Pithecellobium curvicarpum H.S.Irwin
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Authority
Irwin, Howard S. 1966. Contributions to the botany of Guiana. III. Leguminosae Mimosoideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 15: 96-111.
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Family
Mimosaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Arbor usque ad 45 m alta 1.5 m in diametro, ramulis petiolis rhachibusque minute olivaceo-tomentosis. Glandula petioli ovata versus basem attenuata 0.5- 1.0mm alta apice plus minus depressa 5-7 mm longa; eae rhachium nullae paucaeve primam et tertiam pares apiculares nascentes urceolatae circiter 1 mm in diametro; eae axium prinnarum urceolatae inter 4am et 8am pares apicales vel sub 8a pari et juxta nodium nascentes. Folia bipinnata; pinnae 9-12-jugae; foliola ex unica pinna 12-16-juga, lanceolata vel anguste ovata 10-15 mm longa 3.5-5.0 mm lata membranacea minute papillati basi oblique apice rotunda vel fere emarginata ex toto glabra vel costis tantum spura interdum subtus plerumque pilis appressis paucis sparse pubescentibus. Flores in umbellis axillaribus solitariis geninisve, pedunculis 6-8 cm longis. Fructus valde arcuati 9—12 cm longi 1.5-2.0 cm in crassi, sutura superiore aequaliter arcuata, ea inferiore undulata, valvulis glabris rugosis inter semines constrictis, stipite ca. 5 mm longo. Semina 9—12 transverse plus minusve rectangula cinerea 8-12 mm longa 6-7 mm lata parum com-pressa; funiculo angusto 1.5-3.0 mm longo.
Distribution and Ecology - Habitat in "mixed forest, banks and swamps along creek. Rare." Essequibo R., British Guiana. Kamuni Creek, Gorete (= Groete) Creek. Bassett Maguire & D. B. Fanshawe 22950 (type NY).
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Discussion
Despite the absence of flowers, the distinctiveness of this plant warrants its description without further delay. Its closest relatives are P. arborea (L.) Urban and P. (Cojoba) guatemalensis (Britt. & Rose) Standley, both of Central America. As has been pointed out (Amshoff in Maguire et al, 1948) this collection constitutes the first report of a Pithecellobium from Guiana with moniliform fruit.