Acacia choriophylla Benth.

  • Authority

    Isley, Duane. 1973. Leguminosae of the United States: I. Subfamily. Mimosoideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (1): 1-152.

  • Family

    Mimosaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Acacia choriophylla Benth.

  • Description

    Species Description - Small, unarmed, glabrous tree. Leaves bipinnate; rachis narrowly canaliculate with a small gland between each pinnae pair; pinnae 1-2(-3) pairs; leaflets 4-8 pairs, elliptic, 1-2 cm long, .7-1 (-1.5) cm wide, shiny, strongly nerved. Flowers in yellow heads ca 8 cm diam fascicled 1-4(-8) in leaf axils; peduncles 1.5-3 cm, slightly clavate; corolla ca 2 mm, and stamens only moderately exceeding corolla. Legume oblong, turgid-compressed, 4-8 cm long, ca 2 cm wide and 1 cm thick; valves glabrous, succulent, becoming woody, black.

  • Discussion

    Lucaya choriophylla (Benth.) Britt. & Rose This species was first reported in the United States by Alexander (1969) and not included in my treatment of native Acacia (Isely, 1969). I have since seen Alexander’s material from Key Largo. It was collected in 1967 (USF) and appears to represent a native population. The species is (was?) grown in the Coconut Grove Introduction Garden (SMU), probably introduced from the Bahamas.

  • Distribution

    Florida, Key Largo (native) and probably Miami area (cultivated). Rare and local. May. West Indies.

    United States of America North America| West Indies|