Cassia tetraphylla var. colombiana H.S.Irwin
-
Authority
Irwin, Howard S. 1964. Monographic Studies in Cassia (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae). I. Section Xerocalyx. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 12 (1): 1-114.
-
Family
Caesalpiniaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Latin Diagnosis - Planta fruticosa aut suffruticosa, ad 1.5 m alt, ramis pubescentibus horizontalibus aut ascendentibus. Stipulae foliaceae adpressae persitentes aut raro caduceae, late lanceolatae aut ovatae, apice acuto obtusove 0.8-1.6 cm long., 3.5-7.8 mm lat, glabrae interdum ciliolatae integrae. Petiolus 4.1-7.8 mm long., canaliculo adaxiali puberulente ad pubescentem aut raro glabrum, superficie abaxiali maxima ex parte pubescente; rachis 0.3-0.5 brevior quam petiolus, terminaliter aristata. Glans 1 scutellata, 0.7-1.2 mm lat, sessilis aut subsessilis. Foliola bijugata, paribus subaequis aut pari inferiore paululum maiore per pulvinulum parvum arcuatum atrum aut brunneum c. 1.0 mm long, sessilia, anguste oblonga aut oblanceolata ad abovata, quasi obliqua, recta aut paulum inflexa, glabra, interdum glauca, firme membranacea aut subcoriacea, 1.4-2.2 cm long., 3.7-9.2 mm lat; margines integri, interdum distaliter ciliolata, apice rotundato aut raro inflexo-obtuso. Flores axillares plerumque singulares aut in racemis abbreviatis paucas flores habentibus raro occurrentes; pedicelli recti aut sursum arcuati, flavo-pubescentes aut-puberulentes, raro glabri, 2.5-3.8 cm long., c. 0.5 mm crass, dum florentes, usque ad 4.5 cm long., 0.9 mm crass, dum frugentiteres; bracteae 2, late ovatae, 2.0-3.5 mm long., 1.5-3.0 mm lat; bracteolae suboppositae ovatae divergentes, 4.0-5.8 mm long., 2.4-2.8 mm lat; sepala lanceolata glabra, 1.0-1.6 cm long., 3.8-5.4 mm lat; petala flava, 1.8-2.4 cm long., 1.5-2.0 cm lat; stamina flava; ovarium flavo- aut subcinereo-pilosum. Siliqua anguste oblonga, 3.4-4.8 cm long., 7.0-9.1 mm lat, superficies plana aut super semina non profunde cristata, flavo-hirsuta, secundum suturas copiose hirsuta. Semina levia brunnea aut atro-brunnea, interdum flavo-brunnea, paululum compressa. 4.7-5.3 mm long., 1.7-2.2 mm lat.
Species Description - Shrub or subshrub to 1.5 m, the pubescent branches horizontal or ascending. Stipules foliaceous, or rarely caducous, broadly lanceolate or ovate, ajiex acute or obtuse, 0.8-1.6 cm long, 3.5-7.8 mm broad, glabrous, sometimes ciliolate. Petiole 4.1-7.8 mm long, the adaxial groove puberulent to pubescent or rarely glabrate, the abaxial suilacc mostly pubescent; rachis 0.3-0.5 as long as petiole. Gland 1, scutellate, 0.7-1.2 mm broad, sessile or subsessile. Leaflets bijugate, the pairs subequal or the inferior pair slightly larger, joined to rachis l)y a small arcuate black or brown pulvinide ca. 1.0 mm long, narrowly oblong or oblanceolate to obov;ite, somewhat oblique, straight or very slightly inflexed, glabrous, sometimes glaucous, firmly membranaceous or subcoriaceous, 1.4-2.2 cm long, 3.7-9.2 mm broad; margins sometimes distally ciliolate, the apex rounded or rarely inflexed-obtuse. Flowers usually solitary or rarely in abbreviate few-flowered racemes; pedicels straight or arching upward, yellow-pubescent or puberulent rarely glabrous, 2.5-3.8 cm long and ca. 0.5 mm thick in flower, up to 4.8 cm long and 0.9 mm thick in fruit; bracts 2, broadly ovate, 2.0-3.4 mm long, 1.5-3.0 mm broad; bracteoles subopposite, ovate, divergent 4.0-5.8 mm long, 2.4-2.8 mm broad; sepals lanceolate, glabrous, 1.0-1.6 cm long, 3.8-5.4 mm broad; petals 1.8-2.4 cm long, 1.5-2.0 cm broad; ovary yellower grayish-pilose. Pod narrowly oblong, 3.4-4.8 cm long, 7.0-9.1 mm broad, faces flat or shallowly sulcate between the seeds, yellow-hirsute, copiously so along the sutures. Seeds slightly compressed, 4.7-5.3 mm long, 1.7-2.2 mm broad. Chromosome number: not determined.
-
Discussion
The author wishes to express his appreciation to Dr. B. L. Turner, University of Texas, w h o originally suggested the usefulness of a study of Cassia, for his continued enthusiastic support and careful supervision during the course of the present study. Debts of gratitude are also owed several individuals and institutions, including Dr. R. E. Alston for the preparation of chromatograms and numerous suggestions regarding their interpretation; the Scarbrough Foundation, University of Texas Research Institute, and Office of Naval Research for financial and transport assistance in connection with relevant field work in Brazil; Dr. Alan Graham for the preparation and examination of palynological slides; Drs. L. B. Smith and R. S. Cowan of the Smithsonian Institution for their many letters relating to various aspects of the problem; Dr. Theodore Barkley for assistance with certain bibliographic details. Grateful acknowledgment is also extended the following institutions for cooperation in connection with field work in Brazil: Universidade Rural do Estado de Minas Gerais, Vigosa, Minas Gerais; Institute Agronomico, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais; Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara. Loan of specimens was made from several institutions, to whose directors the author is indebted.
Holotype (NY) : Colombia, Santander, "18 k m S of Socorro, in thicket, alt 1200 m." H . St. JoJin 20538. 28 June 1944. Isotypes (MICH, UC, US).
-
Distribution
Distribution: Western Colombia, Edos. Santander, Caldas, and Cundinamarca, east to Vaupes. Occurring mainly in mountain savannas and low open woods from 1000-5000 feet elevation.
Colombia South America|