Monographs Details:
Authority:
Hopkins, Helen C. F. 1986. Parkia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 43: 1-124. (Published by NYBG Press)
Hopkins, Helen C. F. 1986. Parkia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 43: 1-124. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Mimosaceae
Mimosaceae
Synonyms:
Paryphosphaera
Paryphosphaera
Description:
Genus Description - Trees to 30 m or more high or rarely shrubs; spines absent. Leaves bipinnate, opposite, alternate, or in whorls; petiole and rachides usually nectariferous. Pinnae 2-55 pairs. Leaflets sessile, to 100 or more pairs. Compound inflorescence axis to 5 m long, branched or not. Peduncles to 1 m or more long, pendent or erect. Capitula capitate, spherical, globose, clavate, or biglobose, from 1 x l to 20 x 8 cm. Flowers either all of one sort and fertile, or of two sorts, the fertile ones at base of capitulum and the modified, structurally hermaphrodite nectar-secreting ones at apex, or of three sorts, the fertile ones at apex of capitulum, the modified, structurally male and nectar-secreting ones below, and neuter ones, sometimes bearing elongated staminodia, at base. Fertile flowers functionally hermaphrodite or male, and then the gynoecium reduced or absent. Bracts obdeltate-spathulate, slightly longer than calyx. Calyx long-tubular or infundibuliform, gamosepalous, the five lobes usually imbricate, two larger and three smaller, or rarely induplicate and ± equal in size. Corolla longer than calyx, the five lobes narrowly spathulate or lingulate, free at apex and either connate in middle and free at base, or free in middle and connate at base. Stamens ten, all fertile, shortly exserted; filaments connate below into a tube, to which the corolla may also be adnate; anthers, at least in New World species, sometimes bearing a small apical gland. Ovary shortly stipitate; style exserted as far as anthers or beyond; stigma terminal, poriform. Infructescence pendent or erect; receptacle swollen, claviform, bearing one to several pods and rhomboidal scars where flowers have aborted. Pods stipitate, coriaceous, ligneous or rarely fleshy, dehiscent or not, sometimes velutinous, linear, strap-shaped, or oblong in outline, sometimes falcate, submoniliform, rarely terete, or rarely broadly crescent-shaped, sometimes twisted or curled, sometimes containing mealy endocarp or gum. Seeds numerous, in one or two rows, discoid, ellipsoid, or rarely otherwise; testa usually thick and hard, bearing a pleurogram, or sometimes thin and pleurogram lacking.
Genus Description - Trees to 30 m or more high or rarely shrubs; spines absent. Leaves bipinnate, opposite, alternate, or in whorls; petiole and rachides usually nectariferous. Pinnae 2-55 pairs. Leaflets sessile, to 100 or more pairs. Compound inflorescence axis to 5 m long, branched or not. Peduncles to 1 m or more long, pendent or erect. Capitula capitate, spherical, globose, clavate, or biglobose, from 1 x l to 20 x 8 cm. Flowers either all of one sort and fertile, or of two sorts, the fertile ones at base of capitulum and the modified, structurally hermaphrodite nectar-secreting ones at apex, or of three sorts, the fertile ones at apex of capitulum, the modified, structurally male and nectar-secreting ones below, and neuter ones, sometimes bearing elongated staminodia, at base. Fertile flowers functionally hermaphrodite or male, and then the gynoecium reduced or absent. Bracts obdeltate-spathulate, slightly longer than calyx. Calyx long-tubular or infundibuliform, gamosepalous, the five lobes usually imbricate, two larger and three smaller, or rarely induplicate and ± equal in size. Corolla longer than calyx, the five lobes narrowly spathulate or lingulate, free at apex and either connate in middle and free at base, or free in middle and connate at base. Stamens ten, all fertile, shortly exserted; filaments connate below into a tube, to which the corolla may also be adnate; anthers, at least in New World species, sometimes bearing a small apical gland. Ovary shortly stipitate; style exserted as far as anthers or beyond; stigma terminal, poriform. Infructescence pendent or erect; receptacle swollen, claviform, bearing one to several pods and rhomboidal scars where flowers have aborted. Pods stipitate, coriaceous, ligneous or rarely fleshy, dehiscent or not, sometimes velutinous, linear, strap-shaped, or oblong in outline, sometimes falcate, submoniliform, rarely terete, or rarely broadly crescent-shaped, sometimes twisted or curled, sometimes containing mealy endocarp or gum. Seeds numerous, in one or two rows, discoid, ellipsoid, or rarely otherwise; testa usually thick and hard, bearing a pleurogram, or sometimes thin and pleurogram lacking.
Distribution: