Cassia neesiana var. goyazensis (Taub.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

  • 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 neesiana var. goyazensis (Taub.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

  • Type

    Holotypus, †B; neoholotypus, former isotypus, collected 1.93 (fl), HBG! = NY Neg. 8787.

  • Synonyms

    Cassia goyazensis Taub.

  • Description

    Species Description - Lfts to 12-16(-18) pairs, in longer lvs to 16-26 mm; racemes several, paniculate, the upper lvs reduced to bracts, the whole inflorescence therefore well exserted from foliage. — Collections: 10.

    Distribution and Ecology - Cerrado, 950-1100 m, scattered over the highlands of s.-centr. and s. Goias and adjoining s. Mato Grosso (Rio Coxim). — Fl. IV-VIII. "Habitat in locis Cerrados dictis prope Mossamedes: ULE n. 2869."

  • Discussion

    When compared directly only with var. neesiana, this appears quite distinct in its relatively large leaflets and paniculate inflorescence, but as already noted there are many transitional forms, among which C. subnitida, with large leaflets but immersed racemes, stands neatly between the two.

    The earlier collections of var. goyazensis were confused by Bentham either with C. cathartica (Riedel 408; cf. Linnaea 22: 528) or with C. isidorea (Burchell 7024; cf. Bentham, 1871, p. 584). Burchell's collection from Morro de Canta Gallo near Goias Velho, in the Hooker herbarium at Kew, was annotated by Bentham as C. isidorea and has consequently been photographed as a type (IPA Neg. 1076; NY Neg. 6775) but is not conspecific with the actual holotypus of C. isidorea in the Martius Herbarium at Brussels.

    The variety was first collected early in May, 1819, by St. Hilaire (no. C/537, P) in the Paranaiba valley in s.w. Minas Gerais.

    A remarkable plant (Hatschbach 38809), resembling C. neesiana var. goyazensis in habit, vesture and details of the inflorescence at anthesis and found growing with it (Hatschbach 38802) in the Corumba valley near Ipameri, Goias, differs in its short leaves (3-5.5 cm, the rachis only 1-2 cm) with only 3-4 pairs of relatively large (17-35 x 5-9 mm) leaflets. Without evidence that this formed part of a self-perpetuating population we hesitate to describe what could be a single aberrant or even hybrid individual.

  • Distribution

    Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America|