Swartzia apetala var. blanchetii (Benth.) 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 apetala var. blanchetii (Benth.) R.S.Cowan

  • Type

    Type collection. J. Blanchett 3974 (holotype BR; isotypes C, P), Baia, Brazil.

  • Synonyms

    Swartzia blanchetii Benth., Tounatea blanchetii (Benth.) Taub., Tunatea blanchetii (Benth.) Kuntze

  • Description

    Description - Branchlets minutely strigulose but soon glabrescent; stipules 4.5-8 mm long, glabrous or minutely strigulose externally; petioles (3.5-)6-8(-9.5) cm long, puberulous but often glabrescent, marginate, the rachis (5-) 10-20 cm long, marginate, puberulous; leaflets (1-) 2- or 3-jugate, petiolules 2-4 mm long, puberulous, sometimes glabrescent, the blades minutely puberulous on the costa, those of the smaller basal pair 6.5-13 cm long, 3.5-6.5 cm wide, those of the other pairs 9.5-17.5 cm long, 4.5-8 cm wide; inflorescence ramuligerous, 5-28 cm long, the axis pilosulose, the bracts triangular-lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide, puberulous or glabrous externally; larger stamens 2, the filaments 3-6 mm long, the anthers 1.5-2 mm long, 0.7-0.8 mm wide, the filaments of the smaller stamens 3-6 mm long; gynoecium glabrous, the style 0.4-1 mm long, the ovary 2-4 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, the gynophore 1.5-3 mm long; fruit ca 25 mm long and 15 mm wide, the stipe ca 2 mm long; seeds 1, oval, ca 23 mm long and 13 mm diameter.

  • Discussion

    The differences separating the several varieties of S. apetala are not particularly impressive and surely are of no more than varietal importance; the fact that all of them are so closely associated geographically must indicate a common origin. Var. glabra is perhaps the least well established; the relatively long pedicels distinguish it from the other varieties of the species and this character in addition to the shape of the leaflets has led me to the conclusion that the material cited under this variety is representative of Vogel’s S. glabra. The gynoecium is apparently distinctive in its pale tan color, but this may not hold true in a larger series of collections.

    Var. blanchetii has longer petioles and broader leaflets but in both characteristics there is some slight overlap. The typical variety and var. subcordata differ only slightly: The leaflets of the former are more or less concolorous and the base is acute or more frequently narrowed but finally obtuse; var. subcordata is characterized by discolorous leaflets whose base is rounded and obtuse to slightly cordate.

    Swartzia apetala is perhaps closest phylogenetically to S. pilulifera, which has densely pubescent gynoecia, fruits, and usually leaflets (at least on the under surfaces).

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 28). Southeastern Brazil, probably restricted to Baia.

    Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America|