Swartzia littlei 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 littlei R.S.Cowan

  • Type

    Type collection. E. L. Little 6371 (holotype US 1879882; isotypes F, NY), 4 km W of Borbón, Prov. Esmeraldas, Ecuador, April 1943.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Arbor 20-25 m alta, trunco 30-40 cm diametro valde sulcato, ramulis micro-strigulosis sed glabrescentibus; stipulae persistentes, ca 0.8 mm longae, triangulares acutae glabrae; petioli alati glabri, (6-) 12-22 mm longi, ala lineari-oblonga vel oblanceolata; rhaches 3.5-6 cm longae, alatae, ala lineari vel oblanceolata glabra; foliola 2-jugata glabra, petiolulis 1-1.5 mm longis, laminis 6-16 cm longis, 3-6 cm latis, ellipticis, base apiceque acutis vel apice obtusis, venis primariis plus minusve salientibus superficiebus ambabus; inflorescentiae axillares, 8-9.5 cm longae, axe minute striguloso, 50-85 mm longo, bracteis caducis ad deciduis, bracteolis persis-tentibus, ca 0.6 mm longis; pedicelli 15-40 mm longi, minute strigulosi; alabastra ovalia, ca 10 mm longa et 8 mm diametro; calycis segmenta decidua, extus minute strigulosa intus glabra; petalum luteum glabrum, unguiculo 3.5-5 mm longo, lamina late ovata basi cordata, ca 35 mm longa et 40 mm lata; stamina maiora 10, filamentis ca 20 mm longis, glabris, antheris ca 3.5 mm longis, minora glabra, filamentis ca 14 mm longis; gynoecium bi- vel tri-pistillatum, glabrum sutura una puberula excepta, stigmate capitellato, stylis 7-8.5 mm longis, ovariis 8-10 mm longis, 1-1.5 mm latis, arcuato-fusiformibus, gynophoris 10-13 mm longis; fructus glaber ellipticus basi apiceque attenatus, 25-30 mm longi, ca 15 mm diametro, carpophoris 10-12 mm longis, monospermi; semen ellipticum, ca 20 mm longum et 10 mm latum, nigrum, arillo albo.

  • Discussion

    There appears to be more similarity between S. littlei and S. simplex, especially var. grandiflora, than with any other species, but the new one is readily distinguished from all others in this section by its tri-pistillate flowers. It is further distinguishable from S. simplex by the consistently bijugate leaflets of S. littlei. The position accorded the latter, basal to the lines giving rise to the related species which follow, rests on the gynoecial character mentioned above.

  • Common Names

    Naranjillo, canelón

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 30). Coastal rain forest of Ecuador near sea-level, 70-300 m alt.

    Ecuador South America| Esmeraldas Ecuador South America|