Swartzia amshoffiana 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 amshoffiana R.S.Cowan

  • Type

    Type collection. Suriname F.D. 6891 (holotype U; isotype NY), Brownsberg, Suriname.

  • Synonyms

    Swartzia apetala var. acuminata Amshoff

  • Description

    Description - Tree with the branchlets minutely strigulose but soon glabrescent; stipules caducous, 2-2.5 mm long, linear-subulate, glabrous; petioles 7-10 mm long, minutely strigulose sparingly, stipellate apically; rachis 4.5-5.5 cm long, slender, stipellate at each pair of leaflets, minutely strigulose; leaflets 3-jugate, glabrous, strongly discolorous, the petiolules 2-2.5 mm long, the blades 5.5-7.5 cm long, 2-2.5 cm wide, lanceolate-elliptic, the base acute, the apex acuminate, often mucronulate, the venation inconspicuous, finely reticulate, plane on both surfaces, except the costa impressed on the upper surface; inflorescences of fasciculate racemes, 6-10 cm long, the axis minutely strigulose, the bracts persistent, 0.5-0.6 mm long, triangular, minutely strigulose externally, glabrous within, the bracteoles lacking; pedicels 3-4.5 mm long, minutely strigulose; buds subglobose to elliptic in outline, 3-3.5 mm long, 3 mm diameter, sparsely strigulose minutely; calyx segments 4, glabrous; petal not developed; larger stamens 2, glabrous, the filaments ca 2 mm long, the anthers ca 1.5 mm long and 0.8 mm wide, oval-oblong, the smaller stamens ca 25-30, glabrous, the filaments 4-5 mm long, the anthers oval to oblate; gynoecium glabrous or with a few minute hairs basally, the stigma truncate, the style 0.4 mm long, strongly reflexed, parallel to the long axis of the ovary, the latter ca 3 mm long, 1 mm wide, oblong, arcuate apically, the gynophore ca 1 mm long; fruit unknown.

  • Discussion

    Although there is similarity between this species and the S. apetala complex, it is better considered a distinct species. Since the binomial S. acuminata has been used for the species now known as S. polyphylla, a new name is required. S. amshoffiana is proposed in recognition of the critical contributions made by Dr. Amshoff to our knowledge of the Leguminosae in northern South America, especially in Suriname.

    In addition to the geographic separation from the several parts of S. apetala, this species differs in having a combination of relatively short pedicels, minutely strigulose buds, and acuminate and often mucronulate leaflets. The strongly reflexed style, parallel to the long axis of the ovary is useful for distinguishing it from all parts of S. apetala.

    Sterile sheets of two additional collections from Brownsberg (Suriname For. Bur. 2066, 2093) are represented at Utrecht; a sterile collection, Lanjouw & Lindeman 2817, from the Nassau Mts. is also probably referable to this species, but the fact that all of these are sterile makes difficult a certain determination. Lindeman 4119, 5917, and Schulz 8042 from the same general region of Suriname are even less certainly assignable here, for they are all sterile and not altogether typical.

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 28). Known only from the type locality.

    Suriname South America|