Entada polyphylla Benth., J. Bot. (Hooker) 2: 133. 1840.

= Entada paranaguana Barb. Rodr., Vellosia, ed. 2, 1: 18. 1891.

= Entada polystachya var. polyphylla (Benth.) Barneby, Brittonia 48: 175. 1996.

Type.

GUYANA. Rio Quitaro, R.H. Schomburgk 604 (holotype: K [K000504673, K000504674]; isotypes: E [E00296969], F [F0092593F], NY [NY00002025], US [US 00001028]) .

Description.

Shrub, scandent, to 10 m. Leaves: rachis 7-13 cm long, puberulous, tendrils lacking; pinnae 4-7 pairs per leaf, 5-7 cm long, with (12-)13-20 pairs of leaflets; leaflets 8-20 × 3-8 mm, oblong, apex rounded to emarginate, base truncate to subtruncate, lamina pubescent above and below (Fig. 2G). Inflorescence: a compound, terminal, one-sided panicle of up-turned spikes, each spike 4-6.5 cm long, rachis pubescent (Fig. 2G). Flowers: cream to greenish-yellow, staminate or bisexual, sub-sessile; calyx cupular, 0.5-1 mm long, glabrous to sparsely puberulous; petals 2.5-3 × 0.8-1 mm; stamen filaments 3-4 mm long. Fruit: a torulose, laterally compressed craspedium, 20-30 × 6 cm, with transverse septa between seeds dividing the fruit into one-seeded segments which, upon ripening, fall from the persistent replum. Seeds: 1.9-2.4 × 1-1.2 cm, with pleurogram.

Distribution.

Amazonian Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, the Guianas, Puerto Rico.

Habitat and ecology.

Disturbed forest, grassy fields, secondary vegetation at forest margins.