Flora Da Reserva Ducke, Amazonas, Brasil: Erythroxylaceae

Abstract

Shrubs and small trees. Leaves alternate, glabrous, entire, petiolate. Stipules present, often large and persistent on twigs or caducous. Flowers hermaphrodite, borne solitary or in axillary fascicles, arising from the axils of small scarious bracteoles, pedicellate, actinomorphic, often heterostylous. Calyx lobes 5, valvate. Petals 5, free, alternate with sepals, imbricate in bud, usually with appendages on adaxial surface. Stamens 10, united at base to form a short tube; anthers longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary superior, 3(−2) locular, usually with only one locule developing, one ovule per loculus, pendulous, epitropous; styles 3−(2) free or connate at base; stigmas capitate. Fruit of small one-seeded drupes, with or without endosperm. The family consists of 4 genera and about 260 species. Three genera are confined to tropical Africa and Erythroxylum, with 250 species, occurs in the Neotropics, Africa, Asia and Australia. Three species of Erythroxylum are known to occur in the Reserva Ducke. The family is best known for the species Erythroxylum coca Lam., the source of cocaine. This is mainly a highland species of the Andean montane forest, but the lowland variety ipadu is cultivated by tribes in western Amazonia.