Hirtella americana L.

(Chrysobalanaceae)

Espinoza, R., Guadamuz, A., Perez, D., Chavarría, F. and Masís, A. 1998. Hirtella americana (Chrysobalanaceae) Species Page, June 12, 1998. Species Home Pages, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. http://www.acguanacaste.ac.cr

I. Identification:

Tree 20 m tall.

Flower:

The inflorescence in a terminal panicle of white to pink flowers.

View of the flowers

 

 

Fruit:

The fruit is a flat drupe, 2 cm long.

Various views of the fruit

 

 

 

 

Leaves:

Simple alternatee, oblanceolate form and entire margins. Approximately 6-12 cm long.

Upper surface

Under surface

 

Upper surface in detail

 

Under surface in detail

 

Leaf arrangement

Bark and wood:

Whole plant architecture:

Similar species:

Hirtella racemosa, is a shrub from 3-5 m tall, with light purple flowers and ovoid fruits.

Verification:

II.Geographic distribution:

International:

South of Mexico to the north of Colombia and Venezuela (Croat 1978).

In Costa Rica:

In the Area de Conservación Guanacaste:

 Map of macro-habitats of the ACG

III. Natural History:

IV. How to find:

In the area called El Muerto in the El Hacha sector.

Acknowledgements.

This project was carried out by the Area de Conservación Guanacaste/CR, with help from INBio/CR, ICBG from the Foggarty center, NIH/USA and NSF/USA. We would especially like to thank Nelson Zamora for the taxonomic identification of this species.

Thanks to Kate Beattie and Alexandra Kern for helping with the image management and the translation of this species page.

Literature cited.

Croat, T.B. 1978. Flora of Barro Colorado Island. Standford University Press, Standford. Pg 417.