Vallea stipularis explained

Vallea stipularis is a species of tree in the Elaeocarpaceae family.^{[1] [2]} It is native from the Andes mountains in South America.

Description

Evergreen shrub or tree up to 18 meters tall; fissured bark. Kidney-shaped stipules on branchlets. Leaves heart-shaped or pear-shaped, sometimes lobed, up to 10 cm long, dark green above, whitish green beneath, with tufts of hairs in the vein axils. Cymose inflorescence with pinkish-red or crimson bell-shaped flowers; these with five sepals and five three-lobed petals, 9–13 mm long; ovary and styles glabrous; 15–60 stamens. Warty fruits, 1 cm wide, often dehiscing on the tree.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

Vallea stipularis is native to the Andes, in montane forest and páramo, between 1600–4000 m of elevation, from Venezuela to Bolivia.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Vallea in Trees and shrubs of the Andes of Ecuador @ efloras.org. www.efloras.org. 2016-01-18.
2. Web site: Neotropical Elaeocarpaceae - Neotropikey from Kew. www.kew.org. 2016-01-18.
3. Book: Macbride, J.F.. Flora of Peru. Field Museum. 1959. 13 pt.3A no.2. 435–436. Tiliaceae.
4. Web site: Vallea stipularis (capuli) Plants & Fungi At Kew. www.kew.org. 2016-01-18.