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(Last Modified On 11/16/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/16/2012)
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Species
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PENTACLETHRA MACROLOBA (Willd.) Ktze.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Rev. Gen. P1. 1:201. 1891.
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Synonym
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Acacia macroloba Wilid. Sp. P1. 4:1060. 1806. Mimosa macroloba Poir. in Lam. Encycl. Meth. Suppl. 1:66. 1810. Acacia aspidioides G. F. W. Mey. Prim. Fl. Esseq. 165. 1818, fide Benth. Pentaclethra filamentosa Benth. in Hook. Jour. Bot. 2:127. 1840. Pentaclethra brevipila Benth. loc. cit. 128. 1840, fide Benth. Caillea macrostachya Steud. in Flora 26:759. 1843. Entada Wrbeana Presl, Epim. Bot. 206. 1850, ex char. fide Benth.
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Description
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Unarmed tree, the branchlets stout, longitudinally striate, puberulent when young, callous in age. Leaves very large, bipinnate, the pinnae many (usually 15-20) pairs, opposite, the leaflets many pairs per pinna; petiole 1-5 cm. long, eglandular, terete except shallowly sulcate above, callous basally; rachis as much as 3 dm. long, pubescent above, eglandular; pinnae 2-10 cm. long, eglandular; leaflets small, linear-subfalcate, mostly 6-9 mm. long and 1-2 mm. wide, sharply acute-acuminate apically, obliquely rounded or truncate and more -or less auricu- late on the proximal side basally, essentially glabrous, darker and lustrous above, the venation fairly prominent below; stipules small, linear. Inflorescence of few or several terminal and subterminal, elongate spikes; peduncular portion of spike 1-5 cm. long, pubescent; floriferous portion usually 15 or more cm. long at maturity, pubescent, ebracteate. Flowers dense, sessile, 5-parted, white; calyx cupulate, 1-2 mm. long, the broad, rounded lobes shorter than the tube and some- what imbricate in bud; petals linear-elliptic, about 5 mm. long, usually coherent for about the lower third or half of their length, glabrous, valvate; stamens 5, 6-7 mm. long, alternating with 5 thin, elongate staminodia about 2 cm. long, stamens and staminodia briefly united at the base; anthers about 1 mm. long, bearing a prominent apical gland or appendage; ovary subsessile, pubescent; style slightly exceeding the stamens; stigma expanded. Legume linear-subspatulate, 2-3 dim. long and up to 4 cm. wide, flattened but thick, ligneous, narrowed baseward, lustrous, glabrous, longitudinally striate, 2-valvate, the valves coiling backwards after dehiscence.
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Habit
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tree
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Distribution
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Southern Central America, West Indies, north-central South America.
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Specimen
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BOCAS DEL TORO: Changuinola Valley, Cooper d Slater I26; Guabito, Skutch II. DARIEN: El Real, Pittier 6700; Pinogana, Allen 935.
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Note
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A species quite different from other MIMOSOIDEAE in Panama, apparently con- fined to the lowlands. The large spikes of white flowers and the unusual legume make P. macroloba quite striking.
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Project Name
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