ABSTRACT
This study consists of the taxonomy, with the use of field observations, to distinguish among taxa of Swartzia occuring in the “Reserva Natural da Companhia Vale do Rio Doce”. Besides the key to identify and the detailed descriptions to each one of the eight taxa detected in this study we present observations on the size, internal and external aspects on the bark, with photographs of all taxa, where we attributed patterns of external bark to all of them. S. apetala var. apetala is found in all different habitats present in the studied site, while S. acutifolia, S. apetala var. glabra, S. linharensis, S. myrtifolia var. elegans, and S. simplex var. ochnacea are found just in the “Floresta Alta de Terra Firme” and S. macrostachya var. macrostachya, in the area focused here, is exclusive of the “Campo Nativo”. S. myrtifolia var. elegans and S. simplex var. ochnacea are the only taxa that do not have bark that peels off.
Key-words:
Leguminosae; Swartzieae; Swartzia; taxonomy; bark