Dioclea rigida R.S.Cowan
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1958. The botany of the Guayana Highland--Part III. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-156.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Frutex seandens, ramulis rufo-pilosis; stipulae 3.5 mm longae, triangulariovatae, externe pilosae; folia trifoliolata, pinnata, petiolo 3-4 (-8) cm longo, supra valde eanaliculato, rufo-piloso, rachibus 1-2 cm longis, canaliculatis et pilosis, petiolulis 4 5 mm longis, leviter pilosis; foliolorum laminae lanceolato-ovatae usque ad lato-ovatae, rigido-coriaceae, valde venosae, 9-14 cm longae, 4-8 cm latae, basi valde cordatae, apice acutae, supra leviter pilosae sed glabrescentes, infra venis leviter pilosis, costa venisque leviter salientibus supra, infra valde salientibus, venulis leviter impressis supra, infra leviter salientibus; inflorescentiae 32-55 cm longae, axe puberulo, pedunculo 12.5-25 cm longo, pedicellis ca. 5 mm longis, strigulosis; bracteolae "persistentes, ovatae, ca. 2 mm longae, 1.5 mm latae; calyx externe strigulosus, tubo ca. 4 mm longo, lobis usque ad 7 mm longis, acutis; fructus immaturus elliptico-oblongus, rufo-tomentosus, 9.5 cm longus, 2.5 cm latus, marginibus leviter dilatatus.
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Discussion
Type Collection: B. 8. Cowan & J. J. Wurdack 31252 (holotype NY), "woody vine to 1 m high. Fruit green. Lf. veins & veinlets impressed above. Lflts. subconduplicate. Occasional along West Rim of cumbre, Cerro Paru, Terr. Amazonas, Venezuela, Feb 4, 1951."
This is an exceedingly distinct species with little relationship to any species other than an undeseribed Colombian one and even there the similarity is only a superficial resemblance involving characteristics of the leaflets. The rigidly coriaceous, venose, cordate leaflets are distinctive.