Cassia claussenii Benth. var. claussenii

  • Authors

    Howard S. Irwin, Rupert C. Barneby

  • 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.

  • Family

    Caesalpiniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cassia claussenii Benth. var. claussenii

  • Type

    Holotypus, labelled "Caxoeiras do Campo[s], Prov. Minas Geraes, P. Claussen, distrib. Delessert, 1839", K (hb. Benth.)! = IPA Neg. 1044 = NY Neg. 1491; isotypi, K (hb. Hook.) and numbered Claussen 866, GH, P, S! — C. clausseni sensu Bentham, 1870, p. 140,

  • Synonyms

    Cassia claussenii Benth.

  • Description

    Species Description - Commonly glabrous throughout, the stems and foliage always so, the pedicels or sepals, or ovaries (or some of these) sometimes villosulous or viscid-setulose. Lvs 1-2.2(-2.6) cm, the rachis (3.5-)4.5-15(-1 7) cm; lfts (except of a few simpler early lvs) 3-7(-8) pairs, most often diminishing upward, less often of equal size or the distal pair largest, in outline ovate or exceptionally lance- ovate, (2-)2.7-5.5(-6.3) x (1.5-)2-4.5(-5) cm, either acute or obtuse, at base sinuately cordate, the broadly rounded proximal angle clasping the rachis. Ovary either glabrous or only thinly puberulent along the sutures, or densely setulose; pod glabrous or setulose. — Collections: 25.

    Distribution and Ecology - Sandy campos and rocky or red clay slopes in cerrado, (525-)875-1300 m, locally plentiful and widely dispersed over the Brazilian Planalto from the headwaters of Rio das Velhas in Minas Gerais n.-w. and w. through the hill-country on both sides of Rio Sao Francisco to the headwaters of Rio Tocantins in e.-and s.-centr. Goias (Chapada dos Veadeiros; Serras Dourada & dos Pirineus). — Fl. irregularly almost throughout the year, but most frequently IX-IV. "In Claussen's collection... "

  • Discussion

    Leaflets of var. clausseni ordinarily are ovate and diminish upward along the rachis or are of nearly equal size throughout. A notable variant with lance-ovate leaflets markedly accrescent upward, collected by Gardner at Serra das Araras in northwestern Minas Gerais, that is at the remote edge of the known range of the species, may possibly prove when better known to represent a taxonomically separable variety.

  • Distribution

    Goiás Brazil South America| Brazil South America|