Campsiandra macrocarpa R.S.Cowan
-
Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1958. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part III. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-156.
-
Family
Caesalpiniaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 15 m alta, patula, truncis multis, ramulis puberulis; folia puberula, imparipinnata, petiolo 7-9.5 em longo, leviter marginato, rachibus 15-24 cm longis, canaliculato-marginatis; foliola 5-6-jugata, petiolulo ca. 4 mm longo, laminis 8—19.5 cm longis, 3.5-6.5 cm latis, oblongo-ellipticis vel ellipticis, apice acuminatis, extremitate obtusiusculo, basi obtusis, leviter inaequilateralibus, utrinque puberulis, pilis erectis, supra costa subimpressa, infra salienti, venis primariis venulisque planis et obscuris supra, infra prominentibus et salientibus; fructus immaturus 36.5-59 cm longus, 6.5-7.5 cm latus, glaber, nitidus, arcuatooblongus.
-
Discussion
Type Collection: B. Maguire, J. J. Wurdack, and Q. 8. Bunting 36472 (holotype NY), "spreading multi-trunked tree to 15 m. Fruit green. Frequent at mouth of rio Yatua. 100-140 m elevation. Nov 30, 1953." While it is not generally good taxonomic practice to describe new taxa on less than rather complete material, it is sometimes justified in a small group where the characteristic differences are well marked. There can be no question of the distinctness of this species from the other two in the genus. Besides the very large fruits of the new species, it may also be recognized by the coriaceous, puberulent, strongly venose leaflets which are distinctly different in shape from those of the other species.