Swartzia velutina Spruce ex Benth.
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Authority
Cowan, Richard S. 1967. Swartzia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae Swartzieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 1: 3-228. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type collection. R. Spruce 2201 (lectotype K; isolectotypes BM, CGE, Fl, M, NY, W), San Gabriel, Amazonas, Brazil, Mar. 1852. A fruiting collection, presumably from the same locality but on a different date, bears the same number; it will be cited herein as "2201-A." The choice of a lectotype is necessitated by this mixture of collections.
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Description
Description - Shrub or weak tree 2-5 m tall, the branchlets densely rusty-pilose; stipules persistent, 2-3 mm long, linear or linear-lanceolate, strigulose externally, glabrous within; leaves unifoliolate, the petiole 2-6 mm long, densely pilose, apically stipellate, the stipels 1-1.5 mm long, the petiolules lacking, the blades 8-14.5 cm long, 4-7 cm wide, elliptic to broadly elliptic, the base rounded, subcordate, the apex acuminate with the tip obtuse and retuse, pilose or pilosulose on the costa on the upper surface of the blades, pilose or flexuose-pilose on the lower surface, the venation prominulous on the upper surface, prominent beneath, the costa and the primary vein-branches plane on the upper surface of the leaflets, salient beneath; inflorescence axillary, the axes densely pilose, 3-7 cm long, the bracts deciduous to persistent, ca 2 mm long, pilose, the bracteoles persistent, 2-3 mm long, linear-lanceolate, strigulose externally, glabrous within; pedicels 13-22 mm long, densely pilose; buds ovate in outline, ca 12 mm long and 10 mm diameter, pilose; calyx segments 3 or 4, persistent with the fruit, pilose densely externally, glabrous within; petal white, sparingly villose externally, glabrous within, the blade oblate, ca 2 cm long and 2.5 cm wide; larger stamens 5, glabrous, the filaments ca 18 mm long, the anthers narrowly oblong, ca 5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, the smaller stamens glabrous, the filaments ca 8.5 mm long, the anthers oval, ca 1 mm long; gynoecium glabrous, the stigma punctiform, the style 3-5 mm long, the ovary elliptic, ca 9 mm long and 3.5 mm wide, the gynophore 14-16 mm long; fruits ovate, elliptic, or ovate-oblong in outline, "vermilion" (fide Spruce), 25-30 mm long, 12-17 mm diameter, the style persistent as a beak 3-6 mm long, the stipe 16-20 mm long.
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Discussion
There is some evidence to relate this species to S. fimbriata but the latter has the calyx segments pubescent on the inner surface and the ovary pubescent on one suture. From S. eriocarpa, an even closer relative, the present species differs in its glabrous gynoecium.
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Distribution
(Fig. 44). Known only from the type locality in the northwestern part of Brazilian Amazonia, in secondary forest, probably along the rivers.
Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|