Macrolobium

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Caesalpiniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Macrolobium

  • Description

    Genus Description - Small shrubs to large trees. Stipules persistent or more frequently caducous, sometimes foliaceous. Leaves petiolate, 1-45-jugate, paripinnate or pseudo-imparipinnate. Leaflets opposite, inequilateral or infrequently equilateral, petiolules sometimes present; very diverse in size and form, sometimes punctate on the lower surface. Inflorescence racemose, rarely with short racemose branchlets, sessile or pedunculate; bracts usually caducous, diverse in size and form, often minute; bracteoles at the summit of the pedicels encasing the flower before anthesis, finally opening completely, or only partially on the adaxial side of the flower. Hypanthium sessile or stipitate, cupular to narrowly cylindric. Sepals four or five, sometimes the adaxial pair of different size and form from the others and free or united laterally to a greater or lesser extent. Petal one, stipitate or sesile, the blade orbicular, transversely or longitudinally oval, elliptic, or oblanceolate. Stamens three, the filaments filiform, the anthers versatile, dehiscing longitudinally, the pollen grains three-lobed. Stigma simple to capitate. Style longfiliform. Ovary 1-8-ovulate, the gynophore inserted at the base of or on the adaxial wall of the hypanthium. Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent, oval or orbicular to oblong, 1-few-seeded.

  • Discussion

    Vouapa Aublet, Hist. Pi. Gui. Franc. 1:25-28. 1775.

    Outea Aublet, Hist. PI. Gui. Franc. 1:28-30. 1775.

    Kruegeria Scopoli, Introd. 314. 1777.

    Vuapa J. St.-Hil. Expos. Fam. 2:203. 1805.

    Utea J. St.-Hil. Expos. Fam. 2:203. 1805.

    Pseudovouapa Britton & Killip, Ann. N. Y. Acad. 35:166. 1936.

    TYPE Species: Macrolobium bifolium (Aubl.) Pers. Syn. PL 1: 39. 1805.