Swartzia racemosa var. major R.S.Cowan

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Swartzia racemosa var. major R.S.Cowan

  • Type

    Type collection. P. H. Allen 3095 (holotype NY; fragment US), Mello Franco, Amazonas, Brazil, Aug. 1943. I have not been able to locate this locality but I believe it is near the southeastern border with Colombia.

  • Description

    Description - A var. racemosa et var. klugii petiolis 10-14 mm longis, bracteis persistentibus lineari-lanceolatis, bracteolis ad pedicellum prope medium nascentibus, alabastris 6-8 mm diametro, gynophoro 9 mm longo differt.

  • Discussion

    The unifoliolate leaves of this species, in combination with its bracteolate flowers and its glabrous gynoecium amply distinguish this from any other member of the genus; S. recurva and S. dolichopoda are the nearest related species.

    The typical variety differs from the others comprising this species in having the lower surfaces of the leaflets minutely pubescent and a relatively shorter gynophore. Var. major, as the name implies, has much larger buds and longer petioles than either var. klugii or var. racemosa.

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 21). Riverine forest at ca 250 m alt. in the upper Amazon Basin in Brazil and Colombia.

    Colombia South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| Vaupés Colombia South America|