Hornschuchia myrtillus (Nees) is a shrub or small tree in the Annonaceae family, native to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. It is found in Brazil's Northeast and Southeast regions. This species flowers and fruits throughout most of the year, from January to December. The plant can grow up to 6 meters tall, with leaves that are narrowly elliptic to obovate and glabrous on both surfaces. Its inflorescences are either single-flowered and axillary or multi-flowered and flagelliflorous, with persistent bracts. The flowers have white, linear petals and a densely trichomatous calyx. The fruit is a monocarp, fusiform to ellipsoid, with 1–2 seeds. It is similar to H. alba and H. polyantha but can be distinguished by its trichomatous calyx and persistent bracts.
Description
Hornschuchia myrtillus is a member of the Annonaceae family, endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. It is a shrub or tree, 0.3–6 m tall, with chartaceous leaves 4.9–12.5 × 2–5 cm in size. The leaves are narrowly elliptic to elliptic, with an asymmetric base and acuminate to obtuse apex. The inflorescences are either one-flowered (axillary, terminal, or supra-axillary) or multi-flowered (2–12 flowers), flagelliflorous, with branches 10–100 cm long running near the soil. Flowers have a 7–37 mm long pedicel, a cylindrical bud covered in trichomes, and a calyx densely covered in trichomes. Petals are linear, white, and 7–14 mm long. Stamens number six, and carpels are 3–4. The fruit is a monocarp, 14–40 × 3–5 mm, green in life, with 1–2 seeds. It is distinguished from related species by its trichomatous calyx and persistent bracts.
