Arapatiella Rizzini & A. Mattos, Rev. Bras. Biol. 32(3): 323. 1972.

Figs 79, 80, 81, 84

Type.

Arapatiella trepocarpa Rizzini & A. Mattos [= Arapatiella psilophylla (Harms) R.S. Cowan]

Description.

Trees, unarmed. Stipules foliaceous, orbiculate to reniform. Leaves paripinnate; leaflets 2-4, opposite. Inflorescences in terminal paniculate racemes, 4-10 cm long; bracts and bracteoles small, caducous. Flowers radially symmetrical; hypanthium turbinate; sepals 5, free; petals 5, white, clawed; androecium monomorphic, stamens 10, free; pollen grains in monads, associated with viscin threads, coarsely reticulate; ovary stipitate, stigma disciform-peltate. Fruit a linear-oblanceolate, laterally compressed legume, elastically dehiscent, the woody valves coiling backwards from the apex at dehiscence, 4-5 (8)-seeded. Seeds ellipsoid-compressed.

Chromosome number.

Unknown.

Included species and geographic distribution.

Two species, A. emarginata R.S. Cowan and A. psilophylla, both occurring in eastern Brazil (Fig. 84).

Ecology.

The genus is only known from lowland Atlantic moist coastal forests on "tabuleiro terciário” of southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo states in Brazil.

Etymology.

The generic name is derived from the local vernacular name “arapati” .

Human uses.

The species of the genus are used as timber for construction.

Notes.

Arapatiella is characterised by the foliaceous stipules, orbiculate to reniform, leaves paripinnate, and flowers radially symmetrical with turbinate hypanthium and ten exserted stamens. The fruits are elastically dehiscent from the apex, the woody valves coiling backwards at dehiscence. A taxonomic study of the genus, including a key to all species, was provided by Lima and Kuntz (2020).

Taxonomic references.

Cowan (1973, 1981b); Lewis (2005b); Lima et al. (2020a); Rizzini and Mattos (1972).