R E I N W A R D T I A

Published by Herbarium Bogoriense, Kebun Raya Indonesia
Volume 5, Part 4, p.p. 415-417 (I960)

BASILOXYLON K. SCHUMANN and PTERYGOTA ENDL. (Stercul.) *

A. J. G. H. KOSTERMANS **

In Martius, Fl. Brasil. 12 (3): 12. 1886 (in observ.) K. Schumann de-
scribed a specimen (Peckolt 628) collected in Cantagallo (Rio de Janeiro),
conserved in the Brussels Herbarium and marked by Martius Sterculia rex
(after the local name Pao del Rey); he suggested to name it Basiloxylon
rex, if it should prove to be new; the name is consequently not valid under
the Rules, but it was validated by Schumann in the same year (in Berichte
deutsche bot. Gesellsch. 4: 82, t. 3. 1886). The latter description was based
partly on the specimen Glaziou 10310.

It is peculiar, that he omitted to compare his new genus with Pterygota.
In Engler and Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3 (6): 98. 1895, Schumann

had apparently discovered the earlier description of the species under
Pterygota brasiliensis Allemao (in Trab. Comm. sci. Explor. Bot. 1: 7. 1862);
he referred the species to Basiloxylon, but did not mention his former
species B. rex, although he cited the local name: King's Wood.

None of the characters, stressed by Schumann to separate Basiloxylon
from Pterygota holds true; the number of carpels is variable, even in the
same individual of Pterygota; parallel and irregularly placed anthers are
found in Pterygota, this character is on the specific level; the character
of the thickness of the wing is even on the specific level rather dubious.

Recently I received material of a tree, grown in the Botanical Garden
in Rio de Janeiro assumed to represent Pt. brasiliensis (Constantine, Herb J.
Botan. no. 18106), which actually is Pterygota alata R. Br., a species from
India. I saw the same species grown in the Garden of the Agricultural Ex-
perimental Station of Santiago de las Vegas in Cuba.

The leaves of Pt. alata and Pt. brasiliensis show a striking simillarity,
but Pt. brasiliensis has a kind of sacs between the bases of the main nerves
near the petiole insertion on the lower leaf surface; these are absent in
Pt. alata. The flowers of Pt. brasiliensis are smaller than those of Pt. alata
and their indumentum is less "woolly".

* The bulk of this paper could be completed during a study tour, sponsored by
the Ford Foundation, Djakarta in 1959. I herewith repeat my expression of gratitude
to the Ford Foundation, Djakarta.

** D. S c ; Forest Research Institute, Bogor; Collaborator Herbarium Bogoriense,
Bogor.

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4 1 6 R E I N W A R D T I A [VOL. 5

Lasser (in Bolet. Soc. Venezolana Sci. nat. 15 (81): 114. 1954) men-
tioned a fruit of Pterygota, collected in Venezuela. This might represent a
new species, but the possibility that it is Pt. brasiliensis should by no means
be excluded.

In Central America a species was discovered (Standley and Williams
in Ceiba 3: 30. 1952), which was named Basiloxylon excelsum, of which only
the fruit are known. The leaves are similar to those of Pterygota brasiliensis;
they show some scattered stellate hairs near the base of the lower leaf-
surface; these occur also in the specimen: Glaziou 10310 of Pt. brasiliensis.

For the time being, I prefer to keep it separate from Pt. brasiliensis
as Pterygota excelsa (Standley & Williams) Kostermans, comb. nov. (basi-
onym: Basiloxylon excelsum Standley and Williams), although I have the
feeling that it is conspecific with Pt. brasiliensis.

In his Flora of Panama (in Fieldiana, Bot. 24: 404. 1949), Standley
already suggested the possibility that Basiloxylon should be referred to
Pterygota. The author mentioned, beside of the type specimen, two photo-
graphs of a leaf and fruit, attained from Morales, Dept. Izabal, Guatemala
by R. W. Hess and fruit and leaves from Las Quebradas.

The vernacular name in Brasil is Pao del Rey or Farinha secca; in
Guatemala: papo de vieeja.

A species with very distinct leaves is Pterygota colombiana Quatrecasas
(in Rev. Acad. Colomb., Bogota 8: 485. 1952), which that author placed
rightly in Pterygota.

: .

Material examined.
Pterygota brasiliensis Allemao.
B r a z i l . Rio de Janeiro, Cantagallo, buds, Peckolt 628 (BR); Larangeiras,

Cantagallo, Oct., ster., Glaziou 1584.0 (BO, BR, C, GH) et 12454 (C); Minas, Rio
Manso, Febr., fl., Glaziou 10310 (C, P ) ; Fazenda de Cachaeira, Tombos, July, fl.,
Barreto 1556 — H.R.J. 13725 et fr, Barreto 1556 — H.R.J. 13734 (F); Pernambuco,
Tanera, Sept., fl., Picket 2763 (US).

Pterygotu excelsa (St. & Will.) Kosterm.
H o n d u r a s . Locality not indicated, May, ster., Whitford, Stadtviiller & Francis

s.n. (YU); C o s t a R i c a . Prov. Puntarenas, Golfito de Golfo Dulce, March, fr.,
Allen 5984 (F,NA,UC).



'

Pterygota brasiliemis Allemao — After Picket 2763 (US); Smithsonian Institution
negative n. 45550.


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