Swartzia amazonica var. cinerea (Ducke) Ducke
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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. A. Ducke 20361 (holotype RB; isotypes G, K, P, S, U, US), Fontebõa, Amazonas, Brazil, Nov. 1927.
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Synonyms
Swartzia cinerea Ducke
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Description
Description - Under surfaces of the leaflets silvery white, the hairs not distinct but more or less coalescent in an arachnoid mat; bracts ca 6 mm long; buds ca 8 mm long; ovary ca 10 mm long.
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Discussion
Although the differences separating these varieties are not very impressive, it seems worthwhile to note the pubescence dissimilarity. I doubt that I would have described a new variety on these differences, but I hesitate to reduce to synonomy previously described taxa except where there is complete agreement with another.
This species comes out in the key with the apetalous species, but it is not at all related to them. It is very similar in details of leaflet venation and pubescence and in gynoecial structure to S. argentea from southwestern Venezuela and the upper Amazon Basin; thus it would appear that the apetalous condition has evolved more than once in the genus. -
Distribution
(Fig. 9). Known only by the type collection from the primary, non-inundated rain forest along the upper Amazon River.
Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|