Platymiscium pinnatum (Jacq.) Dugand

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 5 - 1300 m.; Andes, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia.

Morphology General Habit

Arbolito, árbol

Conservation

No Evaluada

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Klitgaard, B. (2005). Platymiscium (Leguminosae: Dalbergieae): Biogeography Systematics, Morphology, Taxonomy and Uses. Kew Bulletin, 60(3), 321-400. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4111062

Type

Lectotype Tab. 117, Fig. 50 in Jacquin (1763).

Morphology General Habit

Tree to 20(- 33) m tall, 28 - 30(- 100) cm in diameter; sometimes with small buttresses; crown spreading to rounded; bark smooth, greenish-grey, shallowly fissured when young, more deeply fissured into rectangular blocks (1 x 3 - 4 cm) when older, outer bark 5 mm thick, inner bark 8 - 10 mm thick; slash exudes greenish sap which oxidises dark red; wood very hard, heartwood reddish brown; internodes of juvenile branchlets hollow or solid

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, rarely 3-verticillate, 5 - 7 (- 9, very rarely - 11)-foliolate; vegetative parts glabrous; leaflets: veinlets of areoles with sharp edges, usually intermixed with dots, primary vein flush with upper surface, upper surface dark green, dull, lower surface lighter green, dull

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences of erect or pendulous, axillary, simple 20 - 100-flowered racemes (occasionally with secondary branching)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pedicellate; pedicels articulated at calyx base, persistent after flower fall; calyx cup- shaped, robust, glabrous, base obtuse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Samara broadly to narrowly elliptic, glabrous; exocarp rusty brown at maturity.

Note

The following field features are common to the varieties of Platymiscium pinnatum: the inner bark has a cinnamon-brown colour. The slash is yellowish with a smell of green beans (Vicia faba), and the sap oxidises red. The calyx is initially green, turning purple later. The flowers are very fragrant, and attract large numbers of bees, which most probably are the principal pollinators. Trees flower prolifically, making them very showy and easily visible from a distance. When the internodes are hollow, the trees house large numbers of ants. A very interesting exchange of letters, dated 1954 and 1955, exists between A. Dugand in Bogotá and N. Y. Sandwith at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. These letters discuss the taxonomy of Platymiscium pinnatum: amongst other things the synonymisation of P. polystachyum and P. ulei under P. pinnatum, with which I agree totally. As already mentioned in the introduction, Sandwith stressed the fact that Platymiscium is in need of critical revision: "once again, it looks as if a critical revision of Platymiscium were needed, to be done by someone who can assemble hundreds of sheets from all parts of its range".

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

angelino, corazonfino, crucero, granadillo, guayacán, guayacán trébol, palo de ardilla, palo de barbasco, peraco, roble, roble blanco, taray, tasajo, trébol, trébol negro

International Legume Database and Information Service

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Tree