Apuleia leiocarpa (Vogel) J.F.Macbr.

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

cobre, guacamayo, guayacán, jero, maqui, naune, tigrito

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 20 - 200 m.; Amazonia, Guayana y Serranía de La Macarena, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia.

Morphology General Habit

Árbol

Conservation

No Evaluada

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/61220263/61220266

Conservation

LC - least concern

de Sousa, F..S.T., Lewis, G.P. & Hawkins, J.A (2010). A revision of the South American genus Apuleia (Leguminosae, Cassieae). Kew Bulletin 65: 225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-010-9213-4

Type

in Brasilia, Sellow s.n. (isotype K!).

Morphology General Habit

Deciduous shrubs or trees (1 –) 3 – 40 m tall (up to 50 m on terra firme in the Amazon, fide Rizzini 1971)

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate to 12 cm long, stipules deciduous, stipels not present; leaflets 5 – 18 per leaf, alternate, ovate, elliptic or oblong, the apex acuminate, acute, obtuse or emarginate, frequently mucronate, the base rounded to acute, 2 – 5 × 1 – 2.5 cm, pubescent or glabrescent on the lower surface or occasionally both surfaces pubescent, the form of the leaflets can vary within a single leaf

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a cyme, flowering occurring slightly before the appearance of new young foliage, the peduncle pilose, the cyme commonly composed of 1 – 2 (rarely 3) central hermaphrodite flowers and numerous surrounding male flowers, or the lateral branches of the inflorescence also with 1 (rarely 2) central hermaphrodite flowers, all flowers pedicellate; calyx of 3 sepals, these olive-green, reflexed, pubescent; corolla of 3 petals, these white, obovate, 2 – 6 mm long; stamens 3 (occasionally 2 in hermaphrodite flowers), exserted, alternating with petals; filaments glabrous or pubescent, anthers ovate-lanceolate, all fertile; ovary 1, laterally compressed, pilose, ovules 1 (rarely 2 – 4), style curved, stigma peltate, and solid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a laterally compressed, orbicular, elliptic or oblong, indehiscent pod, ferruginous to dark rufous or sericeous-tomentose to subglabrous, 3 – 8 cm long, stipe 1 – 3.5 cm long, the valves often narrowly winged, the apex acute or apiculate, few seeded; seeds 5 – 6 mm long, hard and smooth (Rizzini 1971)

Distribution

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela. The species is also recorded from Ecuador and Colombia by Zarucchi (1998) and Quiñones (2005), but we have not seen material from either of those countries.

Ecology

In tropical rain forest, semi-deciduous seasonally dry forest, gallery forest, caatinga and disturbed scrubland.

Conservation

Apuleia leiocarpa is widespread throughout South America, and commonly encountered in a number of different vegetation types. Its conservation status is considered to be of Least Concern (LC).

Phenology

Known to flower in March and from June to October; fruiting throughout the year.

Vernacular

Amarelão, garapa, jitai amarelão, muirajuba (Brazil); grapia (Argentina); khare khara (Bolivia); grapia, yvyrá peré (Paraguay).

Note

The presence of hermaphrodite and male flowers occurring together in a single inflorescence is indicative of an andromonoecious breeding system (Doust & Harper 1980). Andromonoecious plants can vary resource allocation to male and female organs throughout the year (Solomon 1985). Studies in Caesalpinia demonstrated that in that genus the ratio of male to hermaphrodite flowers is variable according to year and site, suggesting that environment influences sexual expression in some andromonoecious species (Cruden 1976; Gibbs et al. 1999; Lewis & Gibbs 1999). Sexual expression control in andromonoecious plants involves suppression of ovary development and, after pollination, of fruit development. Regulation of fruit-set occurs when environmental conditions are more predictable (Lloyd 1980). In Apuleia, after the senescence of the male flowers, each peduncle supports one or two mature fruits.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Tree

Vernacular

Jitai-amarelo

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Guiana Shield, Caribbean, Orinoquia. Elevation range: 20–200 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Arauca, Bolívar, Guaviare, Meta, Vichada.

Habit

Tree.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.