Swartzia froesii 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 froesii R.S.Cowan

  • Type

    Type collection. R. L. Froes 28396 (holotype IAN 75199), São Joaquim, Rio Içana, Amazonas, Brazil, Apr. 1952.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex scandens ramulis profuse velutinis pubibus atrato-brunneis suberectis; stipulae ca 2.5 mm longae lataeque triangulares appresso-velutinae; petioli ca 2.5 cm longi; rhaches ca 23 cm longae, petiolis rhachibusque dense subappresso-velutinis pubibus atrato-brunneis; foliola 4-jugata, petiolulis ca 8 mm diametro, subappresso-velutinis, laminis 17.5-23.5 cm longis, 10.5-11 cm latis, ovato-ellipticis ad ellipticis, basi rotundatis apice abrupte acutis vel acuminatis, supra glabris nitidisque sed valde subappresso-strigosis infra pubibus brunneis, costa venisque supra planis infra plus minusve salientibus; inflorescentiae axillares, axe profuse subappresso-velutino, bracteis ca 3.5 mm longis, arcuatis, atrato-velutinis, bracteolis ca 5 mm longis et 2 mm latis, lanceolatis externe dense strigulosis intus glabris; flores immaturi, alabastris globosis dense velutinis; calycis segmenta externe pubescentia intus glabra; petalum externe dense strigosum intus glabrum; stamina maiora 3, glabra, minora glabra; stigma obtusum; stylus glaber, ca 0.8 mm longus; ovarium ovale, ca 2 mm longum et 1.2 mm latum, lateraliter strigosum marginibus glabris, gynophoro ca 1.5 mm longo, glabro; fructus non visus.

  • Discussion

    Although the material cited is admittedly incomplete, it is so completely unlike any known species of the genus that it can scarcely be ignored. It is the only species with a clambering habit; the pubescent leaflets distinguish it from S. monachiana in which the leaflets are glabrous. Since the latter is known only by fruiting material, it is impossible to compare its floral characters with those of S. froesii. The two species are from the same general region, and there is probably a genuine relationship which will be more apparent with study of future flowering collections.

  • Distribution

    (Fig. 43). Known only by the type collection from the upper Amazon Basin in low secondary forest.

    Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|