Ormosia arborea (Vell.) Harms

• Authority

  Rudd, Velva E. 1965. The American Species of Ormosia (Leguminosae). Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 32(5): 279-384.

• Family

  Fabaceae

• Scientific Name

  Ormosia arborea (Vell.) Harms

• Type

  Type locality: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Type presumably collected by Vellozo, represented by Plate 99, op. cit.

• Description

  
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  Description - Tree, to about 12 m. tall; stipules not seen; young stems fulvotomentulose; leaves 7-11-foliolate, the axis about 12-30 cm. long, pilose, the petiole 4-8 cm. long, the pairs of leaflets 3-5 cm. apart, the petiolules 3-5 mm. long and 2-3.5 mm. in diameter, the blades subcoriaceous, elliptic-oblong to ovate, 5-22 cm. long, 4-9 cm. broad, obtuse, acute to acuminate, the base rounded or subcordate, the upper surface subnitid, glabrous, the lower surface fulvo-tomentulose along the major veins, otherwise sparsely and minutely subappressed pubescent, glabrescent, the secondary veins raised, about 10-15 pair, 3-8 (-20) mm. apart, forming angles of about 50°-55° with the midvein; inflorescences with axes fulvo-tomentulose, the bracts linear, 2-3 mm. long, the bracteoles linear, 1.5-2 mm. long; flowers (13-) 16-20 mm. long; calyx fulvo-tomentulose, (8-) 10-12 mm. long, the tube 7-8 mm. long, 6-7 mm. in diameter, the teeth 4-5 mm. long: petals lilac, bluish, or purple; fruit dehiscent, lignous, glabrous or nearly so at maturity, nitid, black, 1-3-, commonly 1-seeded, 4-6 cm. long, 2.5-3.5 cm. broad, 2 cm. thick, the valves 2-4 mm. thick; seeds bicolored red and black, about 13-15 mm. long, 13 mm. broad, and 10 mm. thick, the hilum 3.5 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide.

• Discussion

  This species appears to be a part of the 0. coccinea complex that has been geographically separated from the main area of distribution for some time. I believe that it is desirable to maintain it as a separate species, at least until we have more information concerning the flora of the intervening region. Harms correctly noted that 0. arborea, based on Vellozo's Abrus arbareus, was distinct from Vogel's 0. nitida and should not be in synonymy, as placed by Bentham.

• Common Names

  Mariana, olho de cabra, olho de onca, pau ripa, pau de Santo Inácio, tento, sapiranga