Macrolobium pittieri (Rose) Schery
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Authority
Cowan, Richard S. 1953. A taxonomic revision of the genus Macrolobium (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 257-342.
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Family
Caesalpiniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Branchlets glabrous. Petioles 3-6 mm. long, glabrous. Leaflets 28-32.5 cm. long, 8.5-11 cm. wide, sessile, subequilateral, oblanceolate, the base inequilateral, the lower side obtuse and much wider than the acute upper side, the apex caudate-acuminate, the margin entire or irregularly undulate; upper surface glabrous, very minutely puberulous beneath on the costa and the primary veins, epunctate; costa salient above, the costa and primary veins salient beneath, the venules prominulous above, conspicuous beneath. Inflorescences to 3.5 cm. long, glabrous, the bracts 2.5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, triangular, the pedicels about 4.5 mm. long; bracteoles 12 ram. long, 4 mm. wide, oblanceolate, concave, rounded-obtuse, glabrous. Hypanthium 10 mm. long on a 3 ram. stipe, glabrous. Sepals 17-18.5 mm. long, 4 mm. wide, oblong, obtuse, concave, sparsely and irregularly ciliolate, otherwise glabrous. Petal blade 42 mm. long, 15 mm. wide, elliptic, the claw 5 mm. long, glabrous externally, sparsely pilosulose within on the lower half of the costa. Filaments about 25 ram. long, villose basally, the anthers 5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide. Stigma capitate. Style 24 mm. long, pilosulose basally. Ovary 3-4 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide, oblong, pilosulose on the margins, laterally glabrous, 6-ovulate; free portion of the gynophore 2 mm. long, pilosulose adaxially. Fruit glabrous, the seeds 3-3.5 cm. long, 2.5 cm. wide, obovate, the testa very membranous and venulose.
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Discussion
Figure 12.
Vouapa Pittieri Rose, N. Am. Flora 23: 226. 1930.
Type Collection: H. Pittier 4355, "Plain of Sperdi, near Puerto Obaldia, San Bias coast; near sea level," Panama, Sept. 1911 (HOLOTYPE US, isotypes F, GH, NY).
One might expect that this species would show greater relationship to the other Panamanian species than to any other. Such is not the case, however, for it is much more nearly allied to M. archeri of Colombia. From the latter it may be separated by its unguiculate, larger petal, its shorter hypanthium, its smaller glabrous bracteoles, and its caudate-acuminate leaflet apices.
Pittier published a description of M. floridum based on the specimen cited above (Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 18: 233- 1917) but Rose recognized that the material actually represented a new taxon. Consequently, he described it as a new species, basing it on Pittier's collection and naming it for the collector. It rested under the generic name Vouapa until Schery transferred it to the proper genus in 1951.