Monographs Details:
Authority:
Cowan, Richard S. 1967. Swartzia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae Swartzieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 1: 3-228. (Published by NYBG Press)
Cowan, Richard S. 1967. Swartzia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae Swartzieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 1: 3-228. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Synonyms:
Swartzia flavescens Suess.
Swartzia flavescens Suess.
Description:
Description - Tree 12-30 m tall, the branchlets densely micro-strigulose; petioles 4-5 cm long, micro-strigulose, the rachis 8.5-12.5 cm long, micro-strigulose; leaflets 2- or 3-jugate; inflorescence axis and pedicels micro-strigulose; petal suborbicular, the base cordate, 9.5-14 mm long, 9-12 mm wide, sericeous externally; larger stamens 2-4, the filaments strigulose or puberulous, the anthers ca 5 mm long; ovary ca 5 mm long and 2.5 mm wide, oval, acutely triangular in transverse section, densely sericeous; fruit densely sericeous, 5.5-7.5 cm long, 3.5-4 cm wide, conspicuously verruculose.
Description - Tree 12-30 m tall, the branchlets densely micro-strigulose; petioles 4-5 cm long, micro-strigulose, the rachis 8.5-12.5 cm long, micro-strigulose; leaflets 2- or 3-jugate; inflorescence axis and pedicels micro-strigulose; petal suborbicular, the base cordate, 9.5-14 mm long, 9-12 mm wide, sericeous externally; larger stamens 2-4, the filaments strigulose or puberulous, the anthers ca 5 mm long; ovary ca 5 mm long and 2.5 mm wide, oval, acutely triangular in transverse section, densely sericeous; fruit densely sericeous, 5.5-7.5 cm long, 3.5-4 cm wide, conspicuously verruculose.
Discussion:
The flowers of this species are sufficiently like those of S. ulei and its immediate relatives to suggest a possible relationship. However, the leaflets are more like S. amplifolia and its kind; this may be a case of convergent evolution rather than close genetic relationship, but it is interpreted here as a connecting characteristic. There is only one other species with the leaflets more or less silvery on the undersides and there is little doubt that it, S. amazonica, is nearly related. It lacks a petal but has the submarginal vein in the leaflets that is characteristic of S. argentea.The two varieties involved are certainly no more than that, for the differences are mostly not clear-cut. Var. flavescens has fewer pairs of leaflets than is typical of var. argentea. The posture of the pubescence is different in the two taxa; the ovary proportions and cross-sectional form are distinctively different; and the surface of the fruits is quite unlike. Perhaps most important to note is the habitat preferences of the two. The typical variety is a smaller tree of the more or less permanently inundated riverine forest, while the trees of var. flavescens are generally much taller and occur in the forest above even seasonal flooding.
The flowers of this species are sufficiently like those of S. ulei and its immediate relatives to suggest a possible relationship. However, the leaflets are more like S. amplifolia and its kind; this may be a case of convergent evolution rather than close genetic relationship, but it is interpreted here as a connecting characteristic. There is only one other species with the leaflets more or less silvery on the undersides and there is little doubt that it, S. amazonica, is nearly related. It lacks a petal but has the submarginal vein in the leaflets that is characteristic of S. argentea.The two varieties involved are certainly no more than that, for the differences are mostly not clear-cut. Var. flavescens has fewer pairs of leaflets than is typical of var. argentea. The posture of the pubescence is different in the two taxa; the ovary proportions and cross-sectional form are distinctively different; and the surface of the fruits is quite unlike. Perhaps most important to note is the habitat preferences of the two. The typical variety is a smaller tree of the more or less permanently inundated riverine forest, while the trees of var. flavescens are generally much taller and occur in the forest above even seasonal flooding.
Distribution:
Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|
Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|