Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes → Angiosperms → Magnoliids → Magnoliales
- Family: Annonaceae
- Genus: Guatteria
- Species: Guatteria anomala
Description
Guatteria anomala is a species of evergreen tree within the Annonaceae, a family commonly known as the custard‑apple family. Members of the genus Guatteria typically bear simple, alternate leaves, and produce solitary or few‑flowered inflorescences. The flowers are generally bisexual, with three sepals, six petals arranged in two whorls, and numerous stamens. Fruits are fleshy, aggregate berries containing multiple seeds. Specific morphological details for G. anomala (e.g., leaf size, flower dimensions, bark characteristics) are not extensively documented in readily accessible primary literature.
Distribution and Habitat
The species is known from tropical South America. Herbarium records and regional floras list occurrences in the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin, particularly in Brazil (state of Amazonas) and adjoining areas of Colombia and Peru. It is a canopy or sub‑canopy tree, favoring humid, non‑seasonally flooded forest environments.
Ecology
As with many Annonaceae, G. anomala likely participates in mutualistic relationships with insect pollinators (beetles and flies) and frugivorous animals that disperse its seeds. Detailed ecological studies specific to this species are lacking.
Conservation Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not evaluated Guatteria anomala separately. Consequently, its conservation status remains unassessed, and potential threats (e.g., deforestation, habitat fragmentation) have not been formally quantified.
Uses
There are no widely documented utilitarian or ethnobotanical applications for Guatteria anomala in the scientific literature. Other Guatteria species are occasionally used for timber or traditional medicine, but such uses have not been reported for this species.
References
- The Plant List (2013). Guatteria anomala R.E.Fr. Retrieved from https://www.theplantlist.org/
- J.N. Glenny, et al. (2008). “Annonaceae of the Amazon.” Flora Neotropica 106: 1–349.
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. “Plants of the World Online.” Entry for Guatteria anomala.
Note: Information is derived from standard taxonomic databases and regional floristic treatments; detailed species‑specific studies are limited.
