Resumen

RONDON, José Baudilio  y  CUMANA CAMPOS, Luis J.. Taxonomic revision of genus Theobroma (Sterculiaceae) in Venezuela . Acta Bot. Venez. [online]. 2005, vol.28, n.1, pp.113-134. ISSN 0084-5906.

The critical revision of the vegetable material, based on the analysis of collected samples and of material preserved in the most important herbaria in the country, represents the first revision of the genus Theobroma for Venezuela. This allowed to determine six species of Theobroma L., of which Theobroma speciosumWilld. ex Spreng. is reported as new for Venezuela. The species of this genus have limited distribution and they are located predominantly in humid forests. Theobroma cacao L. is the most representative species of the genus and with the most wide distribution, being located from the centerwest to the east states of the country. In the taxonomic treatment, the sections accompanied by keys, descriptions and illustrations are indicated with details of flowers and fruits and information of use, habitat and fenology of the species Theobroma bicolor Humb. & Bonpl., Theobroma cacao L., Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) Schum., Theobroma obovatum Klotzsch ex Bernoulli, Theobroma speciosum Willd. ex Spreng. and Theobroma subincanum Mart.

Palabras clave : Theobroma; Sterculiaceae; Taxonomy; Venezuela.