Emmotum nitens
Emmotum nitens (Benth.) Miers
Emmotum nitens (Benth.) Miers is a species in the genus Emmotum, family Metteniusaceae, native to regions in Brazil, Bolivia, and northern Colombia. The fruit is black when dry, globose, with a glabrous epicarp and persistent calyx, measuring 10–15 mm in length and width. The trilocular endocarp is cream, bilaterally symmetrical, and three-seeded, with a surface marked by long, brittle rugosities. It features a keel on the dorsal side and flattened apex and base. The endocarp wall consists of an outer layer and inner locule walls, with circular pores and sclerotic cells containing spikes.
Description
The fruit of Emmotum nitens is globose, black when dry, and measures 10–15 mm in length and width, with a thickness of 15–18 mm. The endocarp is cream, bilaterally symmetrical, trilocular, and three-seeded, with a length of approximately 10.4 mm, width of 14.9 mm, and thickness of 15 mm. It is flattened along the apex-base axis and has a keel on the dorsal side. The outer surface is rugose with brittle ridges and circular pores (about 110 µm in diameter) that may facilitate gas exchange. The endocarp wall consists of an outer layer (400 µm thick, 930–1230 µm with rugosities) and inner locule walls (350–390 µm thick). The cells are sclerotic, isodiametric, and homogeneous, ranging from 59.4 to 111.9 µm in diameter, with pits and internal spikes of unknown function.
Distribution
BR · Amazonia nororiental de Colombia, departamento del Guainía, municipio de Inírida. · Global · Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete (PNNSCh) · Bolivia · Brazil Northeast · Brazil North · Brazil Southeast · Brazil West-Central
Synonyms
Pogopetalum nitensSchnizleinia nitidaEmmotum faiaEmmotum nitens var. angustifolium