Chamaecrista choriophylla (Vogel) 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. 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.
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Family
Caesalpiniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Typus infra sub var. choriophylla indicatur.
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Synonyms
Cassia choriophylla Vogel
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Description
Species Description - Coarsely leafy subshrubs 1.5-5 dm, with several or many simple or distally few-branched stems erect or incurved-ascending from a xylopodium, glabrous up to the minutely puberulent ovary and sometimes vestigially strigulose stipules and lf-stalks, floriferous from many axils above the middle, the internodes terete or angulate or alate by sharp-edged ribs decurrent from each stipule and petiole, the ample coriaceous 2-foliolate lvs olivaceous concolorous, sometimes glaucescent when fresh. Stipules ascending, variable (according to variety) in size and outline, 1.5-14 mm, at base 1-8 mm wide, 3-21-nerved, the blades firm, subpungently mucronulate. Lvs stiffly ascending toward the meridian, (2-)2.5-7.5 cm, stoutly short-petioled, the petiole rounded dorsally, narrowly thick-margined ventro-laterally, widely shallowly sulcate ventrally, dilated at apex; petiolar gland adjacent to or between the pulvinules, variable according to variety, sessile or stoutly short- stipitate, 1-2.7 mm diam; lfts 1 pair, narrowly ascending, turned half face to face, in outline obliquely elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or elliptic-obovate, obtuse or subacuminate, pungently mucronulate, (1.7-)2.2-7 x (0.45-)0.7-4 cm, at asymmetric base broadly rounded-subcordate on proximal side, broadly cuneate on the other, the coriaceous blades subequally venose on both faces, mostly 5-nerved from base, the midrib excentric, only 1-2 primary lateral nerves produced nearly or quite to apex, the outer ones early anastomosing with a strong corneous marginal nerve, the midrib pinnately many-branched, thence more finely reticulate-venulose. Peduncles axillary, solitary or geminate, 0.5-2 mm, the axis 1-3-fld, 0-6 mm; pedicels ascending, strongly compressed and ribbed, bracteolate near or above middle, sometimes near apex; bracts and bracteoles resembling stipules but smaller, persistent; buds ovoid-acute glabrous; sepals elliptic-ovate acute 10.5-19 mm; petals (much eaten, poorly known) yellow, 4 (unequal) obovate-cuneate to 2-2.8 cm, the dimidiate fifth one as long or longer, falcate; stamens 10, the anthers 4-8 mm, minutely puberulent along the sutures; gynoecium divaricate; ovary strigulose; ovules 9-15; style linear-cylindric, incurved distally, 7-15 mm. Pod erect, 5-8 x 0.6-1.15 cm, straight or curved outward, the valves reddish- brown nigrescent, minutely puberulent; seeds (little known) quadrate or oblong, the testa atrocastaneous, densely lineolate-pitted.
Variety Key - Key to the Varieties of Ch. choriophylla 1. Stems subterete, faintly obtusely ribbed; stipules narrowly triangular, 1.5-2.5 mm, 3-nerved; petiolar gland sessile, elliptic, longer than wide, 2-2.7 mm; pedicels (±3 cm) bracteolate 0.5-3 mm below calyx; pod probably narrow as in var. rossicorum but lfts broad as in var. latifolia; w. slope of Sa. do Espinhaco near 18°30'S. 18a. var. choriophylla (p. 693). 1. Stems sharply 4-angulate or -alate by sharp-edged ribs descending from each stipule and petiole; stipules 2.5-14 mm, 5-21-nerved; petiolar gland raised on a short stout pediment thicker than high, in outline round to deltate-reniform and wider than long, 1-2 mm diam; pedicels variable in length but bracteolate well below calyx. 2. Stems 4-angulate, scarecly winged; stipules 2.5-5 mm, at base not over 2 mm wide, 5-7(-9)-nerved, at insertions not contracted or cordate; lfts 2-4.5 X 0.6-2 cm; pedicels 0.8-2 cm; anthers 4-6 mm; pod 6-7.5 mm wide; Sa. do Espinhaco around Diamantina, ±18°-18°30'S. 18b. var. rossicorum (p. 693). 2. Stems tetrapterous; stipules 6.5-14 mm, at base 4.5-8 mm wide, from base 13-21-nerved, at insertion cordate-amplexicaul; lfts (3-)3.5-7 X 1.3-4 cm; pedicels 3-4 cm; anthers 6.5-8 mm; pod 8-11.5 mm wide; crest and summits east of crest of Sa. do Espinhaco (pico da Itambe near 18°30'S and Sa. do Cipo near 19°15'S). 18c. var. latifolia (p. 693).
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Discussion
Key to the Varieties of Ch. choriophylla 1. Stems subterete, faintly obtusely ribbed; stipules narrowly triangular, 1.5-2.5 mm, 3-nerved; petiolar gland sessile, elliptic, longer than wide, 2-2.7 mm; pedicels (±3 cm) bracteolate 0.5-3 mm below calyx; pod probably narrow as in var. rossicorum but lfts broad as in var. latifolia; w. slope of Sa. do Espinhaco near 18°30'S. 18a. var. choriophylla (p. 693). 1. Stems sharply 4-angulate or -alate by sharp-edged ribs descending from each stipule and petiole; stipules 2.5-14 mm, 5-21-nerved; petiolar gland raised on a short stout pediment thicker than high, in outline round to deltate-reniform and wider than long, 1-2 mm diam; pedicels variable in length but bracteolate well below calyx. 2. Stems 4-angulate, scarecly winged; stipules 2.5-5 mm, at base not over 2 mm wide, 5-7(-9)-nerved, at insertions not contracted or cordate; lfts 2-4.5 X 0.6-2 cm; pedicels 0.8-2 cm; anthers 4-6 mm; pod 6-7.5 mm wide; Sa. do Espinhaco around Diamantina, ±18°-18°30'S. 18b. var. rossicorum (p. 693). 2. Stems tetrapterous; stipules 6.5-14 mm, at base 4.5-8 mm wide, from base 13-21-nerved, at insertion cordate-amplexicaul; lfts (3-)3.5-7 X 1.3-4 cm; pedicels 3-4 cm; anthers 6.5-8 mm; pod 8-11.5 mm wide; crest and summits east of crest of Sa. do Espinhaco (pico da Itambe near 18°30'S and Sa. do Cipo near 19°15'S). 18c. var. latifolia (p. 693).