Hesperomannia swezeyi is a tree that grows to a height of 2–5 meters. The young stems and apical buds are pubescent (covered with fine, short hairs). The leaf blades are broadly oblanceolate to obovate and sometimes elliptic. They measure (7–)10–17 cm long and (1.5–)2.5–6 cm wide. Both surfaces of the leaves are glabrous or nearly so, with the lower surface of young leaves sometimes sparsely pubescent along 1/2–1/3 of the midrib. The leaf margins are entire or occasionally crenate, and the petioles are 1–2(3.5) cm long and glabrate. The flower heads usually occur in clusters of 2–3, though they can sometimes be solitary. The peduncles are 4–6 mm long and about 3 mm in diameter, sparsely puberulent. The involucre comprises 5–8 series of bracts, with the inner bracts being 2.7–3.0 cm long and the middle bracts being 3.0–3.5 cm wide. The bracts are magenta at anthesis. The corollas are about 2.0 cm long, and the pappus is pink. The fruit is a simple, dry achene (cypsela) that is approximately 13 – 14 mm long. It is found in wet forests between 360–760 meters.
Bean-shaped (Reniform): Resembling the shape of a kidney or bean.
Square or Oblong: Angular shape with all sides more or less equal or longer than wide.
Triangular: Three-sided shape, broadest below the middle.
Elliptic: Rounded at both ends. shaped like an ellipse or oval.
Ovate or Obovate: egg-shaped, broader at one end.
Linear: Extremely long and narrow, with sides usually parallel.
Round: Appears circular, with length and width roughly the same.
Cardioid (Heart-Shaped): One edge has a prominent double curve into two lobes.
Cylindrical: A cylinder with parallel sides and a circular cross-section.
Discoid: Resembling a disc or plate with two relatively flat surfaces.
Fusiform: Spindle-shaped, tapering at both ends.
Globose: Spherical.
Lenticular: Resembling a lens with two convex surfaces.
Ovoid: Egg-shaped.
Plano-convex: Having a flat ventral (planar) surface and a curved dorsal (convex) surface.
Polygonal: Having more than three flat faces meeting at angles.
Sectoroid: Resembling a segment of an orange with two relatively flat faces and one curved face.
Subglobose/ellipsoid: Inflated shape but less than spherical.
Trigonous: Having three faces that meet at a distinct angle; triangular in cross-section.
Endangered species (E) are species that are so rare they’re in danger of becoming extinct.
Threatened species (T) are species that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
Species of Concern (SOC) are species about which there are some concerns regarding status and threats, but insufficient information is available to list the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Plant Extinction Prevention (PEP) is a state status for rare plants that focuses its efforts on species that have fewer than 50 remaining wild individuals.
Orthodox seeds (desiccation-tolerant): can be dried to an internal seed moisture of less than 12% water and stored at freezing temperatures.
Intermediate seeds (temperature-sensitive) tend to age faster than orthodox seeds and may have only a 5-year lifespan when stored at -20°C. They are recommended for storage at 5°C.
Recalcitrant seeds (desiccation-sensitive): cannot be stored in a conventional freezer as they cannot survive after drying and/or freezing at -20°C. They are recommended for cryopreservation storage.