4.1. Macropsychanthus Harms subg. Macropsychanthus

Dioclea sect. Pachylobium Benth., Comm. Legum. Gen.: 69. 1837. Lectotype [designated here]: Dioclea violacea Mart. ex Benth.

Lepidamphora Zoll., Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(1): 217. 1855. Type: Lepidamphora volubilis Zoll. [= Macropsychanthus comosus (G. Mey.) L.P. Queiroz & Snak], nom. inval. pro syn.

Taurophtalmum Duchass. in Griesebach, Cat. Pl. Cub.: 76. 1886. Type: Taurophtalmum pulchrum Duchaiss. [= Macropsychanthus megacarpus (Rolfe) L.P. Queiroz & Snak], nom. inval. pro syn.

Luzonia Elmer, Leafl. Philipp. Bot. 1: 220. 1907. Type: Luzonia purpurea Elmer.

Dioclea subg. Pachylobium (Benth.) R.H. Maxwell, Novon 21(2): 234. 2011. Type: based on Dioclea sect. Pachylobium Benth.

Description.

Stipules medifixed, prolonged below their insertion. Leaves stipellate, stipels mostly setaceous. Fruit indehiscent or passively dehiscent, turgid, slightly compressed (elastically dehiscent with twisting woody valves only in M. huberi). Seeds with a long and linear hilum encircling 1/2 to 4/5 of the seed’s circumference (Fig. 3A-F).

The distribution of this section is the same as that of the genus. Species of subg. Macropsychanthus are typical rainforest elements, where they occur as high-climbing lianas over the tallest trees. Few species are found in the savannahs of central Brazil or in the seasonally-dry woodlands of South America.