General information on Zygia genus
Zygia is a neotropical genus of about 40-45 species of trees or shrubs without brachyblasts, mostly with cauliflower spike-like inflorescences. its flowers are homomorphic with an intrastaminal disc surrounding the base of the ovary (López et al., 2015). The genus is distributed from Central Mexico to Argentina. The genus is characterized by a single pair of pinnae and seeds with a papyraceous testa without a pleurogram. most species are locally found in inundated areas or along riverbanks (Rico-Arce, 1994). Of many of the Zygia species described so far, the fruits are not know, or they are known but in very immature states, and a few other species are known only in fruit and not in flower (Romero, 2017).
Zygia gigantifoliola, a remarkable example of cauliflory, a tree flowering from the trunk. cauliclorous flower on the tree trunk was photographed by FUNDAECO park ranger Lucas Cuz, in Reserva Natural Tapon Creek, Municipio de Livingston, Izabal, Dec 5th or 6th, 2020. If you are a botanist or student, we highly recommend doing research in the biodiverse habitats of this Caribbean part of Guatemala, Central America.
Zygia recordii, white flower, green pod.
Photo at Parque Nacional de Rio Dulce, with a Sony A1. November 13, 2021.
This tree has been identified before in the Reserva Natural Tapon Creek, Municipio de Livingston, Izabal, Guatemala, Central America and it was found by FUNDAECO park ranger, Lucas Cuz (see Bibliography on Zygia genus trees of Guatemala).
Here we present a bibliography on the Zygia genus for you to be able to identify it and learn more about its distribution and structure.
Taxonomy
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Fabales |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily | Mimosoideae |
| Tribe | Ingeae |
| Genus | Zygia |
References Cited and Suggested Reading on Zygia genus
- 2019
- Phylogeny of the Neotropical legume genera Zygia and Marmaroxylon and close relatives. TAXON, Vol. 68, pages 661-672
Free download:
https://my-wiley.com/taxon/pdf/2019/Volume68Issue4/661-672.pdf
- 1988
- Pollen characters in the genera Zygia, Marmaroxylon and Cojoba (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae, Ingeae): a comparison with related genera. Pollen et Spores 30:313–328.
- 2015
- El género Zygia P. Browne (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae, Ingeae) en la porción mexicana de la Península de Yucatán. Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid Vol. 72, No. 2.
Free download:
https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/5339335.pdf
- 1991
- New Species, Combinations and Synonyms for Zygia, Cojoba, Marmaroxylon and Pithecellobium (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae, Ingeae). Kew Bulletin Vol. 46, No. 3, pages 493-521.
Available online:
www.jstor.org/stable/4110539?seq=1
- 1994
- Four New Species of Zygia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae). Kew Bulletin
Vol. 49, No. 3, pages 547-554
Available online:
www.jstor.org/stable/4114482?seq=1
- 2007
- Morfometría de unidades de inflorescencia, flores y políades en especies de la Tribu Ingeae (Mimosoideae) / Morphometry of inflorescence units, flowers and polyads in species of the tribe Ingeae (Mimosoideae). Acta Botánica Venezuélica Vol. 30, No. 1 pages 227-247
Available online:
http://ve.scielo.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0084-59062007000100008&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es
Suggested web pages with photos and information on Zygia genus
www.cicy.mx/sitios/flora%20digital/indice_tax_especies.php?genero=Zygia
Information on Z. conzattii, Z. latifolia var. latifolia, Z. stevensonii founded in Mexico and Central America
https://colombia.inaturalist.org/taxa/279451-Zygia-stevensonii
Zygia stevensonii, general information, photos and map distribution
www.crbio.cr:8080/neoportal-web/species/Zygia%20confusa
Information on Zygia confused, recorded for Costa Rica, Guatemala and Belice
www.naturalista.mx/taxa/138526-Zygia
General information about Zygia genus, species list, map distribution and photos
www.naturalista.mx/taxa/701457-Zygia-gigantifoliola
This is the photograph and webpage that made it possible for Vivian Hurtado (FLAAR Mesoamerica) to identify the species. Victor Mendoza (FLAAR Mesoamerica) had earlier identified the genus.
https://sib.gob.ar/taxonomia/genero/zygia
Information on Z. cataractae, Z. latifolia, Z. morongii, Z. pithecolobioides
http://threatenedplants.myspecies.info/sites/threatenedplants.myspecies.info/files/Zygia%20englesingii.pdf
Information on Zygia englesingii
Updated February 14, 2022
First posted December 8, 2020
Bibliography prepared by Vivian Hurtado, FLAAR Mesoamerica
