Zollernia kanukuensis R.S.Cowan

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

Guyana, Western extremity of Kanuku Mountains, A. C. Smith 3144 (US holotype; IAN, LE, G, P, K, F, MO, isotypes).

Morphology General Habit

Tree 20 m tall

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules c. 4.2 x 1.3 mm, falcate, pilose externally; petiole 3 - 3.7 x 1.4 - 2 mm, glabrous, with white lenticels; leaf blade 5.2 - 7 x 3.2 - 5 cm, elliptic to oblong, coriaceous, base unequal, apex retuse and mucronate or rounded, glabrous above, sparse-pubescent beneath, venation prominent beneath, the main vein becoming abruptly narrowed at the apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes aggregated into fascicles, 6.1 - 11.7 cm long, axillary, more than 20 flowers in each raceme, axis c. 1.9 mm diam., fulvous-sericeous; bracts c. 1.9 x 0.7 mm, lanceolate, sparsely sericeous externally with hairs concentrated along the margin (ciliate); bracteoles c. 1.3 x 0.5 mm, lanceolate, sparsely sericeous with hairs concentrated on the margins; pedicel 3.6 x 1.1 mm diam., sericeous; buds 7.5 - 8.1 x 3.6 mm, lanceolate, fulvous-sericeous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Calyx spathaceous, l-lobed, chartaceous, glabrous internally at the base and pilose at the apex; petals white to pink, claw 0.9 - 1.6 x 0.4 - 0.7 mm, blade 3.9 - 5.7 x 4.2 - 5.9 mm, glabrous; stamens 10, filaments 0.9 - 1.8 x 0.3 - 0.4 mm, glabrous, white, anthers 6.1 - 7 x 0.4 - 0.6 mm, glabrous; gynoecium with stipe c. 1.3 x 0.7 mm, sericeous, ovary c. 3.7 x 1.5 mm, elliptic, sericeous, 7-ovulate, style c. 3.4 mm long, straight, mostly glabrous but sericeous at the base, stigma punctiform, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit globose, c. 3 x 1.5 cm, 1 - 3-seeded.

Distribution

Zollernia kanukuensis was originally believed to occur only in Guyana, but one collection is now known from Roraima in Brazil, near the border with Guyana. The species thus remains narrowly restricted in distribution.

Ecology

It is found between 150 and 400 m altitude, in an area of Amazonia where there is a dry season ("Floresta Estacional")

Phenology

Flowering from September to April, and fruiting from March to April.

Note

Zollernia kanukuensis has the petal blades wider than long, and this is the one good diagnostic character for the species.