Vismia baccifera (L.) Triana & Planch. (Clusiaceae)

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Masís, A., Espinoza, R., Chavarría, F., Guadamuz, A. and Perez, D., 1998. Vismia baccifera (Clusiaceae) Species Page, June 15, 1998. Species Home Pages, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. http://www.acguanacaste.ac.cr

Tree 5-7 m tall.

Flower:

Terminal panicles with brown flowers.

View of the inflorescence

Fruit:

Ovoid berries, 0.8-1.5 cm long. Secretes a orange latex if it is cut.

View of the infrutescence
Cross section	Longitudinal cut

Leaves:

Simple opposite, lanceolate form and entire margins. Dark green on the upper surface and light brown (ferruginous) on the under surface 9-16 cm long. Secretes latex from the petiole when it is pulled apart.

Upper surace	Under surface
Upper surface in detail	Under surface in detail

Bark and wood:

Dark grey. Secretes latex when cut.

Bark

Whole plant architecture:

View of the tree

Similar species:

Verification:

II.Geographic distribution:

International:

In Costa Rica

In the Area de Conservación Guanacaste:

Widely distributed, from the dry forests covering the bases of volcanos (300-700 msnm) to the wet forests in foothills of the volcanos (Atlantic and Pacific watersheds).

Map of macro-habitats of the ACG

III. Natural History:

IV. How to find:

In the El Hacha sector (near the area known as La Guitarra). Also at the Estación Biológica Pitilla, In the San Cristobal sector, Pailas and Sector Santa Rosa sectors (in the Bosque Húmedo area).

Acknowledgements.

This project was carried out by the Area de Conservación Guanacaste/CR, with help from INBio/CR, ICBG from the Foggarty center, NIH/USA and NSF/USA.

Thanks to Kate Beattie and Alexandra Kern for helping with the image management and the translation of this species page.

Literature cited: