Corythophora
R.Knuth, 1939
Species Guides
1Corythophora is a of woody trees in the Lecythidaceae , first described in 1939 by R. Knuth. The genus comprises four recognized distributed in the Guiana Shield and northern Amazonia. Plants in this genus are components of lowland tropical rainforest .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Corythophora: //ˌkɔːrɪˈθɒfərə//
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Identification
Corythophora can be distinguished from other Lecythidaceae by its combination of woody habit, northeastern South American distribution, and floral and fruit characteristics detailed in Mori & Prance's taxonomic revisions. The genus is most similar to Eschweilera and Lecythis, from which it differs in floral structure and fruit dehiscence patterns.
Habitat
Lowland tropical rainforests of the Guiana Shield and adjacent Amazonian regions, typically on non-flooded (terra firme) soils.
Distribution
Northeastern South America: French Guiana, Suriname, and northern Brazil (states of Pará, Amazonas, and Amapá).
Ecological Role
or subcanopy trees in primary tropical rainforest; specific ecological functions (pollination, seed , mycorrhizal associations) are poorly documented.
Similar Taxa
- EschweileraOverlaps in distribution and ; distinguished by floral and fruit characteristics per Mori & Prance (1987)
- LecythisSympatric in Lecythidaceae; Corythophora differs in androecium structure and fruit dehiscence
More Details
Taxonomic Note
The name Corythophora has been used in two completely unrelated taxonomic groups: (1) the plant genus Corythophora R.Knuth, 1939 (Lecythidaceae), and (2) an insect genus Corythophora Braun, 1915 (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). These are homonyms under the International Code of . This record describes the plant genus.
Species Diversity
Four recognized: C. alta (Pará, Amazonas), C. amapaensis (French Guiana, Amapá), C. labriculata (Suriname), and C. rimosa (French Guiana, Amazonas, Amapá, Suriname).