Cassia glaucofilix H.S.Irwin & Barneby
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Authors
Howard S. Irwin, Rupert C. Barneby
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Authority
Irwin, Howard S. & Barneby, Rupert C. 1978. Monographic studies in Cassia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae). III. Sections Absus and Grimaldia. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 30: 1-300.
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Family
Caesalpiniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Holotypus, CEPEC: isotypi, K, NY
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Cassia glaucofilix Irwin & Barneby, sp. nov., C. filicifoliae manifeste proxima sed fruticosa bimetralis (nec suffruticosa e xylopodio), foliolis minus numerosis 13-22 (nec 18-44)- jupis coriaceis glaucis glaberrimis (nec ±villosis setuloso-ciliatis), bracteisque diu post flores lapsos persistentibus diversa.
Species Description - Closely resembling C. filicifolia, but fruticose and up to 2 m, the stems, lf-rachis sparsely, and axes of inflorescence viscid-setulose but not villosulous, the thick-textured, glabrous foliage concolorous, glaucous. Stipules early spreading-reflexed, subulate 1-2.5 mm, persistent. Adult lvs 6.5-15 cm, subsessile; lfts 14-22 pairs, diminished upward along the tapering rachis, broadly ovate emarginate, the first pair much the largest, 12-17 x 9-13, reflexed-amplexicaul. Inflorescence and fl of C. filicifolia, but the subulate bracts persistent long after fall of fls. Pod unknown. — Collection: 1 (typus).
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Discussion
While reluctant to describe from one collection yet another of the taxonomically difficult ser. Rigidulae, we are unable to dispose otherwise of the cited specimens. These differ from all that we have seen of C. filicifolia, of which the known range lies entirely to the west of the broad Sao Francisco valley, in the tall fruticose habit and especially in the stiff thick-textured glaucous leaflets which are in even the longest leaves less numerous (up to about 18-22, not 24-44 pairs) and fully glabrous, alike on the faces and the margins. It is a curious coincidence that Serra do Sincora, long supposed, but we believe erroneously, to be the type-locality of C. filicifolia, should now be found to harbor a closely related species. There can be no doubt, in any case, that the plant labelled Sa. do Sincora by Martius is quite different from C. glaucofilix, being densely viscid-villosulous throughout, and having exceptionally long, multifoliolate leaves consisting of green, ovate subacute, not glaucous emarginate leaflets. On the other hand the genuinely sympatric C. sincorana, similar in size and number of leaflets to C. glaucofilix, is readily distinguished by its well developed petioles about 2-4 cm long, and the forwardly tilted attitude of all the leaflets, the lowest of which follow the rest and are not turned back, as in C. filicifolia and C. glaucofilix, to clasp the stem and conceal the stipules from view.
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Distribution
Bahia Brazil South America| Brazil South America|