Swartzia cupavenensis 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 cupavenensis R.S.Cowan

  • Type

    Type collection. J. J. Wurdack & L. S. Adderly 43744 (holotype US 2281763; isotype NY), Caño Cupavén, Río Orinco, opposite mouth of Río Atabapo, Amazonas, Venezuela, Aug. 4, 1959.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 6-7 m alta, trunco ca 30 cm diametro, ramulis minute strigulosis; stipulae non visae; petioli 5 cm longi, teretes minute strigulosi, rhachi 12.5 cm longa, tereti minute strigulosa estipellata; foliola 3-jugata, petiolulis cylindricis, 11-12 mm longis, minute strigulosis, laminis coriaceis, 14-22 cm longis, 6-7.5 cm latis, ellipticis basi acutis apice acuminatis supra glabris infra minute strigulosis, supra costa impressa infra saliente supra venulis planis sed infra venis primariis salientibus; inflorescentiae racemosae, ad 34 cm longae, axe aureo-sericeo, bracteis persistentibus triangularibus acutis, 1.5 mm longis, externe aureo-sericeis intus glabris, bracteolis nullis; pedicelli 9-10 mm longi, aureo-sericei; alabastra ovalia, 10 mm longa, aureo-sericea; calycis segmenta 4 extus aureo-sericea intus glabra; petalum album glabrum, unguiculo 2 mm longo, lamina cordata basaliter late ovata, ca 10 mm longa, 14 mm lata; stamina maiora 4 glabra, filamentis 9 mm longis antheris 2.5 mm longis, 0.8 mm latis, minora glabra, filamentis 10 mm longis, antheris semicircularibus, 1 mm longis, 0.8 mm latis; gynoecium aureo-sericeum, stylo 1 mm longo, ovario elliptico, 4 mm longo, 2 mm lato, gynophoro 5.5 mm longo; fructus ca 6 cm longus et 2.5 cm latus, aureo-sericeus, valde papillatus.

  • Discussion

    Swartzia cupavenensis differs from its relatives S. laevicarpa and S. fanshawei in the golden-sericeous character of most of its parts and the larger, oval buds; the smooth surface of the buds readily separates it from another, less closely, related species, S. benthamiana.

  • Distribution

    Known certainly only from the type collection which was described by the collectors as occurring frequently in the forest along the small stream Caño Cupaven (the source of the specific epithet), at ca 125 m alt. The following collection almost surely belongs here but it is rather fragmentary: VENEZUELA. Amazonas: San Carlos, Río Negro, LI. Williams 14590 (G).

    Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America|