Aldina discolor Spruce ex Benth.
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett, et al. 1953. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (2): 87-160.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
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Species Description - Tree to 13 m. tall, the branchlets, petioles, petiolules, and inflorescences appressed-puberulent; leaves mostly 5-foliolate, the petioles 3.5-4.5 cm. long, the rachis 2-4 cm. long, the petiolules 6-9 mm. long, the blades oblong-lanceolate 6.5-12.5 cm. long, 3-5.5 cm. wide, rotund at the base, the apex abruptly shortacuminate with the tip acute or obtuse, nitid and glabrous above, below rather distinctly tesselate, subglaucous, appressed-puberulent, the venation nearly obscure above, prominulous below; inflorescence racemose or rarely branched, 18-30 cm. long, the bracts and bracteoles minute, the pedicels 2-2.5 mm. long, the mature buds about 1.5 cm. long; calyx densely appressed-puberulent outside, 1.0-1.5 cm. long, split into three recurved, unequal parts; petals 5, narrowly oblong or oblong-oblanceolate, 2-2.3 cm. long, 5-7 mm. wide, glabrous; stamens numerous, glabrous, the filaments about 1.5 cm. long, filiform, the anthers 5-6.5 mm. long, linear; stigma simple; style 1.5-2.5 mm. long, subulate, glabrous; ovary oblong, 3 mm. long, 1.8 mm. wide, 3-4-ovulate, the stipe stout, 2.5 mm. long, ovary and stipe densely appressed-pubescent; fruit unknown.
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Discussion
This species is easily recognizable by the tesselate-glaucous condition of the lower leaf surface, although such a condition is also present in A. latifolia var. latifolia. However, the leaflets of the latter are completely glabrous and those of A. discolor are appressed-puberulent on the lower surface.