Peltogyne excelsa Ducke, Torp. Woods

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 : 34-36

10. Peltogyne excelsa Ducke, Torp. Woods 31: 12. 1932.

Holotype:— BRAZIL. Amazonas : Camanaus , Rio Negro, s.d., A. Ducke 23276 (Holotype: RB!; Isotypes: IAN 50633 , K, P, U, US). Fig 15 .

Tree, 15–30 m tall, bark smooth, grayish, branches rough and lenticellate, grayish, stipules early deciduous. Leaflets elliptic to lanceolate, falcate, 5.5–7 × 1.5–2.5 cm, base rounded, apex acute, slightly acuminate, glabrous, wax absent on both surfaces, concolorous, petiole 9–15 mm long, petiolule 3–7 mm long, blade not decurrent, pulvinus not dilated, primary vein conspicuous abaxially, pilose at base, secondary veins conspicuous on both sides, glands absent. Inflorescence a panicle, terminal, densiflorous, rachis velutinous, (4–) 11–15 cm long, inserted in a non-aphyllous branch. Pedicel 2–5 mm long, bracteoles caducous, hypanthium present, 2 × 3 mm, obconic. Bud 5–6 × 6–7 mm, sepals deltoid, outer side pubescent, inner side pubescent, margin glabrous, glands not seen, petals linear, unguiculate, pilose on the primary vein of the median petal, glands absent. Stamens of equal size, filaments 9–10 mm long. Stipe pubescent, 1–2 mm long. Ovary semicircular, commonly D-shaped, pubescent, 9–12 mm long, style with subterminal insertion, 8–12 mm long. Fruit a legume, dehiscent, subtriangular, without a protuberance, compressed, 3 × 2.5 cm, stipitate, nectary disc not persistent, glabrous, glands absent, veins present, not winged.

Phenology —Collected in flower from August to November and in fruit from December to January.

Distribution and habitat— Peltogyne excelsa occurs in the Amazon, in high forests in the Rio Negro region of Camanáos and also near Manaus, especially in the Reserva Ducke ( Fig 5 ). The species is restricted to the Amazon region.

Taxonomic comments —It is one of the tallest species in the genus (~ 30 m), with tall buttress roots of up to 3 m high at the base. It is sometimes confused with P. lecointei , but differs from it mainly because P. excelsa has leaflets with undivided blade and a rounded base and a non-dilated pulvinus.

Etymology—excelsus, high, very high. It refers to the notable average height of the tree.

Specimens examined — BRAZIL. Amazonas: Manaus, Reserva Florestal Ducke, Km 26, Próx. Picada Do Acará, 06 August 1997, M.D. A. de Souza 392 ( RB!); Reserva Ducke, 25 September 1968, J. Aluízio 181, ( INPA !); 6 August 1997, M. A.D. Souza 392 ( MG!, INPA !, SP); Rio Preto da Eva, AM 10, Km 175, Estrada Manaus-Itacoatiara, Km 175, 01 Junes 1965, W. A. Rodrigues 8038 ( INPA !).

Digital images — BRAZIL. Amazonas: Manaus, Reserva Florestal Ducke, Manaus-Itacoatiara, km 26, Próx. Picada do Acará , 06 August 1997, M. A . D. Souza 392 ( K, NY); Distrito Agropecuário da SUFRAMA, Rodovia BR 174 , km 64, then 23 km east on ZF3, Fazenda Colosso , 13 September 1995, C . Dick 258 ( NY) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Distribution map of species of Peltogyne in solid ground, relatively far from floodplains in the Amazon.

FIGURE 15. Peltogyne excelsa Ducke.A, branch with leaflets (scale: 5 cm). B, inflorescence (scale: 5 cm). C, flower bud in pre-anthesis (scale: 3 mm). D, flower bud in leongitudinal section (scale: 3 mm). E, fruit (scale: 1 cm). Illustrated by Fábio Júnior Kochanovski.