Swartzia reticulata Ducke

  • Authority

    Cowan, Richard S. 1967. Swartzia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae Swartzieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 1: 3-228. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Swartzia reticulata Ducke

  • Type

    Type collection. A. Ducke 23348 (holotype RB; isotypes K, P, S, U, US), upper Rio Mindú, near Manáos, Amazonas, Brazil, Oct. 1929.

  • Description

    Description - Tree 6-18 m tall, the trunk sulcate, all parts of the plant glabrous and often nitid; stipules caducous, not seen; petioles 7-9 cm long, terete, the rachis terete, 11.5-25 cm long; leaflets 2- or 3-jugate, glabrous and nitid, the petiolules 7-13 mm long, transversely wrinkled, incrassate, canaliculate, the blades coriaceous, the base rounded-obtuse, the apex abruptly acute to acuminate, the blades of the basal pair of leaflets rounded or broadly ovate, 10.5-17 cm long, 7.5-11 cm wide, the other blades oval to broadly ovate-oval, 14-28 cm long, 9-14 cm wide, the venation conspicuously salient on both upper and lower surfaces; inflorescences ramuligerous, glabrous, racemose, 9-15 cm long, the bracts triangular, acute, 0.5-1 mm long and wide, the bracteoles arising about midway or higher on the pedicels, ca 0.5 mm long and wide, triangular; pedicels 8-12 mm long; buds globose or oval in outline, 10-11 mm long, 9-10 mm diameter, glabrous, verruculose; calyx segments coriaceous, glabrous; petal violet-colored or white [fide Ducke], the blade broadly ovate to almost circular, 17-20 mm long, 14-20 mm wide; larger stamens 5 or 6, glabrous, the filaments strongly incrassate, 10-12 mm long, the anthers 2.5-4 mm long, the smaller stamens ca 10 mm long, glabrous; gynoecium glabrous, the stigma punctiform, the style 1.5-3 mm long, the ovary arcuate, narrowly elliptic, 5.5-10 mm long and 1.5-2 mm wide; fruit not seen.

  • Discussion

    Although this species is grouped in the key with the S. recurva assemblage of species on account of the style-ovary proportions, there is considerably greater affinity with the S. polyphylla complex. Its large, coarsely reticulate, nitid leaves, glabrous inflorescence and flowers separate it from any conceivably related species. There are very few flowers available for comparison but the closest relatives are perhaps S. polyphylla and S. gigantea.

  • Common Names

    Araba, araba preto

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 12). Suriname and in the vicinity of Manáos, Amazonas, Brazil, in the primary forest bordering rivers and smaller streams, probably on soils at least seasonally inundated.

    Brazil South America| Suriname South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|