Un nouveau genre de Bombacées, Patinoa

A new genus, Patinoa, is described in the family Bombacaceae. Having the staminal structure of Matisia, it is characterized by its entire leaves, a tubular calyx, a 5-celled ovary with pluriovular cavities, linear acute stigmas and large baccate fruits with coriaceous epicarp and large seeds covered with thick lanate tomentum. It is represented by two species. The type of the genus, P. almirajo, which is here and there cultivated as a fruit tree (local name «Almirajô»), in the rain forest region of Choco in Colombia, has elongate-ovoid fruits like those of some Theobromas, containing an edible pulp that is a delicacy. The other species, from the State of Amazonas in Brasil, has round fruits ; its local name is « Cupu », and it is described as P. sphaerocarpa.