Swartzia gigantea 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 gigantea R.S.Cowan

  • Type

    Type collection. R. E. Schultes and J. M. Pires 9002 (holotype US 1996686, 1996687), Río Uaupés, between Ipanoré and confluence with Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brazil, Nov. 1947.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor circa 35 m alta, trunco 1 m diametro, ramulis novellis dense micro-granulari-puberulis; stipulae non visae; petioli ca 11.5 cm longi, teretes micro-granulari-puberuli; rhachis ca 25 cm longa, teres micro-granulari-puberula; foliola 4-jugata, petiolulis 18-20 mm longis, 4 mm diametro, dense micro-granulari-puberulis, laminis 25-32 cm longis, 12-13 cm latis, ellipticis ad ovato-ellipticis margine angustissime revolutis basi rotundato-obtusis apice hebeti-acuminatis supra glabris infra dense micro-granulari-puberulis pilis luteis, supra costa impressa venis primariis immersis obscuris, infra costa venis primariisque plus minusve salientibus; inflorescentiae 5-14 cm longae, cauligerae vel ramigerae, axe micro-granulari-puberulo, bracteis persistentibus, 1 mm longis, late triangularibus granulari-puberulis, bracteolis persistentibus base calycis nascentibus, ca 0.7 mm longis et latis, triangularibus acutis granulari-puberulis; pedicelli ca 9 mm longi, dense micro-puberuli; alabastra ca 10 mm diametro, verruculosa; calycis segmenta 4, crassa et lignosa extus micro-granulari-puberula intus glabra; petalum glabrum album, unguiculo 8 mm longo, lamina late ovata cordata, ca 25 mm longa et 35 mm lata; stamina maiora 2, glabra, filamentis ca 22 mm longis, minora glabra, filamentis ca 12 mm longis, antheris subquadratis; gynoecium glabrum, stigmate obtuso, stylo ca 4 mm longo, ovario anguste elliptico, arcuato, ca 10 mm longo et 3 mm lato, gynophoro ca 14 mm longo; fructus non visus.

  • Discussion

    As implied by the specific epithet, S. gigantea is gigantic in at least two respects; the collectors report that it is an enormous tree, and the leaflets are also larger than in the related species, especially S. duckei. The latter besides having smaller leaflets, has fewer pairs per leaf, and they are differently shaped; moreover, the style of S. duckei is much longer in proportion to the ovary-length. Both are related to S. schomburgkii and its near-kin, at least in the structure of the pubescence. In all these taxa, the hairs are either wholly or largely peltate, but, unfortunately, also microscopic.

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 13). Known only from the type locality in northwestern Brazil.

    Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|