Zollernia magnifica A.M.Carvalho & Barneby

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

Brazil, Bahia, Itacaré, Amorim et al. 448 (CEPEC! holotype; K!, MBM!, NY!, US isotypes).

Morphology General Habit

Tree, 25 m tall

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules c. (1.5 -)3.5 x (0.7 -)2 cm, asymmetrically elliptic, glabrous; petioles (7.8 -)18 - 22 mm long, glabrous; leaf blade (10.8 -)22 - 32(- 34) x 7.5 - 10(- 12.5) cm, coriaceous, elliptic-oblong, base cuneate, apex short-acuminate to retuse, venation prominent beneath, the secondary veins slightly ascendant, incurved

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes solitary, axillary, 5.6 - 20(- 22) cm long, c. 10 - 25-flowered, the inflorescence axis 2 - 2.5 mm wide, fulvous puberulous-tomentose; bracts 2.9 - 3.5 x 2.5 - 2.8 mm, broadly-ovate, puberulous-tomentose externally; bracteoles 2.3 - 3.1 x 1.8 - 2.2 mm, ovate, puberulous-tomentose, attached to the flower base; pedicel c. 2.3 x 2 mm, fulvous puberulous-tomentose; buds 9 - 13 x 5 mm, ovoid-asymmetric, apex acuminate, puberulous- tomentose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Calyx 2- lobed, the lobes reflexed, strongly coriaceous, glabrous at the base on inner face, sericeous at the apex; petals unequal, pink, the vexillum with claw 0.1 - 0.3 mm long, blade 10 - 14.2 x 8.6 - 10 mm, the wings and keel slightly shorter; stamens 10, filaments c. 2.8 x 0.8 mm, glabrous, anthers 9.2 - 11 x 1.7 mm, subulate-lanceolate, glabrous to pilose; ovary sessile to stipitate; the stipe up to 2 mm long, castaneous- velutinous, ovary c. 8.1 x 2.8 mm, castaneous- velutinous, 6 - 12-ovulate, style c. 5.3 mm long, straight, glabrous or glabrescent, stigma punctiform, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit oblong, subterete, 8 - 15.5 x 4.5 - 5.5 cm, 4- 7-seeded.

Distribution

In southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo. Zollernia magnifica has a similar geographical distribution to Z. modesta, both are endemic to southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo.

Ecology

Atlantic Rain Forest ("Floresta Pluvial Tropical Atlântica").

Phenology

Flowering from November to January and collected in fruit in March.

Vernacular

Murinha-de-estipula.

Note

Zollernia magnifica is the most distinctive species of the genus. It has leaves and stipules similar in size and shape to those of Z. glabra, but their texture is thicker. The racemes are always axillary, in contrast to the terminal panicles of Z. glabra. The flower bud is ovate with a rounded base, and the calyx is coriaceous, splitting into two lobes (in all other species of Zollernia the flower buds are elliptic-asymmetric or oblong, and the calyx membranaceous or chartaceous, splitting to form one spathaceous lobe).