Swartzia pickelii Killip ex 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 pickelii Killip ex Ducke

  • Type

    Type collection. B. Pickel 2394 (lectotype US 1473653), Tapera, Pernambuco, Brazil, Aug. 1930. Several collections are cited in the original publication; it seems proper in view of the choice of the specific epithet that the Pickel collection should be designated lectotype.

  • Description

    Description - Tree with subappressed-tomentulose branchlets; stipules caducous, linear-lanceolate, 4-5 mm long, 1 mm wide, strigose externally, glabrous within; petioles 15-28 mm long, tomentulose, marginate and at the apex stipellate; rachis 10-19 cm long, canaliculate-marginate and stipellate at each pair of leaflets, strigulose to tomentulose; leaflets (4-)5- or 6-(-7-) jugate, the petiolules 1-2 mm long, strigulose to tomentulose, the blades 3.5-8(-12.5) cm long, 2-3.5(-5) cm wide, those of the basal juga smaller, all the leaflets elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic, the base obtuse to rounded-obtuse or cordate, the apex acute, plane or the margins slightly deflexed, tomentulose on the costa on the nitid upper surface, paler and strigose beneath, the venation more or less salient on both surfaces; inflorescences ramuligerous, racemose or panicled-racemose, (5-) 15-17 cm long, the axis strigulose to tomentulose, the bracts caducous, rounded-triangular, 1-1.5 mm long, strigulose externally, glabrous within, the bracteoles persistent, triangular, ca 1 mm long, arising near the pedicel apex; pedicels laterally compressed, costate, 10-15 mm long, densely strigulose; buds ca 8 mm diameter, globose; calyx segments 4, densely strigulose externally, densely villose-sericeous within; petal white, sparingly strigose or villose externally, glabrous within, the claw 4-5 mm long, the blade suborbicular to oblate, 12-15 mm long, 15-20 mm wide; larger stamens 4, glabrous, the filaments stout, 7-8.5 mm long, the anthers oblong, 4-4.5 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, the smaller stamens glabrous, the filaments 7-9 mm long, the anthers ca 1.5 mm long and 1 mm wide, oblong-oval; gynoecium glabrous, the stigma punctiform, the style 0.8-1.5 mm long, the ovary 5-6 mm long, 1.8-3 mm wide, arcuate-oblong narrowly, the gynophore 3-3.5 mm long; fruit to 14 cm long and 6 cm wide, transversely striate, the stipe to 15 mm long; seeds to 12 per fruit.

  • Discussion

    In the original publication the combination S. pickelii is made on p. 441 but there is no description given, only citation of specimens representing the species. However, on p. 459 the species is described but, unfortunately, the specific epithet was omitted by mistake at this point. All the conditions of valid publication are met when the two pages are taken together.

    As noted under the following species, S. glaziouiana, to which this one is surely closely allied, the two are separable on the size and relative proportions of the leaflets, as well as by the length of the leaf-rachis, and by their geographic distribution.

  • Common Names

    Jacaranda, jacarandá branca

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 15). Known only from Pernambuco, Brazil in low coastal woods, sometimes in secondary forest.

    Brazil South America| Pernambuco Brazil South America|