Couratari
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Couratari is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lecythidaceae, native to tropical South America. They are large trees,often rising above the rainforest canopy. The leaves are evergreen, alternate, simple, elliptical, up to 15 cm long, with a serrate to serrulate margin. Vernation lines parallel to the midvein are often visible - a very unusual characteristic. The fruit is 6-15 cm long, and roughly conical. A central plug drops out at maturity, releasing the winged seeds to be dispersed by wind. The fruit of Cariniana may be distinguished from those of Couratari, as the former have longitudinal ridges, whereas the latter bears a single calyx-derived ring near the fruit apex.
- Selected species
- C. astrotricha - Brazil
- C. guianensis - Costa Rica to Bolivia
- C. macrosperma - Southern Peru & Northern Bolivia
- C. multiflora - Bolivia
