Cassia duartei H.S.Irwin
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Authors
Howard S. Irwin, David J. Rogers
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Authority
Irwin, Howard S. & Rogers, David J. 1967. Monographic studies in Cassia (Leguminosae -- Caesalpinoideae) II. A taximetric study of section Apoucouita. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 6: 71--120.
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Family
Caesalpiniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Synonyms
Cassia ramiflora var. bijuga Vogel, Cassia ramiflora Vogel var. ramiflora, Cassia apoucouita var. floribunda Benth.
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Description
Species Description - Tree to 20 m tall. Branchlets glabrous, striate, with scattered longitudinally oriented lenticels. Axillary buds in longitudinal files of 3-5. Leaves apparently estipulate. Petiole angulate, 8-15(-18) cm long, terminating with a bristle 0.5-1.0 mm long, glabrous or puberulent at base; pulvinis cylindrical, tuberculate, puberulent or occasionally glabrous, 5-8 mm long. Petiolar glands between or immediately below petiolule pairs, the lowest largest, patelliform or oblong-crateriform, sessile and often impressed. Leaflets 2—4 pairs, 12—16 cm long, the distal pair commonly largest, narrowly ovate to ovate, base cuneate to obtuse, apex acute to acuminate, the petiolule 2-5 mm long. Racemes 2-4 per node, occurring in leafy portion of branchlet, often congested and suggesting a terminal panicle; peduncle puberulent to velutinous; peduncular glands less than 1 mm in diameter and less than 1 mm high, sometimes obscure. Bracts deciduous; pedicels 0.5-1.5 cm long, velutinous; bracteoles triangular, opposite to 1 mm distant from each other, 4-8 mm below hypanthium, puberulent to tomentose. Calyx (including hypanthium) 7-11 mm in diameter; sepals 2-5 mm long, puberulent to tomentose; petals 6-12 (-18) mm long, puberulent to velutinous at base without and along veins; filaments to 0.5 mm long; anthers 3-4(-6) mm long, puberulent to tomentose, the vesture general or restricted to margins of sutures; pistil 8-18 mm long, velutinous to tomentose. Pod not known.
Distribution and Ecology - Distribution (Fig. 43): Eastern Brazil, from Salvador, Bahia, southward to Espírito Santo and westward, probably into Minas Gerais.
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Discussion
This species stands apart from all others in section Apoucouita by having the inflorescences borne well up in the foliate portion of branchlets in the present species. The file of 3 to 5 buds at each node contributes to heavy production of the rather small flowers.
Although Vogel indicated that C. ramiflora var. trijuga was based on "Sello et Luschnath pr. Rio Jan.," he gave no indication of the specimens from which the other two varieties were described. However, it is likely that Sello and Luschnath material formed the bases for all of Vogel’s varieties of that species. Of the four or five collections evidently involved, Luschnath 135 is quite unlike the others, differing in the characters presented here. In the skyline plot (Fig. 38) it may be seen that no. 118 (Luschnath 135) is well removed from no. 167 (Sello s.n., syntype of C. ramiflora var. bijuga Vog.) as well as from nos. 166 (Sello s.n., type of C. ramiflora var. ramiflora) and 168 [Sello s.n., (syn)type of C. ramiflora a var. trijuga Vog.] It may also be seen in the skyline plot that no. 135 (Martius 721, basis of Bentham’s C. apoucouita var. floribunda) is closely related to no. 118.
Blanchet 2152 is referred here but varies in having longer leaves and at least some scutellate, somewhat elevated petiolar glands.
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Distribution
Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America|