Peltogyne recifensis Ducke, Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

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 : 59-62

23. Peltogyne recifensis Ducke, Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 51: 458. 1953.

Holotype:— BRAZIL. Pernambuco: margem da estrada da Aldeia, 14 September 1952, A. Ducke & A. Lima 12 (Holotype: IPA; Isotypes: IAN! RB!). Fig 28 .

Tree, 12–18 m tall, bark smooth, yellowish, branches scaly, stipules early deciduous. Leaflets elliptic to oblong, not falcate, 5–9 × 3–4 cm, base attenuate, apex obtuse, glabrous, wax absent on both surfaces, concolorous, petiole 7–13 mm long, petiolule 2 mm long, blade decurrent, pulvinus dilated, primary vein conspicuous abaxially, secondary veins conspicuous on both sides, glands absent. Inflorescence a panicle, terminal, sometimes axillary, laxiflorous, rachis velutinous, 3–5(–7–9) cm long, inserted in a non-aphyllous branch. Pedicel 1 mm long, bracteoles caducous, hypanthium absent.Bud 4–5 × 4–5 mm, sepals orbicular, outer side pubescent, inner side glabrous, glands present, petals elliptic, sessile, glabrous, glands present. Stamens of different sizes, antesepalous filaments 2 mm long, antepetaouls filaments 1 mm long. Ovary rhombic, glabrous, 2 mm long, style with subterminal insertion, 2–3 mm long. Fruit a legume, dehiscent, inflated–orbicular, without a protuberance, inflated–compressed, 2.5 × 1.8 cm, short stipe, nectary disc not persistent, glabrous, glands present, veins not prominent, not winged.

Phenology —Collected in flower from October to December and in fruit in December.

Distribution and habitat— Peltogyne recifensis occurs in the Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil, occasionally in Morraria forests in Bahia and mainly in Pernambuco and Alagoas, where it is most frequent ( Fig 3 ).

Taxonomic comments —The fruit of P. recifensis is the thickest (inflated) of the genus and similar in general morphology to the fruit of Hymenaea courbaril L., but much smaller (2.5 × 1.8 cm) and flattened laterally. P. recifensis is sometimes confused with P. subsessilis , an Amazonian species, for the similar fruit. However, P. subsessilis has discolorous leaflets, longer petioles and petiolules (17–23 mm and 3–4 mm) and a non-dilated pulvinus, while P. recifensis has concolorous leaflets, a shorter petiole and petiolule (7–13 mm and 2 mm), and a dilated pulvinus. P. recifensis can also be confused with P. pauciflora , but differs from it by the sessile flower buds (1 mm or less), attenuate, glabrous base of the leaflet,t and orbicular, inflated–compressed fruit. In P. pauciflora the flower buds are pedicellate (2–4 mm long), the leaflets have an asymmetrical, pilose base, and an oblong, compressed fruit.

Etimology— recifensis = occurrence restricted to areas near to the city of Recife, Pernambuco.

Specimens examined — BRAZIL. Alagoas: São Miguel dos Campos, povoado Gajurú, 16 February 1965, F . Paiva 3360 ( INPA !) ; Bahia: Ilhéus, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itacaré ( BA 001 ), na altura do km 20, estrada à esquerda, acesso ao Retiro, ramal vicinal ca. 5.5 km à direita, para a Lagoa Encantada, 19 February 2005, P . Fiaschi 2720 ( RB!) ; Pernambuco: São Lourenço da Mata , Engenho Mamucaia, 06 January 2008, E. P . Heringer 2598 ( RB!); Recife , margem início da estrada de Aldeia, 14 November 1951, A . Ducke 12 ( R, RB!) .

Digital images — BRAZIL. Bahia: Xique-Xique, Dunas do Rio São Francisco , 23 June 1996, A. M . Giulietti 2977 ( K) .

Vernacular names —Barabú.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of species of Peltogyne in the Atlantic Forest.

FIGURE 28. Peltogyne recifensis Ducke. A, branch with leaflets, and inflorescence (scale: 5 cm). B, flower bud in pre-anthesis (scale: 5 mm). C, fruit (scale: 2 cm). Illustrated by Fábio Júnio Kochanovski.