Zollernia grandifolia Schery

Vidal de Freitas Mansano, Ana Maria Goulart de Azevedo Tozzi, & Lewis, G. (2004). A Revision of the South American Genus Zollernia Wied-Neuw. & Nees (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Swartzieae). Kew Bulletin, 59(4), 497-520. doi:10.2307/4110905

Type

Venezuela, Bolivar, Medio Caura, Williams 11370 (F 987012!, holotype, F 1009821!, UC 734448!, isotypes).

Morphology General Habit

Tree, c. 30 m tall, trunk c. 90 cm in diam., bark exfoliating

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules 2.5 - 5.4 x 1 - 1.5 mm, persistent, falcate, glabrous; petiole c. 9 mm, glabrous; leaf blade 16.3 - 20.3 x 5.9 - 8.4 cm, elliptic, chartaceous, glabrous, base obliquely cuneate, apex acute to acuminate, margin slightly serrate, venation prominent on both surfaces

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes aggregated into complex panicles, axis rufous-tomentose, more than 20 flowers per individual raceme; bracts 1 - 1.5 x 0.8 - 1 mm, deltoid, rufous-tomentose externally; bracteoles 0.7 - 0.9 x 0.4 - 0.6 mm, deltoid, rufous-tomentose externally, attached halfway up the pedicel; pedicel 2.7 - 5 mm long, terete, rufous-tomentose; buds c. 7 x 3 mm, elliptic-asymmetric, apex acuminate, base cuneate, rufous-tomentose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Calyx spathaceous, 1-lobed, chartaceous, internal surface glabrous at the base and pilose at the apex; petals 5 - 6, pink, claw 0.8 - 1 x 1 mm, blade 4.9 - 5.9 x 3 - 4.7 mm, elliptic; stamens 10, filaments c. 1 x 0.3 mm, glabrous, anthers 4.4 - 4.9 x 0.7 mm, apiculate, rufous-pilose; gynoecium glabrous, stipe c. 1.8 mm long, ovary 3.3 - 3.6 x 1 - 1.4 mm, elliptic, 7 - 8-ovulate, style c. 3 - 4 mm long, incurved, stigma punctiform

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit globose, 3 - 4 x 1.5 - 2.5 cm, 1 - 3-seeded.

Distribution

Amazonia

Ecology

This species occurs at altitudes from 200 to 620 m, in in areas that are seasonally dry (Floresta Estacional)

Phenology

Flowering from March to June, collected in fruit in February.

Note

Zollernia grandifolia is commonly confused with Z. paraensis, but differs by the more diffuse branching, the rufous inflorescence, the persistent stipules, the slightly serrate leaf margins and the glabrous gynoecium, the latter unique in the genus (vs. inflorescence not branched, caducous stipules, entire leaf margins and gynoecium sericeous). There is no doubt that this species (from Venezuela and Brazil) with a glabrous gynoecium and Z. kanukuensis (from Guyana) with a sericeous gynoecium are distinct taxa.