Swartzia riedelii 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 riedelii R.S.Cowan

  • Type

    Type collection. L. Riedel 607 (holotype LE; isotypes NY, US), near Ilheos, Baia, Brazil, Jan. 1922.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbuscula ramulis tomentoso-pilosis; stipulae deciduae anguste lanceolatae 9-13 mm longae 2 mm latae acutae usque acuminatae extus tomentosae; petioli 4-7 cm longi teretes tomentoso-pilosi apice stipellati; rhaches 6.5-14.5 cm longae anguste alato-marginatae ad apicem versus stipellis usque ad 4 mm longis praeditae tomentoso-pilosae; foliola 2- vel 3-jugata, petiolulis 2-3 mm longis, laminis coriaceis 7-14 cm longis 5-7 cm latis ovalibus usque ellipticis basi rotundatis apice abrupte hebeti-acutis faciebus ambobus pilosis usque subtomentosis costa saliente sed infra validiore, venis primariis supra planis subtus salientibus; inflorescentiae racemosae 5-12 cm longae, axe pilosulo, bracteis ca 1.5 mm longis ovatis usque lanceo-latis acutis glabris vel leviter strigulosis, braceteolis nullis; pedicelli 6-10 mm longi glabri; alabastra globosa ca 4 mm diametro glabra; calycis segmenta persistentia cum fructo maturo glabra; petala nulla; androecium non visum, stamina maiora 2 (fide Riedel); stigma punctiforme; stylus ca 0.5 mm longus, glaber; ovarium ca 4.5 mm longum et 2.5 mm latum excentrico-oblanceolatum ad basi versus margina-liter villosum leviter, gynophoro ca 4 mm longo, villoso; fructus ovalis 14 mm longus 8 mm latus, carpophoro 4.5 mm longo, villoso.

  • Discussion

    This is one of the most easily distinguished members of the S. apetala complex, differing most strikingly by its densely tomentose or pilose-tomentose leaves and, less obviously, by the distribution of pubescence on the gynoecium. It is perhaps most closely related to S. pilulifera which has smaller leaflets and a uniformly densely pubescent gynoecium.

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 28). Known only from the type collection which was made in the scrub zone on sand in the coastal region of southeastern Brazil.

    Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America|