25 m., leaves coriaceous, shining, dark green above, sepals reddish 
brown, petals white.’’ November 29, 1949, W. R. Philipson 1647. 
Monopteryx Uaucu Spruce ex Bentham in Martius 
Fl. Bras. 15, pt. 1 (1862) 807. 
This enormous tree, especially abundant on the pro- 
terozoic granitic shield of the Rio Negro basin, has been 
cited by Ducke (‘‘As Leguminosas da Amazonia brasil- 
eira’’ (1939) 109) as occurring also along the lower Rios 
Ica (Putumayo) and Solimdées, as well as in Venezuela 
and Colombia. I had not seen any specimens from Co- 
lombian territory, but the species was certainly to be ex- 
pected in the Colombian Amazonia along the Brazilian 
boundary. ‘The collection cited below establishes the 
occurrence of Monopteryx Uaucu far into Colombian 
territory and near the very headwaters of the Rio Negro. 
Many collections have been made recently in the Brazil- 
ian part of the Rio Negro valley by collectors of the 
Instituto Agronomico do Norte which has been much 
interested in the wauwcw as an oil-tree. The seeds of Mon- 
opterye Uaucu are exceedingly rich in oil and, when 
roasted or boiled, are edible; the oil is employed as a 
food as well as a fuel for lamps (La Cointe: ‘‘A Ama- 
zonia brasileira. If. Arvores e plantas utéis’’ (1934) 
452; Ducke l.c.). 
Amongst the Kuripaka Indians of the Rio Guainia, 
Monopteryx Uaucu is called ha-pét-o6-he. 
CotomsBiA: Comisaria del Vaupés, Rio Guainia basin, Rio Naquieni, 
a C6 Ty . ) 
at base of Cerro Monachi. ‘Enormous tree with buttress roots.’” June 
1948, Richard Evans Schultes & Francisco Lépez 10126. 
IK. UPHORBIACEAE 
Nealchornia japurensis Huber in Bol. Mus. 
Goeldi 7 (1913) 298. 
The type of Nealchornia japurensis was collected in 
Colombia at Puerto Cérdova (above La Pedrera) on the 
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