Peltogyne mexicana Martinez, Anales Inst. Biol. Univ. Nac.

Kochanovski, Fabio J., Nogueira, Luan H. P., Rosa, Marcus P. G., Mansano, Vidal F. & Sartori, Ângela L. B., 2025, Taxonomic review of the genus Peltogyne Vogel (Leguminosae, Detarioideae), Phytotaxa 688 (1), pp. 1-68 : 45-48

17. Peltogyne mexicana Martinez, Anales Inst. Biol. Univ. Nac. México 31: 125. 1961.

Holotype:— MEXICO. Guerrero: El Rincón 40 Km ao Sul de Chilpancingo , 28 August 1960, H. Kruse 321 (Holotype: MEXU; Isotypes: GH, US, K). Fig 22 .

Tree, 14–21 m tall, bark smooth, grayish, branches smooth, lenticellate, stipules early deciduous. Leaflets oblong, falcate, 5.5–7 × 2.9–3.5 cm, base rounded, apex acute, sometimes acuminate, glabrous, glossy, wax absent on both surfaces, concolorous, adaxial face glossy, petiole 12–16 mm long, petiolule 3–5 mm long, blade decurrent, pulvinus dilated, primary vein inconspicuous adaxially and conspicuous abaxially, secondary veins conspicuous on both sides, glands absent. Inflorescence a panicle, terminal, densiflorous, rachis pubescent, 5–10 cm long, inserted in a non-aphyllous branch. Pedicel 2–4 mm long, bracteoles caducous (sometimes up to the intermediate stage), hypanthium absent. Bud 3 × 4–5 mm, sepals orbicular, outer side pubescent, inner side pubescent, glands present, petals elliptic, sessile, glabrous, glands present. Stamens of different sizes, antesepalous filaments 5–6 mm long, antepetalous filaments 7–8 mm long. Stipe glabrous, 1 mm long. Ovary elliptic to rhombic, glabrous, 4(–5) mm long. Fruit a legume, indehiscent, subtriangular to oboval, without a protuberance, compressed, 3 × 2 cm, sessile, nectary disc not persistent, glabrous, glands absent, veins absent, not winged.

Phenology —Collected in flower and in fruit between August and September.

Distribution and habitat— Peltogyne mexicana occurs on hills and slopes in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. It can also be found on slopes in the department of Bolívar in Colombia ( Fig 1 ).

Taxonomic comments— Peltogyne mexicana can be confused with P. purpurea due to the subtriangular fruit. However, the former can be distinguished by the slightly rounded fruit in the carpel cleft region, the pubescent inner side of the sepals, the differently sized stamen filaments, and the glabrous ovary. P. purpurea has a subtriangular fruit with a straight line in the carpel cleft, sepals that are glabrous in the inner side, equally sized filaments, and a pubescent ovary. The wood of P. mexicana is widely used in residential areas in Mexico, which according to Sotuyo (2014) could put the species at risk of extinction. As it is a high-quality wood, there is pressure from illegal logging.

Etymology— mexicana , native to Mexico. The name refers to the first occurrence of the species in Mexico.

Specimens examined — COLOMBIA. San Jacinto , Ca 16 Km Nw of San Jacinto , Cerro Maco, J. L. Zarucchi 4017, 08 agosto 1985 ( RB! INPA !) ;

Digital images — PANAMA. Chepigana Rio Congo , corrimento El Grillo, G. G. Cohn 3, 26 maio 1969 ( MO); México: Guerrero, Acapulco, Rincón de la via, H. Kruse 321, 28 agosto 1960 ( US).

Vernacular names —Palo Morado.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of Peltogyne species in the region of countries bathed by the Caribbean Sea.

FIGURE 22. Peltogyne mexicana Martinez.A, branch with leaflets, and inflorescence (scale: 2 cm). B, flower bud in pre-anthesis (scale: 1 mm). C, flower in anthesis (scale: 5 mm). D, fruit (scale: 1 cm). Illustrated by Fábio Júnior Kochanovski.