Aldina heterophylla Spruce ex Benth.

• Authority

  Maguire, Bassett, et al. 1953. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (2): 87-160.

• Family

  Fabaceae

• Scientific Name

  Aldina heterophylla Spruce ex Benth.

• Description

  Species Description - Tree 20-30 m. tall, all parts except the inflorescence glabrous; leaves 1-3-foliolate, the petioles 5-45 mm. long, the rachis 5-12 mm. long, the petiolules 6-10 mm. long, the blades ovate to lanceolate, 8.5-11.5 cm. long, 3.5-5-5 cm. wide, the base rotund, the apices acute or short-acuminate, the tip obtuse or acute and mucronulate, nitid above, the venation prominulous on both surfaces; inflorescences terminal or axillary, densely appressed-puberulent, paniculate, up to 15 cm. long, the bracts and bracteoles minute, the pedicels 1-2 mm. long, the mature buds 7-8 mm. long, subglobose; calyx 6.5-8 mm. long, split into 2-3 ascending, unequal parts; petals white, 4-6, obovate or oblanceolate-cuneate, 7-9 mm. long, 4-4.5 mm. wide, glabrous; stamens numerous, glabrous, the filaments 3.5-9 mm. long, filiform, united at the base, the anthers 2 mm. long; stigma simple; style subulate, 1.5 mm. long, glabrous or sparsely pubescent basally; ovary oblong, 2.5-3 mm, long, 1-2 mm. wide, golden-sericeous, 1-3-ovulate, the stipe 0.5-3 mm. long; fruit unknown.

• Discussion

  The very small buds and flower parts of this species are quite distinctive; it could be confused only with A. occidentalis from which it differs in its pubescent stipe and glabrous, obtuse to acute-tipped, and usually fewer leaflets.