Swartzia sumorum Ant.Molina

  • Authority

    Cowan, Richard S. 1967. Swartzia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae Swartzieae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 1: 3-228. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Swartzia sumorum Ant.Molina

  • Type

    Type collection. A. Molina 2393 (holotype US 2215951; isotype F), Bosqueguamil de Tourmarín, Río Grande, Zelaya, Nicaragua, Apr. 1949. The holotype is now in the U. S. National Herbarium, having been presented by the herbarium of the Escuela Agricola Panamericana.

  • Description

    Description - Tree 15-20 m tall, the trunk 1 m diameter, the bark smooth, gray, the branchlets densely micro-strigulose, glabrescent; stipules persistent, 0.4 mm long and wide, triangular, micro-strigulose; petioles 3-4.5 cm long, micro-strigulose; rachis 5-7.5 cm long, micro-strigulose, terete but slightly sulcate on the upper surface, not stipellate; leaflets 2- or 3-jugate, the petiolules 3-5 mm long, micro-strigulose, the blades of the lowermost pair 6-8 cm long, 4-4.5 cm wide, the other pairs 10.5-15 cm long, 5.5-8.5 cm wide, acute at the base, the apex rounded, glabrous on the upper surface, micro-strigulose beneath, the venation plane above, salient beneath; inflorescence 8-10 cm long, ramuligerous, the axis micro-strigulose, the bracts persistent, 0.5 mm long, semicircular-triangular, minutely strigulose externally; bracteoles lacking; pedicels 1-1.5 mm long, minutely strigulose; buds almost globose, apiculate, 3 mm diameter, minutely strigulose; calyx segments persistent, minutely strigulose externally, glabrous within; petal lacking; stamens not seen; stigma truncate; style ca 2.5 mm long, glabrous, uncinate; ovary sparsely strigulose, narrowly elliptic, the gynophore ca 2.5 mm long, sparingly to sparsely strigulose; fruits elliptic in outline, ca 5 cm long and 2 cm wide, 2-seeded, bright orange-colored; seeds 1-1.5 cm diameter, the aril bright red and very sweet-tasting.

  • Discussion

    Superficially this species does not seem very nearly related to S. cubensis and vegetatively there are considerable differences, but there is much similarity in floral parts. The bright red aril is also suggestive of S. cubensis.

  • Common Names

    Uvillo

  • Distribution

    Known only by the type collection from eastern Nicaragua on river banks.

    Nicaragua Central America| Zelaya Nicaragua Central America|