide enough that this species does not need to be considered threatened currently.

Of morphology apparent in herbarium specimens, the leaf blades and some flower and fruit features of V. excisa are similar to V. obovata, and most of the studied specimens were identified as such in Flora of Ecuador (Jaramillo et al. 2004). Both species share similarly shaped leaves that appear to be glabrous abaxially, but actually bear sparsely stellate and/or dendritic trichomes, or both kinds; staminate flowers with perianth that is nearly glabrous internally and the filament column of similar size to the anthers; and fruits that are covered with a conspicuous layer of ferruginous trichomes. Despite these morphological similarities, V. excisa differs from V. obovata in traits related to the leaf base, the perianth of staminate flowers, and fruit, pericarp, and seed size. Differences between these species are summarized in Table 9. In addition to the features in Table 9, there are distinguishing traits that are difficult to describe properly; compared to V. obovata, herbarium specimens of V. excisa tend to have more elongate leaves and staminate perianth, fruits usually have more conspicuous carina, and trichomes are denser and fall more easily.

Virola excisa resembles V. calophylla and especially V. peruviana in the shape of its leaves (including the base and lateral vein pattern) and long staminate inflorescences with perianth that is glabrous internally. In addition, V. calophylla and the new species have similar fruit morphology (at least when young). Virola excisa can be distinguished from V. calophylla by its abaxial leaf blades that are sparsely pubescent and puberulent (vs. densely pubescent and appearing squamose; see Fig. 14A), shorter, narrower staminate inflorescences, shorter perianth, and filament column that is similar in length to the anthers (vs. filament column longer than anthers). Immature fruits of V. calophylla are densely pubescent (e.g. D. Daly et al. 6773, INPA [image!], MO!, NY!) and appear similar to those of V. excisa; however, at maturity, its fruits tend to be minutely tomentelous to glabrescent (vs. densely tomentose; see Fig. 6E, I). Additionally, abaxial leaf blades of herbarium specimens of V. calophylla tend to be silver to golden.

Virola excisa can distinguished from V. peruviana by its staminate flowers with short anthers (0.5–0.7 mm vs. 1.1–1.6 mm long, from Smith and Wodehouse 1938) and fruits that are slightly carinate (vs. conspicuously carinate) and densely pubescent at maturity (vs. glabrescent). For a detailed comparison of the indument and carina of fruits between these two species see Figs 6I, K (fruits) and 14B, D (indument). Although, some specimens of V. excisa have a cordate leaf base (e.g. V. Huashikat 2267, MO; D. Rubio & T. Coba 839, MO), they are never as deeply cordate or as narrow as in V. peruviana, whose lobes also sometimes overlap or cover the twig (e.g. W. H. Lewis et al. 10074, MO).

The majority of specimens cited here as V. excisa, including the source of illustrations in Pérez et al. (2014) and Jaramillo et al. (2004) were previously identified as V. obovata. In addition to the list of paratypes of V. excisa below, we provide a list of specimens that correspond to V. obovata. Our comparison between these two species is based on these specimens, as well as images of the original material of V. obovata collected and described by the Italian-Brazilian botanist, Adolpho Ducke (A. Ducke 1509, A, F, IAN, MG, NY!, RB-2 sheets, US-2 sheets).

Colombia. Amazonas: Araracuara, Río Caquetá, margen derecha 3 km arriba de la isla Sumaeta, 00°36'S, 072°10'W, 200–300 m, 31 May 1990 (fl bud), E. Alvarez et al. 668 (COAH [n.v.], NY!); Parque Nacional Nataural Amacayacu, 03°47'S, 070°15'W, 200–220, 11 Nov 1991, J. Pipoly et al. 15818 (COL!). Putumayo: selva higrófila del río Putumayo, Puerto Porvenir, arriba de Puerto Ospina, 230–250 m, 19 Nov 1940 (fr), J. Cuatrecasas 10653 (COL!, F [image!]). Ecuador. Napo: Parque Nacional Yasuní, Carretera y Olecoducto de Maxus en construcción, Km 27, 00°35'S, 076°30'W, 250 m, 4–27 July 1993 (fl bud), M. Aulestia 23 (MO!, UPCB [n.v]); Parque Nacional Yasuní, Pozo petrolero Daimi 2, 00°55'S, 076°11'W, 200 m, 26 May–8 Jun 1988 (♂ fl bud), C. E. Cerón & F. Hurtado 3834 (INPA [image!], MEXU [image!], MO!, QCNE [n.v.], US [image!]); ibid., 26 May–8 Jun 1988 (♀ fl bud), C. E. Cerón & F. Hurtado 4147 (COL!, INPA [image!], MO!, NY!); Parque Nacional Yasuní, Pozo Petrolero “Amo II” de Conoco, 00°52'S, 076°05'W, 230 m, 11–17 Jan 1988 (fr), F. Coello 59 (MO!, NY!); La Joya de los Sachas, Comunidad de Pompeya, lado sur del Río Napo, Campamento de Maxus, Río Jivino, carretera Maxus Km 1–5, 00°25'S, 076°37'W, 220 m, 1–28 Sep 1992 (fr imm), A. Grijalva & G. Grefa 115 (MO!, NY!); ibid., 23–29 Nov 1992 (fr), A. Grijalva et al. 239 (MO!, QCA [n.v.]); La Joya de los Sachas, Pompeya, 00°25'S, 076°37'W, 250 m, 16–17 Aug 1992 (fr imm), E. Gudiño 1677 (COL!, MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); Pompeya, Río Indillama, entre la desembocadura al Napo y el cruce de la carretera de MAXUS, 00°25'S, 076°37'W, 250 m, 13 Dec 1992 (st, fr), E. Gudiño et al. 2139 (COL!, LOJA [n.v.], MO!, NY!, QCA [n.v.], UPCB [n.v.]); Pompeya, Carretera MAXUS km 3.9–5.2, 00°25'S, 076°37'W, 250 m, 14–15 Dec 1992 (fr), E. Gudiño et al. 2154 (COL!, LOJA [n.v.], MEXU [image!], MO!, QCA [n.v.], QCNE [n.v.]); Estación Experimental INIAP-Payamino, costado oeste del Río Payamino, 5 km al NW de Coca, 00°13'S, 077°10'W, 300 m, 25 Sep 1985 (fr), D. Neill et al. 6891 (INPA [image!], MO!, QCA [n.v.]); Maxus petroleum pipeline road, under construction, 2 km south of Río Napo, Comuna Pompeya, 00°30'S, 076°40'W, 220 m, 4 Dec 1992 (♀ fl, fr imm), D. Neill et al. 10182 (MO!, NY!); 5 km al Norte de Coca y de la vía Coca-Payamino, Finca Tipán, 00°25'S, 077°00'W, 250 m, 22 Oct 1988 (fr), W. Palacios 3186 (INPA [image!], MO!, PMA [image!], QCA [n.v.]); Tena, Estación Biológica Jatun Sacha, 10 km al oeste de la Estación, carretera hacia Tena, 01°03'S, 077°40'W, 500 m, 20 Sep 1989 (♀ fl bud), W. Palacios & C. Iguago 4435 (INPA [image!], MO!); Añangu, Parque Nacional Yasuní, 00°31'32"S, 076°23'W, 260–350 m, 30 May–21 Jun 1982 (bud fl), SEF no. 8934 (NY-2 sheets!); Estación Experimental INIAP-San Carlos, Reserva Florística EL Ahuano, 00°19'S 076°50'W, 250 m, 8 Sep 1986 (fr), J. Zaruma 605 (NY!). Pastaza: Arajuno, Campamentos temporales 9, 22 y 25, línea propuesta del oleoducto Villano-CPF por ARCO, Km 25 noroeste del pozo Villano 2, 01°27'S, 077°36'W, 700 m, 3–14 Sep 1998 (♂ fl bud), E. Freire & L. Santi 3380 (MO!); Pozo petrolero “Moretecocha” de ARCO, 75 km al este de Puyo, 01°34'S, 077°25'W, 580 m, 4–21 Oct 1990 (imm fr), E. Gudiño et al. 956 (MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); Pozo petrolero Villano 2 de ARCO, 01°25'S, 077°20'W, 400 m, 1–18 Dec 1991 (fr), F. Hurtado 2980 (MO!); Río Capihuari, tributary of Río Pastaza, 02°30'S, 076°50'W, 285 m, 23 July 1980 (bud fl), B. Øllgaard et al. 35140 (NY!); Río Curaray, dos horas río abajo del pueblo Curaray, en la boca del Río Namoyacu, 01°24'S, 076°45'W, 275 m, 14–18 Aug 1985 (♂ fl bud), W. Palacios & D. Neill 612 (INPA [image!], MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); Pozo Petrolero Villano 2, 01°29'S, 077°27'W, 24 July 1992 (♀ fl bud), W. Palacios 10279 (MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); Pozo Petrolero “Danta 2” de UNOCAL, 50 km al sur-sureste de Curaray, 01°47'S, 076°48'W, 365 m, 1–19 Oct 1990 (fr), D. Rubio & T. Coba 839 (INPA [image!], MEXU-2 sheets [image!], MO!); Ruta del oleoducto propuesto por ARCO, Villano-La Independencia, Km 24, 3 km al sur de San Virgilio, 01°24'S, 077°39'W, 830 m, 4 Sep 1997 (♂ fl), H. Vargas et al. 1590 (MO!, QCNE [n.v.]). Morona-Santiago: Pozo petrolero “Garza” de TENNECO, 35 km (aprox.) al noreste de Montalvo, 01°49'S, 076°42'W, 260 m, 2–12 Jul 1989 (♂ fl bud), V. Zak & S. Espinoza 4733 (INPA [image!], MO!, QCNE [n.v.]); [without province], margen izquierda del río San Miguel, entre Puerto Nuevo y Conejo, 28 Mar 1953 (fr), G. Gutierréz 2716 (COL!). Peru. Amazonas: Valle del Río Santiago, aprox. 65 km N de Pinglo, quebrada Caterpiza, 2–3 km atrás de la comunidad de Caterpiza, [03°50'00"S, 077°40'00"W], 200 m, 19 Sep 1979 (fr), V. Huashikat 682 (INPA [image!], MO!); ibid.,15 Mar 1980 (fr), V. Huashikat 2267 (INPA [n.v.], MO!); ibid., 21 Mar 1980 (fr), V. Huashikat 2322 (MO!); Condorcanqui, Distrito El Cenepa, Comunidad de Mamayaque, 04°34'49"S, 078°14'01"W, 400 m, 11 Aug 1997 (fr), R. Rojas et al. 0272 (MO!); Bagua, Rainforest along Río Marañón 2–10 km above mouth of Río Santiago, 250–275 m, 14–15 Oct 1962 (fl), J. J. Wurdack 2272 (NY!). Huánuco: Yuyapichis, Puerto Inca, 00°40'S, 075°02'W, 270 m, 01–15 Jul 1989 (bud fl), [B.] Kröll 476 (NY!); ibid., 1–15 Jul 1989 (bud fl), [B.] Kröll 487 (NY!); ibid., 1–15 Aug 1987 (♀ fl), [B.] Kröll 527 (NY!); ibid., 16–31 Dec 1989 (fr), [without collector name] Flores & Tello 192 (NY!); ibid., 16–30 Jun 1990 (fl bud), [without collector name] Flores & Tello 1801 (NY!); ibid., 16–31 Aug 1990 (♀ fl), [without collector name] Flores & Tello 1995 (NY!); ibid., 1–15 Aug 1987 (♂ fl), [without collector name] Saito 14 (NY!). Loreto: Habanillo, Km 67, carretera Dtto. Iquitos-Nauta, 04°10'S, 073°30'W, 130 m, 03 Jun 1988 (fl bud), R. Vásquez et al. 10712 (INPA [image!], MO!); Ucayali, vicinity of LSV base camp, Quebrada Shesha, tributary of Rio Abajao, ca, 65 km NE of Pucallpa, 08°02'S, 073°55'W, 250 m, 25 Jun 1987 (♂ fl), A. [H.] Gentry & C. Díaz 58536 (MO!, NY!). Pasco: 6 km N of Puente Lorencillo No. 1 on Carretera Marginal, 32 km S of Dantas, 09°56'S, 075°00'W, 350 m, 30 Jun 1987 (st), A. [H.] Gentry & C. Díaz 58640 (MO!). Ucayali: Río Blanco, [not elev.], 30 Jul 1923 (♂ fl), G. Tessmann 3055 (NY!). Brazil. Acre: Cruzeiro do Sul, Rio Juruá, right margin of Igarapé Viseu, ca. 6 km from left bank of Rio Juruá, 08°15'S, 072°44'W, [not elev.], 05 Nov 1991 (fr), C. A. Cid Ferreira et al. 10586 (NY!, UFACPZ [n.v.], UPCB [n.v.]); Jordão, along Rio Jordão, 09°13'28"S, 071°58'26"W, 230–250 m, 06 Feb 2009 (fr), R. Goldenberg 1316 (NY!, RB [image!]); Porto Acre, Bacia do Rio Purus, Reserva Florestal de Humaitá, margem esquerda do Rio Acre, ca. 4 horas de barco abaixo de Rio Branco, 10°07'S, 069°13'W [not elev.], 03 Nov 1993 (fr), M. Silveira et al. 718 (INPA [image!], NY, UFACPZ [n.v.]); Sena Madureira, trail from W bank of Rio Iaco to Rio Purus, 3 km above confluence, [not elev.], 5 Oct 1968 (fr), G. T. Prance et al. 7862 (F [image!], INPA [image!], NY!, P [image!], U [image!], US [image!]); Tarauacá, 1–3 km east of Rio Tarauacá, at Tarauacá, [not elev.], 24 Sep 1968 (fr), G. T. Prance 7510 (INPA [image!], NY!, US [image!]); Bacia do Rio Juruá, Rio Tarauacá, 08°27'39"S, 071°22'46"W, [not elev.], 19 Sep 1994 (imm fr), M. Silveira et al. 840 (INPA [image!], NY!). Amazonas: Limoeiro, Est. Ecológica do Juamí Japurá, Rio Japurá margem direita abaixo da confluência com Rio Puruê, [not elev.], 16 Apr 1986 (fr), C. A. Cid Ferreira et al. 7240 (NY!, UPCB [n.v.]); Parana do Autaz-Mirim, lago de Cobra, [not elev.], 25 Aug 1973 (♀ fl & imm fr], C. C. Berg et al. P19742 (INPA [image!], NY!, US [image!]); Rio Solimões, loco Bom Futuro (ripa boreali fluvii, super São Paulo de Olivença), [not elev.], 4 Feb 1937 (♂ fl), [W. A.] Ducke 396 (NY!, US [image!]); near mouth of Rio Embira (tributary of Rio Tarauaca), 07°30'S, 070°15'W, [not elev.], 06 Jun 1933 (♂ fl), B. A. Krukoff 4713 (NY-2 sheets!, US [image!]); Lábrea, trail from W bank of Rio Purus, opposite Labrea, [not elev.], 30 Oct 1968 (fr), G. T. Prance 8106 (NY!, US [image!]); Rio Purus, Lago Preto, 2 km north of Lábrea, [not elev.], 25 Jun 1971 (bud fl), G. T. Prance et al. 13692 (NY!, US [image!]).

Colombia. Amazonas: Puerto Nariño, [not elev.], 24 Jul 1965 (♂ fl), G. Lozano C. et al. 588 (COL!); trapecio Amazónico, entre los ríos Loretoyacu y Hamacayacu, [not elev.], [s.d.] Dec 1945 (fr), J. M. Duque-Jaramillo 2366 (COL); Araracuara, Pintadillo (frente a la tercer isla), margen izquierda río Caquetá, [not elev.], 14 Apr 1986 (fr), J. H. Torres et al. 3159 (COL). Peru. Loreto: Maynas, Rio Yuvineto, affluent du Putumayo, [not elev.], 06 Feb 1978 (fr), S. Barrier 549 (NY!); Maynas, near Villa Nueva, Borro Indian village on upper Río Yaguasyacu, tributary of Río Ampiyacu, [not elev.], 8 Nov 1977 (fr), A. [H.] Gentry & J. Revilla 20448 (MO!); Maynas, in vicinity of Mishana, between Río Nanay and Río Itaya, 130 m, 29 Nov 1977 (fr), A. [H.] Gentry et al. 21006 (MO); Maynas, Mishana, Río Nanay, halfway between Iquitos and Santa María de Nanay, 130 m, [s.d.] 1979 (♂ fl), R. Ramírez 10 (MO!); Iquitos, Allpahuayo, bosque del Instituto de Investigación de la Amazonía Peruana, km 21 carretera Quistococha-Nauta, [03°58'16"S, 073°25'07"W], [not elev.], 5 Jul 1992 (♂ fl), R. Rueda & J. Ruíz 621 (MO!); Maynas, Llachapa, (Explor Napo), Río Napo, 130 m, 21 Jan 1983 (fr), R. Vásquez & N. Jaramillo 3822 (MEXU [image!], MO!, NY!); Iquitos, Allpahuayo, Estación Experimental del Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP), [03°58'16"S, 073°25'07"W], [not elev.], 22 Aug 1990 (imm fr), R. Vásquez et al. 14250 (MO!).

Peru. Pasco: Oxapampa, Dist. Palcazú, Evaluación de los Recursos del Bosque 0.5 ha en la Reserva Comunal Yanesha, Comunidad Nativa Loma Linda-Laguna, Sector Nueva Aldea, 10°23'13"S, 075°05'28"W, 600–620 m, 17 Oct 2005 (fr), A. Monteagudo, A. Peña, R. Francis, L. Quicha, E. Camavilca & W. G. Camaña 10761 (holotype: MO! [accession 6101576, barcode MO-2134612], isotypes: AMAZ [n.v.], HUT [n.v.], MOL [n.v.], USM [n.v.], US [accession 3558469; image!]). Fig. 15

Figure 15. 

Virola parkeri A branch with staminate inflorescence B part of staminate inflorescence C lateral view of staminate perianth with an enlargement of trichomes (left) D medial sections of staminate flower, with detail of the lobe with trichomes (above left), and androecium (right) E branch with infructescence and detail of abaxial surface of leaf blade showing the midvein with enlargement of trichomes (top right) F different views of the fruits, detail of fruit surface (left), and an open fruit showing the seed covered by a laciniate aril (below). Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on M. Huamán et al. 334 (A–D MO), and A. Monteagudo et al. 10761 (E–F MO).

Virola parkeri morphologically differs from all other species by the combinations of the fruit with a conspicuous “wing” along its dehiscence line, the surface is bullate and inconspicuously pubescent, flowers with the column of filaments shorter (0.2–0.4 mm long) than the anthers (0.5–0.7 mm long), leaf blades covered abaxially with inconspicuous, stellate and sessile trichomes and lateral veins that are evenly spaced.

Tree 28–35 m tall, diameter, inner bark not described. Exudate reddish, location of exudate on plant not stated. Twigs 0.2–0.7 cm thick, terete, puberulent to glabrescent, trichomes stellate, sessile, brown-reddish, without lenticels. Leaves young terminal bud ca. 1.1 × 0.2 cm; petiole 1.4–1.7 × 0.16–0.22 cm, slightly canaliculate, puberulent (especially within the channel) to glabrescent, the trichomes stellate, sometimes with hyaline squamiform structures between the trichomes; leaf blades 19.7–24 × 5.2–6.4 cm, oblong; adaxial surface of mature leaves drying brown to grayish, glabrous, the surface smooth, sometimes shiny; abaxial surface drying white-grayish to pale brown, sparsely pubescent, the trichomes stellate, ca. 0.1 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome usually colorless, but sometimes with the central part reddish, the branches colorless; lateral veins 15–17 per side, 4 veins per 5 cm, spaced 1.5–1.7 (–2) cm, on adaxial side flat, the same color as the adaxial surface or a little darker, on abaxial surface slightly raised, tomentose, arcuate-ascending, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins very slightly visible on both sides; midvein adaxially slightly elevated, immerse in a small channel, abaxially raised, rounded, puberulent to glabrescent, usually with denser pubescence on the sides; base acute, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex acute. Staminate inflorescence 5.8–7 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, with dendritic trichomes, ferruginous; peduncle 1.5–1.8 × 0.18–0.24 cm; main axes with 9–10 ramifications, the first pair opposite, subopposite or alternate, the others alternate; bracts not seen. Staminate flowers (in bud) in dense terminal fascicles of 10–30+ flowers, on a receptacle 1.5–2.5 mm wide; perianth 1.5–1.8 mm long, ovate to lanceolate, creamy yellow when fresh, connate to ca. 1 mm in length, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface moderately pubescent (especially on the lobes); lobes 3, ca. 0.9 × 0.5 mm, ca. 0.2 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; stamens 3, the filament column 0.2–0.4 mm long and ca. 0.2–0.3 mm thick, glabrous, straight, constricted to slightly constricted at the apex; anthers 0.5–0.7 mm long, ca. 0.2 mm wide; apiculus ca. 0.8 mm long, acuminate, connate. Pistillate inflorescences and pistillate flowers not seen. Infructescence ca. 2.5 cm long, with 1–5 fruits, peduncle ca. 1 × 0.6 cm. Fruits 3–3.6 × 2.8–3.1 cm, green when fresh (brown to blackish when dry), oblate, shortly stipitate, very inconspicuously pubescent (not falling like dust), puberulent at the base and sometimes on the carina, the trichomes stellate (sometimes with few dendritic), sessile, ferruginous, the surface bullate, the line of dehiscence winged, the wing ca. 0.4 cm long, the base obtuse, the apex rounded; pericarp ca. 0.3 mm thick (on the thickest side; ca. 0.2 mm thick on the thinnest side); pedicel 0.4–0.6 cm long. Seed ca. 1.9 × 1.6 cm, the testa brown to blackish when dry, smooth; aril color when fresh not described, blackish when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

The most striking character of Virola parkeri is its fruit, which is reminiscent of Saturn’s form: it is oblate with a conspicuous “wing” along its dehiscence line (Fig. 6L, 15F). The fruit is further bullate and inconspicuously pubescent. Other characteristics that distinguish this new species are its leaf blades that are covered abaxially with inconspicuous, usually colorless stellate and sessile trichomes and lateral veins that are evenly spaced; staminate flowers with perianth that is densely pubescent outside and the inner side moderately pubescent, the lobes are relatively thin, the column of filaments are shorter (0.2–0.4 mm long) than the anthers (0.5–0.7 mm long); and the thin, laciniate aril that covers the seed almost to the base.

The specific epithet honors Theodore A. Parker III (1 Apr. 1953–3 Aug. 1993), renowned and talented ornithologist and research associate of the LSU Museum of Natural Science. Parker died in a plane crash on August 3, 1993 while surveying a remote forest in Ecuador, along with three other people: Raul Mortensen (the pilot), Eduardo Aspiazu (ecologist), and Alwyn H. Gentry (botanist). Virola parkeri occurs in Peru, a country where Parker spent much of his life studying birds and protecting natural resources. In this country, Parker together with Scott Robinson, established a Big Day record (331 bird species). He also contributed to a field guide to the birds of Peru, an important resource for birdwatching ecotourism. Finally, Parker was part of the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) at Conservation International, which involved teams of scientists conducting biological surveys in remote areas of the tropics to determine their level of biodiversity and potential for conservation. Thanks to Parker’s efforts, Bolivia established Madidi National Park, one of the most important centers for biodiversity.

Virola parkeri is known only from Peru (Pasco Department) (Fig. 18C). It is found in primary forest between 400 and 620 m in elevation.

Staminate flowers and fruits of Virola parkeri have been recorded in October. Pistillate flowers were not seen in the studied material.

Common names include banderín and rrohuatquech (Peru; M. Huamán et al. 334). The wood is used in the manufacture of furniture and boxes, and house building (M. Huamán et al. 334).

Virola parkeri is Critically Endangered following IUCN criterion B2a. Justifying this status, it is known from only a single specimen, collected in 2008. The only locality of this species is within the Loma Linda community of the Yanesha indigenous community, and so may benefit from an ongoing compensated community-based forest monitoring program (Kowler et al. 2020).

Virola parkeri is morphologically similar to V. yasuniana from Ecuador (which is formally described below) in various leaf traits, including overall shape, trichomes on the abaxial surface, lateral vein separation, and color when dry; additionally, both species share staminate perianth that is moderately pubescent internally and fruits with a markedly carinate dehiscence line, appearing like a wing. Differences among the two species are summarized in Table 10.

Virola parkeri’s fruit with a wing-like carina resembles those of V. peruviana (see Fig. 6K, L). However, the new species is distinguished from V. peruviana in its leaves with acute bases (vs. usually cordate), fewer lateral veins (15–17 vs. 17–30 per side) that are usually more separated (1.5–1.7 [–2] vs. 0.6–1.3 [–1.7] cm), staminate inflorescences that are narrower and shorter, staminate flowers with the filament column shorter than anthers (0.5–0.7 mm vs. 1.1–1.6 mm long; from Smith and Wodehouse 1938), and oblate (vs. ellipsoid) fruits with rounded apex (vs. acute or apiculate).

The type specimen of Virola parkeri (A. Monteagudo et al. 10761) was previously identified as Otoba parvifolia (Markgr.) A. H. Gentry. However, while species of Otoba have malpighiaceous trichomes on abaxial leaf surfaces of leaf blades, these trichomes are dendritic or stellate in Virola. The other specimen studied (M. Huamán et al. 334) was identified as V. elongata. Duplicates may have been distributed under these names.

Peru. Pasco: Oxapampa, Palcazú, Comunidad Nativa Loma Linda-Laguna, sector Nueva Aldea, Bosque de la Asociación Forestal Yanesha Concoll-Toroñ (AFYCT), 10°21'51"S, 075°03'20"W, 400 m, 16 Oct 2008 (♂ fl), M. Huamán et al. 334 (MO!, P [image!]).

Colombia. Antioquia: Las Orquídeas, Vereda Calles, Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas, Quebrada Honda, filo al NW de La Cabaña Calles, Parcela W, subparcelas W 8-W 9, 1300 m, 06°29'N, 076°14'W, 11 Dec 1992 (♂ fl), J. Pipoly, Á. Cogollo, D. Cádenas, M. Villa, O. Alvarez, L. Velez 16962 (holotype: MO! [accession 05011143, barcode MO-2657528], isotypes: not seen). Fig. 16

Figure 16. 

Virola tuckerae A branch with staminate inflorescence B partial staminate inflorescence C lateral view of staminate perianth with an enlargement of trichomes (right) D medial section of staminate flower and androecium (right) E Leaf blade on adaxial side, with detail of petiole and trichomes F fruits with detail of trichomes (left) and an open fruit showing seed covered with laciniate aril (right). Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on J. Pipoly et al. 16797 (A–D MO), and Á. Cogollo et al. 4147 (E–F MO).

Virola tuckerae is similar to V. cogolloi in share similar distributions, leaf blades that are densely pubescent abaxially. Morphologically, it differs in having staminate flowers with long filament column (1.2–1.4 mm long vs. 1.1–1.2 mm), fruits with an inconspicuous layer and persistent trichomes (conspicuous layer of trichomes, caducous, that fall like dust). Virola tuckerae previously confused with V. sebifera. It differs from these by the staminate flowers with perianth internally densely pubescent (vs. glabrous or almost glabrous), long staminal column (0.6–0.7 [–0.9] mm long vs. 0.2–0.6 mm), and large fruits (2.7 × 2.5 cm vs. 1–1.9 [–2.1]).

Tree (12–) 18–30 m × 17–30.1 cm diameter, inner bark not described. Exudate red, location of exudate on plant not stated, or in the fruit hyaline and oxidizing red. Twigs 0.21–0.37 cm thick, terete or slightly compressed, tomentose, trichomes dendritic, sessile, ferruginous, without lenticels or lenticels very small and scattered. Leaves young terminal bud 1.2–2 × 0.24–0.31 cm; petiole 1.1–1.7 (–2) × 0.23–0.35 (–0.5) cm, slightly canaliculate, not winged or slightly winged (J. Pipoly et al. 16805), tomentose, the trichomes dendritic; leaf blades 21–29.5 (–33.5) × 5–7.2 (–11.7) cm, narrowly oblong or rarely elliptical; adaxial surface when drying on mature leaves brown to blackish brown, the surface smooth, sometimes shiny, glabrous; abaxial surface when drying pale brown to grayish brown, densely pubescent, the trichomes stellate, ca. 0.1 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome pale reddish, sometimes a little darker, the branches pale reddish and not contrasting much in color with the central part of the trichome; lateral veins 16–19 per side, 3–4 (–6) veins per 5 cm, spaced 1.1–1.8 (–2.1) cm, on adaxial side, the same color as the adaxial surface or slightly darker, flat to slightly raised, on abaxial surface blackish to brown reddish, raised, puberulent to glabrescent above, densely pubescent to the sides, arcuate-ascending distally, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins very slightly visible on both sides, but especially above; midvein adaxially flat to slightly elevated, abaxially raised, rounded, tomentose to puberulent, more pubescent to the sides; base cuneate, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex acute. Staminate inflorescence 5–9.5 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, trichomes dendritic, ferruginous; peduncle 0.6–1.8 (–2.8) × 0.2–0.38 cm; main axes with (3–) 5–9 (–12) ramifications, the first pair opposite to subopposite, the others alternate; bracts not seen. Staminate flowers (in bud) in dense terminal fascicles of 9–20 flowers, on a receptacle 2–3 mm wide; perianth 3.5–5 mm long, oblong, fleshy, ferruginous when fresh (probably by the trichomes), connate to 1.5–2.5 mm in length, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface densely pubescent (especially in the lobes); lobes 3, 2–2.5 × 1.2–1.7 mm, and 0.2–0.5 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrate); stamens 3, the filament column 0.6–0.7 (–0.9) mm long and 0.2 mm wide, glabrous, straight or sometimes a little wider at the base, not constricted at the apex; anthers 1.2–1.6 mm long, and 0.2–0.4 mm wide; apiculus 0.1–0.2 mm long, acuminate, slightly separated or connate. Pistillate inflorescence and flowers unknown. Infructescence unknown. Fruit 2.7 × 2.5 cm (only one seen, and that immature; Á. Cogollo et al. 4147), when fresh green and covered with brown trichomes, globose, densely tomentose, the trichomes dendritic (ca. 0.1–0.2 mm long), sessile, ferruginous, that fall as easily as dust, the surface probably smooth, the line of dehiscence slightly carinate, the base and the apex obtuse; pericarp ca. 2.4 mm thick; pedicel unknown. Seed length unknown × ca. 1.4 cm, the testa brown when dry, slightly ribbed distally; aril color not described when fresh, blackish when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

Virola tuckerae can be recognized by its narrow, oblong leaves with relatively close lateral veins (3–4 [–6] veins per 5 cm) and a cuneate base; its short-pedunculate staminate inflorescence with flowers organized in dense fascicles; its staminate flowers with fleshy perianth that is densely pubescent on both sides and a straight filament column that is shorter (0.6–0.7 [–0.9]) mm long) than the anthers (1.2–1.6 mm long); and its globe fruit that is densely tomentose with dendritic and ferruginous trichomes that fall like dust (Fig. 6N). Like other species described here, the new species is covered with stellate and sessile trichomes on the abaxial side of the leaf blades.

It is a pleasure to name a species of Virola in honor of Dr. Shirley Cotter Tucker, a botanist, lichenologist, and Professor Emeritus at Louisiana State University (LSU). Despite many challenges she faced as a woman in science, Shirley has had an illustrious career marked by many honors, including a Boyd Professorship, the most prestigious academic rank granted at LSU to internationally renowned scholars. Shirley is an important leader in botany, and served as president of two of the USA’s most prominent botanical societies, the Botanical Society of America and the American Society of Plant Taxonomists. Shirley’s intellectual contributions to botany are lasting, providing the foundation framework from which current research on floral morphology and evolution builds. Much of Shirley’s academic research (which includes more than 100 published articles) has focused on floral morphology and anatomy, especially of legumes and magnoliids— including studies within Myristicaceae (Armstrong and Tucker 1986), making it particularly special to name a species of Virola in her honor. She maintains her passion for lichens into retirement, and actively curates loans of lichen specimens from her home in Santa Barbara, California. The generous philanthropy of Shirley and her late husband, Kenneth Tucker, have greatly benefitted the botanical community. At LSU, where two of the authors work, donations from the Tucker family established the Shirley C. Tucker Endowed Chair in Plant Systematics. The LSU herbarium is named in her honor.

Virola tuckerae is only know from Antioquia, Colombia (Fig. 18A). It has been collected in premontane wet forest at 1300–1420 m elevation.

Virola tuckerae was collected with flowers in December and fruit specimens collected in February. Pistillate flowers were not seen in the studied material.

Sebo cordillero (Colombia; Á. Cogollo et al. 4147).

Virola tuckerae is Endangered following IUCN criterion B2a. Justifying this status, it is known from two localities and has an AOO of 4 km². While V. tuckerae benefits from its occurrence within Las Orquídeas National Park, this region (including within the national park) is still vulnerable to deforestation to expand human activities, including agriculture and livestock grazing (Pedraza-Peñalosa 2015; González-Caro and Vásquez 2017).

All the studied specimens with flowers of Virola tuckerae were previously identified as V. sebifera, a species that is widely distributed from Central to South America. While V. sebifera has variable leaf morphology (i.e., shape, base, apex), it differs from V. tuckerae in its long staminate inflorescences (8–23 cm long vs. 5–9.5 cm long), internally glabrous or almost glabrous perianth (vs. densely pubescent), shorter staminal column (0.2–0.6 mm vs. 0.6–0.7 [–0.9] mm long), and smaller fruits (1–1.9 [–2.1] × 0.7–1.4 [–1.7] cm vs. 2.7 × 2.5 cm) that are usually covered by the dense and thick layer of trichomes. While the type of abaxial leaf pubescence is variable in V. sebifera, dendritic, pediculate trichomes are common (vs. stellate, sessile trichomes). Further, V. sebifera usually occurs at lower elevations.

Virola tuckerae shares similarities with V. yasuniana, including its leaf shape, sessile, stellate trichomes on the abaxial leaf surface, and the color of dried herbarium specimens. Virola yasuniana is a species primarily from the lowlands of Ecuador (200–480 [1000] m elevations) that is formally described below. However, V. tuckerae differs from it in its densely pubescent abaxial leaf surface (vs. sparsely pubescent to glabrescent in V. yasuniana) (Fig. 4N, O), staminate flowers with perianth that is densely pubescent internally (vs. moderately pubescent) and long anthers (1.2–1.6 mm vs. 0.5–0.6 mm long), and densely pubescent fruits (vs. puberulent).

Finally, Virola tuckerae and V. cogolloi, grow closely in the same region (Urrao, sector Calles, Colombia); the differences and similarities between these species are discussed under V. cogolloi.

As mentioned above, collections with flower have been previously identified as V. sebifera. The specimen with fruit (Á. Cogollo et al. 4147) was previously identified as V. elongata. Duplicates may have been distributed under these names.

Colombia. Antioquia: Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas, Margen derecha del Río Calles y de la qubrada “El Guaguo”, 06°32'N, 076°19'W, 1390–1420 m, 12 Feb 1989 (fr), Á. Cogollo et al. 3924 (COL!); Urrao, Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas, Margen derecha del Río Calles, 06°32'N, 076°19'W, 1300 m, 21 Feb 1989 (fr), Á. Cogollo et al. 4147 (COL!, MO!); Urrao, Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas, Vereda Calles Quebrada Honda, filo NW de La Cabaña Calles, 06°29'N, 076°14'W, 1330 m, 8 Dec 1992 (♂ fl), J. Pipoly et al. 16797 (MO!, NY!); ibid., 8 Dec 1992 (♂ fl), J. Pipoly et al. 16805 (MO!, NY!); Las Orquídeas, Vereda Calles, filo NW de La Cabaña Calles, 06°29'N, 076°14'W, 1330 m, 10 Dec 1992 (♂ fl), J. Pipoly et al. 16881 (MO!, NY!); ibid., 10 Dec 1992 (♂ fl), J. Pipoly et al. 16888 (MO!).

Ecuador. Pastaza: Pastaza Cantón, Pozo petrolero “Ramírez”, 20 km al sur de la población de Curaray, 300 m, 01°32'S, 076°51'W, 21–28 Feb 1990 (fr), V. Zak & S. Espinoza 5149 (holotype: MO! [accession 04782630, barcode MO-713299], isotypes: NY!, QCNE [n.v.], US [accession 3625319; image!). Fig. 17

Figure 17. 

Virola yasuniana A branch with staminate inflorescence, with detail of midvein and trichomes (upper right) B partial staminate inflorescence C lateral view of staminate perianth D medial section of staminate flower (right) and androecium (left) E branch with pistillate inflorescence F lateral view perianth (right) of pistillate flower and gynoecium (left) G Medial section of pistillate flower, showing detail of trichomes on gynoecium (right) H different views of the fruits, and an open fruit (right) showing the seed covered by a laciniate aril. Drawn by Bobbi Angell based on V. Zak & S. Espinoza 5039 (A–D MO), C. Cerón & F. Hurtado 6560 (E–G MO); V. Zak & S. Espinoza 5149 (H MO).

Virola yasuniana morphologically differ from all others species by the combinations of large fruits (3.4–4.2 × 3.1–4 cm) with very conspicuous wings in the line of dehiscence, staminate flowers, with a filaments column that is wide at the base, constricted at the apex, and usually shorter (0.3–0.5 mm long) than the anthers (0.5–0.6 mm long).

Tree 15–30 m × 30–40 cm diameter, outer bark brown, powdery, rough and thin, inner bark orange-red. Exudate translucent on internal bark, or watery reddish or reddish purple, location of exudate on plant not stated. Twigs 0.2–0.4 cm thick, terete, puberulent to glabrescent, trichomes stellate, sessile, brown-reddish to whitish, sometimes slightly lenticellate. Leaves young terminal bud 1–2 × 0.19–0.28 cm; petiole 1.1–1.7 × 0.15–0.21 cm, canaliculate, sometimes very short alate, puberulent, sometimes tomentose, the trichomes stellate; leaf blades 15.7–27.5 × 4.4–6.6 cm, lanceolate to oblong; adaxial surface when drying on mature leaves pale to dark brown, grayish, or blackish, the surface smooth, sometimes shiny, glabrous; abaxial surface when drying grayish, pale to dark brown, or white-grayish, sparsely pubescent to glabrescent, the trichomes stellate, ca. 0.1 mm diameter, sessile, the central part of the trichome colorless or reddish, the branches brown-reddish or colorless; lateral veins 14–18 per side, 4–5 veins per 5 cm, spaced 0.9–1.5 (–1.9) cm, on adaxial side, the same color as the adaxial surface or a little darker, flat, on abaxial surface slightly raised, glabrous to scattered pubescent, arcuate-ascending, slightly anastomosing near the margin and without forming a very marked intramarginal vein; tertiary veins very slightly visible on both sides; midvein adaxially slightly elevated, abaxially raised, rounded to triangular, puberulent to glabrescent; base acute, not revolute, flat; margin flat; apex acute. Staminate inflorescence 6–6.7 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, trichomes appressed dendritic, ferruginous; peduncle 1.2–1.7 × 0.19–0.26 cm; main axes with 6–9 ramifications, the first pair opposite to subopposite, the others alternate; bracts not seen. Staminate flowers (in bud) in dense terminal fascicles of 15–25+ flowers, on a receptacle 2.1–3 mm wide; perianth 1.3–1.8 mm long, subglobose to infundibuliform to ovate, subcarnose, brown when fresh, connate to 1.2–1.5 mm in length, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic-stellate trichomes, internal surface moderately pubescent (especially in the lobes); lobes 3, 0.7–1 × 0.5–0.8 mm, ca. 0.1 mm thick, without resinous punctuations when rehydrated; stamens 3, the filament column 0.3–0.5 mm long, ca. 0.2–0.3 mm wide, glabrous, wide at the base and constricted at the apex; anthers 0.5–0.6 mm long, and 0.3–0.4 mm wide; apiculus ca. 0.1 mm long, acuminate, connate. Pistillate inflorescence 2.6–.2.9 cm long, axes flattened, tomentose, with trichomes dendritic, ferruginous; peduncle ca. 1 × 0.2–0.3 cm; bracts not seen. Pistillate flowers in terminal fascicles of 1–2 flowers, on a receptacle 2.5–3.5 mm wide; perianth ca. 3–3.1 mm long, ovate, subcarnose, brown when fresh, connate by ca. 1.5–2 mm long, external surface densely pubescent with ferruginous and dendritic trichomes, internal surface moderately pubescent (especially in the lobes), sometimes slightly pubescent at the base; lobes 3, ca. 1.3–1.8 × 1.1–1.3 mm, and ca. 0.1 mm thick; gynoecium ca. 2–3 × 1.6–2.4 mm, globose, densely pubescent, with ferruginous trichomes; stigma 2-lobed, ca. 0.3–0.5 × 0.3 mm, erect, flat seen from above, drying blackish, slightly wavy at the margins. Infructescence 2.3–3.4 cm long, with 1–2 fruits, peduncle 0.7–1.5 × 0.34–0.6 cm. Fruits 3.4–4.2 × 3.1–4 cm (including wings), green when fresh (blackish when dry), ellipsoid to somewhat flattened (immature), shortly stipitate, puberulent, the trichomes stellate, sessile, ferruginous or whitish and not falling like dust, the surface rugulose, the line of dehiscence winged, the wing 0.4–0.7 cm long, the base rounded to subcordate, the apex rounded; pericarp 1.3 and 2.3 mm thick (measured from two specimens); pedicel 0.7–1 cm long. Seed ca. 2.5 × 1.9 cm, the testa drying dark brown to yellowish, slightly ribbed distally; aril color when fresh described once as red, brown-reddish to blackish when dry, the texture dry and thin, laciniate almost to the base, in narrow bands distally.

The very distinctive fruits of Virola yasuniana, which are large with very conspicuous wings in the line of dehiscence (Fig. 6M), make it almost impossible to confuse with any other species of Virola already described. Other characteristics that distinguish this new species include leaf blades that are abaxially covered with inconspicuous stellate and sessile trichomes, evenly spaced lateral veins that are comparatively spaced, and moderately pubescent internal perianth in staminate flowers, and a filaments column that is wide at the base, constricted at the apex, and usually shorter (0.3–0.5 mm long) than the anthers (0.5–0.6 mm long).

The specific epithet refers to Parque Nacional Yasuní, where most of the collections of this new species come from. At present, 2700 vascular plant species are documented from Yasuní, including a high diversity of lianas, epiphytes, and ferns; it is estimated its flora comprises approximately 3213 species; Yasuní is also home to ca. 1570 species of birds, fishes, mammals, amphibians and reptiles (Bass et al. 2010; Pérez et al. 2014). The description of Virola yasuniana is one step closer to a full documentation of this region.

Virola yasuniana is known from the Napo and Pastaza provinces of Ecuador, where it occurs in primary forests, on hills with red soil, or soils composed of sedimentary rocks. Is also located in Acre state of Brazil, where it grows in terra firme on poorly drained terrace (Fig. 18A). It ranges from 200–480 m in elevation, with a single collection reaching 1000 m (C. Cerón & F. Hurtado 6560).

Figure 18. 

Geographic distribution of the new species of Virola.

Staminate flowers of Virola yasuniana have been collected in January, February and November, while pistillate flowers have been collected in April, May, and July. Fruits are known from February, March, June, and September.

Dobompapoca (Ecuador: Huaorani; M. Aulestia & O. Gonti 1969); guapa (Ecuador: Quichua; C. Cerón & F. Hurtado 6560). The wood has commercial use (C. Cerón & F. Hurtado 6560).

Virola yasuniana is Vulnerable following IUCN criterion B2a. It is known from two localities, has an EOO of 117,581 km², and an AOO of 32 km². This species benefits from its occurrence in the Yasuní National Park of Ecuador, which experiences very low rates of deforestation (Bass et al. 2010; van der Hoek 2017), even while the broader region is experiencing land use changes (Heredia-R et al. 2021).

It is possible to confuse Virola yasuniana with V. parkeri from Peru due to their similar leaves (i.e. shape, color when dry, base, venations, and trichomes), staminate perianth that is pubescents on both surfaces, and markedly carinate fruit. Differences among the two species are summarized in Table 11.

Herbarium specimens of Virola yasuniana were previously identified as V. calophylla, V. obovata, or V. peruviana, all of which have leaf blades with lateral veins that are well separated and stellate, sessile trichomes on abaxial leaf surface. Additionally, the new species shares fruits with a conspicuous carina with V. peruviana. Differences among these species are summarized in Table 10.

Several collections of Virola yasuniana were treated as V. obovata in Flora of Ecuador (H. Vargas & J. Cerda 678, V. Zak & S. Espinoza 4871, 5039, 5049, 5149; Jaramillo et al. 2004). Additionally, studied with “aberrant fruits” that is discussed under V. peruviana in Flora of Ecuador (Jaramillo et al. 2004) correspond with this new species (C. Cerón & F. Hurtado 6560, M. Aulestia & G. Grefa 247, M. Aulestia & O. Gonti 1969).

Ecuador. Napo: Parque Nacional Yasuní, carretera y Oleoducto de Maxus en construcción, Km. 20, 00°33'S, 076°30'W, 250 m, 28–30 Jul 1993 (♀ fl), M. Aulestia & G. Grefa 247 (MO!, UPCB [n.v.]); Parque Nacional Yasuní, Carretera y oleoducto de Maxus en construcción, km 54–58, 00°48'S, 076°30'W, 250 m, 26–30 Sep 1993 (fr), M. Aulestia & N. Andi 783 (MO!, QCNE [n.v.], UPCB [n.v.]); Reserva Etnica Huaorani, carretera y oleoducto de Maxus en construcción Km. 92–96, al norte del Río Yasun, 00°55'S, 076°09'W, 250 m, 20 March 1994 (fr), M. Aulestia & O. Gonti 1969 (MO!, UPCB [n.v.]); Archidona, Carretera Hollín-Loreto, Km 50, comunidad Guagua Sumaco, Faldas al sur del Volcán Sumaco, 00°38'S, 077°27'W, 1000 m, 29 Apr–2 May 1989 (♀ fl), C. Cerón & F. Hurtado 6560 (MO!, NY!); Parque Nacional Yasuni-ECY, Sendero “Napo”- 300 m, 00°40'40"S, 076°23'40"W, 200–300 m, 24 Sep 2009 (fr), Á. Pérez & W. Santillán 4361 (MO!); Parque Nacional Yasuni-ECY, Sendero “Chorongo”- 600 m, 00°40'40"S, 076°23'40"W, 200–300 m, 16 Nov 2009 (fl bud), Á. Pérez & W. Santillán 4402 (MO!); Loreto, 2 Km al oeste del río Tutapishco, 00°36'S, 077°22'W, 480 m, 27 Jan 1996 (♂ fl bud), H. Vargas & J. Cerda 678 (MO!, QCA [image!], UPCB [n.v.]). Pastaza: Pozo petrolero “Ramírez”, 20 km al sur de la población de Curaray, [01°32'S, 076°51'W], 300 m, 21–28 Feb 1990 (♂ fl), V. Zak & S. Espinoza 4871 (INPA [image!], MO!, NY!); ibid., 21–28 Feb 1990 (♂ fl), V. Zak & S. Espinoza 5039 (INPA [image!], MO!, NY!, QCNE [n.v.]); ibid., 21–28 Feb 1990 (♂ fl), V. Zak & S. Espinoza 5049 (INPA [image!], MO!, NY!). Brazil. Acre: Mâncio Lima, Bacia do Alto Juruá, Rio Moa, Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, caminho para o rio Anil, 07°26'27"S, 073°39'28"W, [not elev.], 17 Jun 1996 (imm fr), M. Silveira et al. 1374 (NY!, UFACPZ [n.v.], UPCB [n.v.]); Mun. Tarauacá, Basin of Rio Juruá, Rio Tarauacá, right bank, Seringal Tamandaré, Colocaçao Santa Maria, Praia de Santa Maria, 08°35'12"S, 071°30'57"W, [not elev.], 18 Nov 1995 (♂ fl), D. C. Daly et al. 8594 (NY!, UFACPZ [n.v.], UPCB [n.v.]).

French Guiana. Rivère Arataye, Saut Pararé, 31 Jul 1984 [♀ fl & fr], [D.] Sabatier 931 (holotype P [barcode P00135215, image!]; isotype CAY, INPA, K [barcode K000575173, image!], MPU [barcode MPU024622, image!], NY! [NY00346038], P-3 sheets [barcodes P00135216, P00135217, P00135218, image!], US [barcode US00623540, image!]).

French Guiana and Brazil (Amapá).

Gaan busi Mulumba (Paramaka; Sabatier 1997). French Guiana: yayamadou, yayamadou montagne (Créole) (Mitchell 2002).

The specific epithet alludes to the Spider monkeys, or ateles (Ateles panisczis), locally called kwata, who consume the fruits of this species (Sabatier 1997).

Virola kwatae was previously known from French Guiana. However, in a recent study of herbarium specimens at New York Botanical Garden, a collection with fruit made in Amapá state, Brazil was located. To our knowledge this represents the first record of this species among the Flora of Brazil.

Brazil. Amapá: Município Macapá, Rio Falsino, approx. 10 km upstream of confluence with Rio Araguari, 00°50'S, 51°45'W, 13 Dec 1984 (fr), D. C. Daly et al. 3865 (MO [n.v.], NY!, US [image!]).

Colombia. Boyacá: [Municipality Muzo] [El Umbo] El Humbo, ca. 130 mi N of Bogotá, alt. ca. 1100 m, 15 Mar. 1933 [fr], A. E. Lawrence 675 (holotype: B, destroyed; lectotype, designated here: MO-2 sheets [accession 1068405, 1068404, barcodes MO-100018, MO-100024]; isolectotypes A [barcode 00039901; image!], F-2 sheets [barcodes F0360189F, F0360190F; image!], G-2 sheets [barcodes G00341083, G00341085; image!], K [barcode K000575178; image!], S [S-R-6995], US-2 sheets [barcodes US00098908, US00098909; image!]; photo of the B specimen at P [barcode 02026667; image!]).

Endemic to Colombia (Boyacá).

Virola macrocarpa was described by Smith based on a specimen collected by the Scottish immigrant Alexander E. Lawrance in the Andes of Boyacá, Colombia (Smith and Wodehouse 1938). In the protologue, Smith mentions that the type is deposited in the herbarium of the Botanisches Museum, Berlin-Dahlem (B), and F, M, S, US; there are additional, duplicates at A, G, K, and MO. Because the material at B was destroyed during World War II, we designate the material deposited at Missouri Botanical Garden (MO) as lectotype for this name, according to Art. 9.11 of ICN (Turland et al. 2018). This specimen is mounted on two sheets that are properly labelled as being parts of the same specimen (i.e., “Sheet 1 of 2,” “Sheet 2 of 2) according to ICN Art. 8.3 (Turland et al. 2018). One of these sheets shows the adaxial side of leaves and the infrutescence axes (MO-1068404; sheet 1 of 2), while the other (MO-1068405; sheet 2 of 2) includes fragments of both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces and a single dehiscent fruit that is attached, with six additional fruits inside the packet. This second sheet is annotated in Smith’s handwriting. These specimens were distributed under the name of V. sebifera.

The name Virola macrocarpa was applied to collections from Costa Rica and Panama that now correspond to V. allenii, V. amistadensis, and V. otobifolia, as well some collections from Colombia and Ecuador that now correspond to V. alvaroperezii, V. calimensis, and V. cogolloi.

It is important to mention that, following our species concept, this name has been widely used to identify specimens, and is thus frequent in the literature and specimen databases. As circumscribed here, V. macrocarpa is known only from the type collection and is restricted to Colombia. We believe that the identity of following and others specimens identified as V. macrocarpa should be evaluated when more collections are available, including: D. Cárdenas et al. 2772 (fr.; COL, MO); A. Gentry & E. Rentería 24055 (fr.; COL, MO), S. E. Hoyos-Gómez & A. Upegui 130 (fr.; COL).