| Petenaea | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Huerteales |
| Family: | Petenaeaceae Christenh.,M.F.Fay &M.W.Chase[1] |
| Genus: | Petenaea Lundell |
| Species: | P. cordata |
| Binomial name | |
| Petenaea cordata Lundell | |
Petenaea cordata (from northern Central America) was first described inElaeocarpaceae and later placed inTiliaceae, but most authors have been uncertain about its familial affinities. It was considered a taxonincertae sedis in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification (APG III). Molecular analyses based on a recent collection from Guatemala indicate a distant, weakly supported sister-group relationship to the African genusGerrardina (Gerrardinaceae;Huerteales). As no obvioussynapomorphies exist forGerrardina andPetenaea, the new monogeneric familyPetenaeaceae was proposed.[2] The polymorphic orderHuerteales now comprises four small families:Dipentodontaceae,Gerrardinaceae, Petenaeaceae andTapisciaceae.Petenaea cordata is the only species in the genusPetenaea.
Trees to c. 10 m, or large shrubs. Stems often tinged red, villous-tomentose. Leaves minutely stipulate; petioles 5–11 cm, densely short villous, red; blades 8.5-15.5 × 6.5-14.5 cm, chartaceous, densely villous below, glabrescent above, turning red with age, palmately veined at base with 5-7 primary veins, the secondary venation reticulate, the base broadly cordate, the margins minutely denticulate, the apices acute to broadly short-acuminate. Stipules minute, soon caducous. Inflorescences axillary, cymose, long-pedunculate, rose-pink, the branches villous-tomentose; pedicels 5–12 mm, pink. Flowers with the sepals c. 4 mm, valvate, lanceolate, attenuate from the base to the apex, reflexed, reddish pink, the base bearing 2-3 obovoid subsessile glands, and densely villous with hairs c. 2 mm, moniliform, pink; petals absent; disc annular, glandular; stamens 8-12, glabrous, the anthers yellow, opening by an apical pore-like slit; ovary superior, sessile, tomentose; style slender; stigma discoid. Berry 6–12 mm, shallowly 4-5 lobed, ovoid to subglobose, pulpy, sweet, sparsely pubescent; seeds numerous, c. 1 mm, oblong-pyramidal or irregular. Flowering and fruiting continuously.
Endemic to northernMesoamerica,Mexico (Chiapas,Tabasco),Belize,Guatemala (Petén).
