Chamaecrista distichoclada (Benth.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

  • Authors

    Howard S. Irwin, Rupert C. Barneby

  • Authority

    Irwin, Howard S. & Barneby, Rupert C. 1982. The American Cassiinae. A synoptical revision of Leguminosae tribe Cassieae subtrib Cassiinae in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35, part 2: 455-918.

  • Family

    Caesalpiniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Chamaecrista distichoclada (Benth.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

  • Type

    Holotypus, Martius s.n., labelled "in altis montibus ad Va. Rica [=Ouro Preto], V.1818.," M!= F Neg. 6234.

  • Synonyms

    Cassia distichoclada Mart. ex Benth.

  • Description

    Species Description - Habit of the lower, more compactly branched or many-stemmed forms of Ch. rotundata, ±1-1.5 m, the obscurely ancipital branchlets densely pilosulous with spreading gray hairs to 0.45-0.6 mm, the stipules and lfts often but not always hispidulous-ciliolate. Stipules at first erect and forwardly imbricated, early reflexed, obliquely ovate- acuminate from a deeply cordate-auriculate base, (4-)6-9.5 x (2-)2.5-5.5 mm, callous-mucronulate, the firmly chartaceous blades (15—)17—23-nerved from base, persistent beyond fall of associated lf. Lvs abruptly divaricate, 0.8-2.5(-3) cm; lf-stalk 5-22 mm, petiole (1-) 1.5-3 mm; petiolar gland sessile or almost so, suborbicular 0.25-0.5 mm diam, 0.15-0.3 mm tall; lfts 3-5 pairs, forwardly imbricated, narrowly ovate to lance-oblong from a semicordate base, 2.5-8(-10) x 1.5-3 mm, abruptly acuminulate and obliquely callous-mucronulate, (5-)7-9-nerved from pulvinule, the midrib slightly decurved distally, scarcely stouter than the lateral veins, the venation of adult, chartaceous sublustrous minutely papillate blades prominulous only beneath. Inflorescence with individual fl and pod of Ch. rotundata or Ch. potentilla; seeds (little known) ±3.5-3.8 x 2.5 mm, the testa dull brown, lineolate-pitted.— Collections: 4.

    Distribution and Ecology - Sand-pockets of sandstone or quartzite outcrops near 1200-1300 m, very local, known in modem times only from centr. Sa. do Espinhaço between S. João da Chapada and Diamantina (lat. 18°05'-18°15'S) in centr. Minas Gerais, the type supposedly from near Ouro Preto (lat. 20°) in s. Sa. do Espinhaço where not since seen.—Fl. III-V.

  • Distribution

    Minas Gerais Brazil South America|