Swartzia multijuga Vogel

Authority

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

Family

Fabaceae

Scientific Name

Swartzia multijuga Vogel

Type

Type collection. F. Sello s.n. (lectotype K; isolectotypes LE, P), Prov. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Synonyms

Swartzia lomatopus Mart., Swartzia multijuga var. lomatopus (Mart.) Benth., Swartzia multijuga var. apetala Benth., Swartzia theiodora Taub., Tounatea multijuga (Vogel) Taub., Tunatea multijuga (Vogel) Kuntze

Description

Description - Small tree ca 3 m tall, the branchlets minutely strigulose to subappressed pilosulose; stipules caducous, (2.5-)6.5 mm long and 0.5-0.9 mm wide, subulate-lanceolate, strigulose externally, glabrous within; petioles 10-20 mm long, pilosulose to strigulose, or glabrous on the upper surface, slightly marginate, stipellate at the apex; rachis (7-) 10-16 cm long, pilosulose to strigulose, or the upper surface glabrous, stipellate at each pair of leaflets, narrowly alate, the wing 1.5-4.5 mm wide; leaflets (6-)10-15-jugate, the petiolules 0.4-1.5 mm long, puberulous, the blades (0.8-) 1.5-4.5(-8) cm long, (0.6-) 1-1.5(-2) cm wide, those of the lower pairs smaller, all the blades oval, elliptic-oblong, or oblong, rarely lanceolate, the base rounded, obtuse to cordate, the apex obtuse to rounded, rarely acute, glabrous on the upper surface except for the minutely puberulous costa and flexuose-pilose beneath, or flexuose-pilosulose to pilose on both sides, the venation subobscure, the costa plane to slightly impressed above, salient beneath; inflorescences panicled-racemose, 11-30(-51) cm long, cauligerous, the axes pilosulose to strigulose, the bracts persistent, triangular to ovate, acute, 1-2(-3) mm long, 0.7-1 (-1.5) mm wide, strigulose on the outer surface, glabrous within, the bracteoles subapical to apical on the pedicels, persistent, lanceolate, 0.7-1.5 mm long, strigulose externally; pedicels (6-)8-14(-17) mm long, strigulose; buds globose, umbonate, 6-8 mm diameter, strigulose; calyx segments 4 or 5, minutely strigulose externally, glabrous within; petal yellow, sericeous externally, glabrous on the inner surface, the claw 3-4.5 mm long, the blade oblate, 6.5-10 mm long, 10-15 mm wide, basally cordate; larger stamens 4-6, the filaments 6.5-9 mm long, sparingly villose, the anthers narrowly oblong, 2.5-3 mm long, 0.7 mm wide, glabrous; smaller stamens glabrous, the filaments 6-8 mm long, the anthers suborbicular, 0.7-0.9 mm long, 0.6-0.8 mm wide; gynoecium glabrous, the stigma punctiform, the style 0.3-0.9 mm long, the ovary arcuate-oblong to obovate, 3-4 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, the gynophore 3-5 mm long; fruits not seen.

Discussion

Although the range of variation in this species is considerable with respect to number of pairs of leaflets and, to some extent, their shape, I can see no justification for maintaining even as varieties the several species placed here as synonyms under the name S. multijuga. In addition to the leaflet differences, which are inconstant, the presence or absence of pubescence on the filaments of the larger stamen has been used for distinguishing species in this complex. However, even in the type collection of S. theiodora, which was separated principally on the glabrous androecium, a few hairs can be found on some of the larger stamen filaments in some flowers. From one end of the complex to the other there is appreciable difference in leaflet shape but it is a continuous sort of variation and by itself without value in recognizing taxa of any order. Swartzia multijuga var. apetala, as the name suggests, was based on the lack of a petal but a normal, well developed one was found in the several flower buds opened for study; it has the fewest pairs of leaflets of all the complex, but, again, this by itself is not justification for recognizing it as a distinct taxon.

Common Names

Culhão de bode

Distribution

(Fig. 19). Mostly restricted to Minas Gerais, Brazil, but extending to Goyas, Rio de Janeiro, and Parana, in primary forest.

Brazil South America| Maranhão Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America|