Eperua bijuga Benth.

Eperua bijuga Martius ex Bentham

Eperua bijuga Martius ex Bentham, Fl. Bras. 15(2):226, 1870.

Eperua bijuga Martius ex Bentham forma typica Ducke, Trop. Woods 62:26, 1940.

Small tree 7–12 m tall, the branchlets glabrous, shiny; stipules foliaceous, free from each other, falcate-elliptic to falcate-oval, 7–12 mm long and 3–10 mm wide, persistent, rigid, glabrous; leaves glabrous, the petioles 8–17 (−23) mm long, the rachis 25–65 mm long; leaflets bijugate, the petiolules 6–13 mm long, the blades pellucid-punctate, plane, coriaceous, 9.5–20.5 cm long, 3.5–8.5 cm wide, elliptic to ovate or lanceolate, the lower pair sometimes shorter, ovate-elliptic and basally rounded-obtuse, the upper pair elliptic and basally acute, the apex acuminate or acute, sometimes bluntly so, the venation subobscure; inflorescence an axillary or terminal raceme or raceme of racemes 1.5–4 cm long, the axes puberulous, the bracts caducous, the bracteoles deciduous, oblate, 3–5 mm long, 5–8 mm wide, ciliolate, puberulous externally, glabrous within, arising about midway on the pedicels; pedicels 7–8 mm long, puberulous, the hypanthium inequilateral, 1–2 mm long, ca. 5 mm wide, the nectaries conspicuous; sepals 18–22 mm long and 10–12 mm wide, oblong-elliptic or oblanceolate-oblong, the margins scarious, puberulous externally, glabrous within; petal red, rose-purple, glabrous, 5–7.5 cm long, 6 cm wide, obcuneate-flabelliform, the petalodia 1.5–3 mm long, 0.8–1.3 mm wide; stamens all fertile, 22–45 mm long, 9 of the filaments united basally in an inequilateral tube, 12–15 mm long on the ventral side, the tube puberulous, the anthers oval, 3.5–5 mm long and 2–2.5 mm wide; gynoecium glabrous, the stigma obtuse, unilateral on the style, the latter 30–35 mm long, the ovary oblong-obovate, 8–9 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, the gynophore 7–9 mm long; immature fruits 9–10 cm long, 5–6 cm wide, sub-quadrate, glabrous, with a bluish bloom when immature, the carpophore 14–20 mm long.

TYPE COLLECTION.—C.F.P. Martius s.n. (holotype K, isotypes M), “Para, in sylvis inundatis ad insulam Marajo,” Brazil, May 1820.

DISTRIBUTION.—Occasional in the flood forest along small rivers or small streams in the area near or at the mouth of the Amazon River and in French Guiana. Flowering and fruiting April to July.

FRENCH GUIANA: No locality or date, Lemée s.n. (P) and Richard s.n. (P). BRAZIL. Terr. Amapá: Rio Apurema, 22 July 1951, Froes & Black 27607 (IAN, NY, R). Pará: Mosqueiro, Rio Pará, 20 June 1943, Ducke 1260 (NY, R, US); Rio Maratauá (tributary of Rio Aramá), Breves Id., 1 Dec 1922, Ducke 16927 (P, RB, U); Mosqueiro, 13 Oct 1923, Ducke 16928 (RB, U); Belém do Para, 10 May 1923, Ducke 16929 (P, RB); Soure (insula Marajo), 13 April 1927, Ducke 20312 (RB, U, US); Rio Macacoari, Municipio Macapa, 5 July 1951, Froes if Black 27281 (GH, IAN, NY, US); vicinity of Anapú, Rio Cariatuba, Portel, 17 May 1956, Froes 32988 (US); vicinity of Anapú, Portel, 10 May 1956, Froes 32776 (IAN), 4 Aug 1956, Froes 32930 (IAN), 32938 (IAN), 12 Aug 1956, Froes 32962 (IAN); vicinity of Rio Mojú, Rio Cairari, 25 March 1957, Froes 33130 (IAN). Gurupà, Martius s.n. (G): Thomé Assú, Rio Acará, 27 July 1931, Mexia 5982 (A, BM, F, G, GH, NY, U, US); Ilha do Marajo, Rio Paracaruari, 6 Sept 1969, Oliveira 4929 (IAN); Belém, IPEAN, Igapó do Catú, 27 May 1968, Pires & Silva 11758 (IAN) and 3 June 1968, Pires & Silva 11785 (IAN); Colares Island, May 1832, Poeppig 2949 (NY, W).

LOCAL NAMES AND USES.—Fava do matto (Mexia 5982); ipê, muirapiranga (Ducke in literature).

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