Maguire, Bassett, et al. 1953. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (2): 87-160.
Fabaceae
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor parva, ramulis stipulis petiolis petiolulis inflorescentiisque aureofulvis; folia unifoliolata, stipulis linearibus, 2 mm. longis, petiolis 4-10 mm. longis, petiolulis 3-5 mm. longis, foliolis oblongis, 12-17 cm. longis, 4-6 cm. latis, chartaceis, concoloribus, fulvo-viridibus, ad basim rotundis, ad apicem abrupte caudato-acuminatis, cauda 1-2 cm. longa, venis utrinque aequaliter prominulis; racemi solitarii, axillares, ca. 9-floribus, 3~3.5 cm. longi, pedunculis 1 cm. longis, bracteis subulatis, 2 mm. lcngis, bracteolis 1-1.5 mm. longis, pedicellis 1-2 cm. longis, pallide aureo-sericeis, alabastra argenteo-sericea, haud apiculata, calyx ca. 1 cm. longus, in ca. 4 partes recurvatas inaequaliter fissus, intus arachnoideo-villosus, petalum (in alabastro solumvisum) unum, album, lato-ovatum, 2.5—3.5 mm. longum, 2-3 mm. latum, dorsualiter sericeum; stamina numerosa, glabra, 5 maiora antheras lineari-lanceolata habentia; ovarium ca. 12-ovulatum, margine interiore villosum aliter glabrum, 1.5 mm. longum, 1 mm, latum, stipite glabro, 1.5 mm. longo, stylus uncinatus, glaber, ca. 1 mm. longus; fructus immaturus obliquo-oblongus, ca. 3 cm. longus, 1.5 cm. latus, margine interiore excepto glaber, stylo 5 mm. longo, persistenti, stipite 1.5 cm. longo.
TYPE: small tree 3-4 m. tall, in mixed forest, along water course, vicinity Base Camp, Cerro Sipapo, Territorio Amazonas, Venezuela, December 28, 1948, Bassett Maguire & Louis Politi 27983; New York Botanical Garden.
There have been several unifoliolate species of Swartzia described but one species, S. fimbriata, recently described by Ducke appears, from the description at least, to be the most closely related to S. maguirei. The latter differs in the following respects: (1) It has larger leaflets which are uniformly oblong with (2) caudate-acuminate apices, and (3) silvery-sericeous calyces which are arachnoidvillose on the inner surface. There may, perhaps, be other floral differences but since the above description was based on immature flowers there is no advantage in comparing the various parts.
The new species is named in honor of Hr. Bassett Maguire, collector of the type material and enthusiastic student of the flora of northern South America.