Paloue

Taxonomy

Paloue J.B.C.F. Aublet Hist. Pl Guiane 365. Jun 1775.

Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae.
Phylogenetic Number: 1.4.50.
Tribe: Detarieae.
Group: Brownea.
Species Studied - Species in Genus: 3 studied; 4 in genus.

Description

Fruit: A legume; unilocular; 12–21 cm long; 2.5–4.5 cm wide; 0.5–0.8 cm thick; 2–9 times longer than wide; with deciduous androecial sheath; with deciduous corolla; with deciduous calyx; without orifice formed by curving of fruit or fruit segments; straight to curved; not plicate; twist not indicated; symmetrical, or asymmetrical; linear, or obovate; with 1 straight and 1 curved suture; widest near apex (stated to be scimitar shaped but appearing more like a machete); not inflated; compressed; without beak; long tapered at apex; oblique with longitudinal axis of fruit to right-angled with longitudinal axis of fruit; rounded at base (or straight along dorsal margin); oblique with longitudinal axis of fruit to right angled with longitudinal axis of fruit; with the apex and base uniform in texture; ligneous; seed chambers externally invisible; margin not constricted; margin without sulcus; margin embellished; margin with thickened sutural areas (along ventral margin); wing(s) absent; substipitate; with all layers dehiscing; splitting along suture(s). Dehiscence of valves along both sutures; active; with valves separately enrolling. Replum invisible. Epicarp dull; monochrome; reddish brown to brown; with surface texture uniform; glabrous; eglandular; without spines; not smooth; with elevated features; veined; obliquely veined relative to fruit length; not tuberculate; lenticular; exfoliating; without cracks; without embedded tissue, much thicker than epicarp, running from base to apex. Mesocarp present; thick; surface not veined; 2-layered; without balsamic vesicles; with fibers; without reniform canals; with fibers embedded in mealy tissue over solid layer, or below solid or compacted fibrous layer; ligneous. Endocarp present; visible; dull; opaque; monochrome; reddish or greenish brown; smooth; without adhering pieces of testa; subseptate; with septa thicker than paper, firm; with septa eglandular; ligneous; not exfoliating; remaining fused to mesocarp and epicarp; without wings; entire. Seed(s) 9; length transverse to fruit length; neither overlapping nor touching; in 1 series. Funiculus 0.1–2 mm long; of 1 length only; flattened; straight. Aril absent.

Seed: 15–20 mm long; 10–18 mm wide; 2–3 mm thick; not overgrown; not angular; symmetrical; ovate; flattened; with surface smooth; without visible radicle and cotyledon lobes; without hilar sinus; without umbo on seed faces; without medial ridge on each face. Cuticle not exfoliating; not inflated; not wrinkled. Testa present; without pieces of adhering epicarp; not adhering to endocarp; free from endocarp; nearly glossy, or dull; not modified by a bloom; colored; monochrome; dark reddish brown; glabrous; not smooth; with elevated features, or recessed features; veined and rugose (from margins into face but not to midpoint of face); grooved; coriaceous. Pleurogram absent. Pseudopleurogram absent. Fracture lines absent. Rim absent. Wing(s) absent. Raphe not visible. Hilum present; fully concealed; concealed by funicular remnant; without faboid split; larger than punctiform; 0.1–1.5 mm long; with curved outline; elliptic; apical at apex of radicle tip; flush; not within corona, halo, or rim. Lens not discernible. Endosperm absent. Cotyledons not smooth; 1–3 grooves on each face to 4–6 grooves on each face; both outer faces flat; both the same thickness; both more or less of equal length; not folded; margin entire 180 degrees from base of radicle; similar at apex; partially concealing radicle (only tip exposed); split over radicle; without lobes; with the interface division terminating at base of radicle; without margins recessed; brown; inner face flat; glabrous on inner face. Embryonic axis straight; parallel to length of seed; without a joint evident between the radicle and the cotyledons. Radicle differentiated from cotyledon; linear; lobe tip straight; straight with embryonic axis; centered between cotyledons; less than 1/2 length of cotyledons. Plumule rudimentary; glabrous.

Distribution

Tropical America.

New World; South America; Brazil and Ecuador.

Tribal Notes

Tribe Detarieae

Bruneau et al. (2000) carried out extensive phylogenetic analyses of tribes Amherstieae and Detarieae. They concluded that they form a single monophyletic group. Therefore, they supported Polhill's (1995a, 1995b) decision to unite the two tribes.