Achatocarpus nigricans Triana

Achatocarpus nigricans Triana, Ann. Sci. Nat. IV. 9: 46. 1858
Achatocarpus mexicanus H. Walt, in Engler, Pflanzenreich 4 83 : 139. 1909.
A shrub, or sometimes a tree, 2-10 m. or more in height, the branches unarmed or armed with spines 7-10 mm. long; leaf-blades elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 5-13 cm. long, 2.3-5.8 cm. broad, acute, obtuse, or sometimes rounded at the apex, acute to acuminate at the base, glabrous, the midvein impressed above, prominent beneath, the lateral veins sometimes rather indistinct; petioles 0.5-1 cm. long; flowers short-pedicelled; staminate flowers paniculate, the sepals elliptic to somewhat obovate, 2.6-3 mm. long, 1.2-1.6 mm. broad; stamens 12-16; filaments 1.5 mm. long; anthers oblong, 1.5-1.8 mm. long; pistillate flowers racemose or in raceme-like panicles, the sepals elliptic to oval, about 2.3 mm. long, 1.2-1.5 mm. broad; ovary ellipsoid, compressed, 2.5 mm. lcng; stigmas linear-filiform, papillose, 1.5-2 mm. long; fruit subglobose; seed compressed, 3.5 mm. in diameter.
Type locality: Colombia.
Distribution: Southern Mexico; Salvador; also in northern South America.