Parkia velutina Benoist
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Authority
Hopkins, Helen C. F. 1986. Parkia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 43: 1-124. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Mimosaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. French Guiana. St. Jean du Maroni, 26 Mar 1914 (fl), Benoist 1005 (lectotype here designated, P).
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Description
Species Description - Tree to 40 m high. Many parts including leaf-bearing twigs, leaf rachides, inflorescence axes, peduncles, buds, and pod valves covered with dense red-brown velutinous pubescence. Leaves in whorls at ends of thickened twigs ca. 3 cm diam., to 70(-95) cm long. Petiole bearing an orbicular or broadly elliptical gland on upper side at or just above base. Rachis deeply grooved. Pinnae (17-)30-45(-55) pairs, opposite or subopposite. Leaflets 40-110 pairs, opposite, linear to narrowly sigmoid, 5-11.5 x 1-2 mm, apex acute or rarely rounded; main nerve curved towards distal margin at apex. Compound inflorescence axis proximal to whorl of leaves, ± horizontal, not projecting beyond foliage, unbranched, deeply grooved, to 20 cm long. Peduncles to ca. 15 per inflorescence, alternate, 1.5-4 cm long. Capitula 2.5-3.5 cm diam. Hermaphrodite calyx 7-8 mm long (including pseudopedicel of 1 mm), the lobes 1-1.5 mm long; corolla 11.5-13 mm long, the lobes 1.5-2.5 mm long; filaments shortly exserted, united for ca. 6 mm above base. Pods strap-shaped, sometimes curved, 18-50 (including a stipe of 3-13 cm) x 4.7-6(-8) cm, the sutures not thickened and the subligneous or ligneous, velutinous valves dehiscent along adaxial suture and at least sometimes tardily so along the abaxial one, not corrugated. Seeds to 36 per pod, ca. 18-20 x 9-10 x 5-6 mm; testa black. Field characters. Large tree with buttresses to 2 m high and extending outwards to 2 m. Crown distinctive because of whorled leaves. The previous year’s growth, immediately below the leaves, is not velutinous and bears leaf scars and the inflorescences. Several inflorescence axes may arise on one twig from more or less adjacent axillary buds. Buds dark brown. Capitula at anthesis deep red and sweetsmelling.
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Discussion
In the protologue, Benoist cited three collections in addition to the one chosen here as the lectotype. These specimens, all from Charvein, French Guiana, are: Benoist 256 (P), Benoist 440 (n.v.), and Benoist 706 (P).
Distinguished from collections of Parkia multijuga with proximal (lateral) compound inflorescences by leaflet shape and flower color, from P. ulei by size and color of the capitula, compound inflorescence structure, and more woody pods, and from both by the much thickened twigs.Local names. Venezuela: Uaira tombepé (Arekuna). French Guiana: Dodomissinga (Paramaka). Brazil: Corezeiro, visgueiro.Distribution and Ecology: Widely but discontinuously distributed in Amazonian Brazil and Peru, French Guiana, E Venezuela, and Colombia W of the Andes. In addition to the localities shown on the map, Ducke (1949) recorded it from E of Lago Salgado on the Rio Trombetas. It usually grows in terra firme forest, often near rivers and streams, and two collections from N of Manaus record it from flooded forest. Grows up to 420 m altitude. Flowering recorded in October and November from Para and Amapá, in November and March from French Guiana, in June from central Amazonia, in December from Venezuela and in January-February in Pacific Colombia. Dates of fruit collections are even more diverse, probably because the pods are resistant to decay.
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Common Names
Uaira tombepé, Dodomissinga, Corezeiro, visgueiro
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Objects
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Distribution
Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| French Guiana South America| Saül French Guiana South America| Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Brazil South America| Amapá Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|