Macrolobium canaliculatum var. strigulosum R.S.Cowan

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1957. The Botany of the Guiana Highland -- Part II. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 235-392.

  • Family

    Caesalpiniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Macrolobium canaliculatum var. strigulosum R.S.Cowan

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 6-8 m altus, ramulis et foliis glabris. Petiolus 4-6 mm longus, desuper compressus, canaliculatus; petioli 0-1 mm longi. Foliola 5-8.5 cm longa, 2.5-4 cm lata, oblonga ad obovato-oblonga, ad basim inaequilateralia, acuta, ad apicem rotunda et leviter emarginata, infra punctata; costa sulcata supra, infra saliens, venis venulisque prominulis. Inflorescentiae (frugiferae) terminales, ca. 8-10 cm longae, axe dense aureo-striguloso, pedunculo ca. 10-20 mm longo. Fructus 10-12.5 cm longus, 3.5-4 cm latus, oblongus, ad suturam dorsualem alatus, glaber, carpophoro 7-9 mm longo, sparse striguloso, 2-5-seminifer, semina immatura ovalia.

  • Discussion

    TYPE: Occasional in woodland along right fork of Carlo Yutaje, elev. 1500 m, Serrania Yutaje, Rio Manapiare, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, Feb. 21, 1953, Bassett Maguire & Celia K. Maguire 35361 (NY).

    In spite of rather strong convictions against the practice of describing new taxa based on less than complete material, I have described this one on fruiting material only. This course is adopted because I am certain that this is a new taxon and, while it has been treated here as a variety, later flowering collections may prove it to be of specific stature.

    Its connection with M. canaliculatum is unmistakable but it differs in its strigulose inflorescence axis (hence the varietal epithet), its punctate leaflets, and its sessile or very shortly petiolulate leaflets.