Cassia piribebuiensis Chodat & Hassl.
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Authority
Irwin, Howard S. 1964. Monographic Studies in Cassia (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae). I. Section Xerocalyx. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 12 (1): 1-114.
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Family
Caesalpiniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Erect herb or subshrub, simple below, usually sparingly branched above, to 0.4 m. Stems smooth, glabrous. Stipules long, foliaceous, wholly or partly obscuring the upper stem, broadly cordate-lanceolate or -ovate, broadly acute, mucronate, 0.8-1.6 cm long, 0.4-0.7 cm broad, glabrous. Petiole 0.4-0.7 cm long, glabrous; rachis ca. 0.5 as long as petiole. Gland 1, scutellate or urceolate, 0.2-0.5 mm broad, elevated on a filiform stipe 0.6-1.2 mm long. Leaflets bijugate, the pairs nearly or quite equal, joined to rachis by a semi-orbicular violet-brown pulvinule 0.5-1.0 mm broad, oblong-obovate or -oblanceolate, slightly oblique, glabrous, firmly membranaceous, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 0.4-0.8 cm broad, yellow-green. Flowers solitary; pedicels straight, glabrous, 2.4-3.7 cm long and ca. 0.4 mm thick in flower, u p to 4.1 cm long and 0.7 mm thick in fruit; bracts 2, broadly deltoid, 1.0-1.2 mm long and as broad; bracteoles subopposite, ovate, somewhat divergent, 2.7-3.8 mm long, 1.4-2.4 mm broad; sepals lanceolate, glabrous, 0.9-1.4 cm long, 2.5-3.5 mm broad; petals 1.0-1.5 cm long, 0.7-1.1 cm broad; ovary finely sericeous with appressed hairs. Pod narrowly oblong, 4.2-5.3 cm long, 0.7-0.9 cm broad, faces cristate over the seeds, sparingly puberulent. Seeds 15-25, flattened, 3.0-4.5 mm long, 1.3-2.1 mm broad. Chromosome number: not determined.
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Discussion
Hassler, in the type description of this species, states that while its affinities lie most closely with C. uniflora Spreng., it differs by its stipitate petiolar gland and long stipules. However, in view of the delimitation accorded C. chartacea (= C. uniflora in part) in the present treatment, it could be argued that the affinities of C. piribebuiensis lie more closely with C. chartacea var. teiiuicaulis. The morphological distinctness of C. piribebuiensis is none the less quite clear, and for this reason specific status is maintained.
Balansa 1398 approaches C. piribebuiensis, but has much broader (1.3-1.6 cm) stipules, and leaflets rather suggestive of Paraguayan specimens of C. tetraphylla var. tetraphylla.
Holotype examined (S) : Paraguay, "in rupestribus in Colle Tobaty." Hassler 6118. Bee. 1900.
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Distribution
Distribution: Paraguay, in the mountains of the southeastern portion, 1000-3000 feet elevation.
Paraguay South America|