Swartzia tomentifera (Ducke) Ducke
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Authority
Cowan, Richard S. 1967. Swartzia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae Swartzieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 1: 3-228. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type collection. A. Ducke 20360 (holotype RB; isotypes K, S, US), Manáos, circa Cachoeira do Mindú, Amazonas, Brazil.
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Synonyms
Swartzia benthamiana var. tomentifera Ducke
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Description
Description - Mediocre to large tree to 30 m tall, the branchlets micro-puberulous, glabrescent, the hairs peltate; stipules caducous to deciduous, 0.4-0.5 mm long, triangular, glabrous; petioles 3.5-5(-7.5) cm long, terete, glabrous or sparingly micro-puberulous, the hairs peltate; rachis 4-9.5 cm long, terete, pubescent as the petiole; leaflets 2- or 3-jugate, the petiolules 4-5(-7) mm long, glabrous, the blades slightly concave, coriaceous, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 6.5-12.5 cm long, 3.5-5.5 cm wide, the base rounded, sometimes acute at the petiolule but generally rounded, the apex bluntly acuminate, glabrous on the upper surface, densely micro-puberulous beneath, the hairs buff-colored, peltate, the venation obscure, the costa impressed above, salient beneath, the veins plane; inflorescence 12-13.5 cm long, racemose, supra-axillary, the axis densely micro-puberulous, the hairs peltate, the bracts persistent, 1-1.5 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, triangular-lanceolate, acute, micro-puberulous externally, the hairs peltate, glabrous within, the bracteoles lacking; pedicels 4-4.5 mm long, micro-puberulous; buds globose, ca 5 mm diameter, micro-puberulous; calyx segments 4 or 5, persistent at least in part, pubescent as the buds externally, glabrous within except villose at the apex; petal violet (fide Ducke), glabrous, the claw ca 1 mm long, the blade ca 5 mm long and 3 mm wide, elliptic, marginally undulate, the base cuneate; larger stamens 2, glabrous, the filaments ca 5 mm long, the anthers 1.3 mm long, 0.6 mm wide, the smaller stamens glabrous; gynoecium sericeous except for the style, the stigma punctiform, the style 0.5 mm long, glabrous, the ovary 2.5-3 mm long, 1.5-1.8 mm wide, broadly elliptic, the gynophore 2.5 mm long; fruit 3-5 cm long, 2-2.5 cm wide, elliptic in outline, compressed laterally, elliptic in cross-section, densely micro-puberulous, the hairs peltate, the stipe 5 mm long, densely micro-puberulous, somewhat verruculose.
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Discussion
The microscopic, peltate hairs which are characteristic of this species are also typical of S. schomburgkii, but this belongs to another section, the species of which have relatively longer styles. Superficially, S. tomentifera resembles S. ulei which has much larger leaflets and longer pedicels. The present species is more closely related to S. benthamiana but the fruits of that species are strongly lamellate-ridged while those of S. tomentifera are more like the type characteristic of S. laemcarpa, which is surely the nearest relative. The leaflets of the latter are usually glabrous, the buds minutely strigulose, and the larger fruits are glabrous; S. tomentifera has densely micro-puberulous leaves, fruits, and buds, and the fruits are smaller.
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Distribution
(Fig. 13). Primary, non-inundated forest on clay or sandy-clay soils in eastern-central and southern Amazonas, Brazil.
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