Desmanthus leptolobus Torr. & A.Gray
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Authority
Isley, Duane. 1973. Leguminosae of the United States: I. Subfamily. Mimosoideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (1): 1-152.
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Family
Mimosaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Herbaceous, glabrate perennial with clustered, ascending to nearly erect stems .3-1 mm. Leaves subsessile; leafstalk gland small, .4-.6 mm diam; pinnae 4-7(-8) pairs; leaflets 10-20 pairs, oblong and nearly symmetric, 1.5-2.5 mm, without evident venation. Stipules acicular, broadened at base, 4-5 (-8) mm. Heads less than 1 cm diam, whitish, 4-8 flowered, inconspicuous; peduncles less than 1 cm at anthesis, in fruit 1-1-5(-2.5) cm; corolla 2.5-4 mm; stamens 5. Legume linear, turgid, straight or slightly curved, 3.5-6 cm long, 2-3 mm wide, filiform-beaked, undulate-margined or conspicuously constricted between the longitudinally placed seeds. Seeds ca 5 mm.
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Discussion
Acuan leptobolus (T. & G.) Ktze. CN 2n = 28 (Turner & Beaman, 1953). Desmanthus leptolobus is distinctive in fruit, the legumes being linear and undulate-margined, and the seeds longer than in other herbaceous species. Vegetatively, it has delicate leaves with 4-6 pairs pinnae, small circular glands, and usually evident stipules. The inconspicuous heads are on short, filiform peduncles.
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Distribution
Sc Texas to s Kansas, slightly introduced in Missouri. Rocky prairies, abandoned fields, disturbed and ruderal areas (roadsides, vacant lots), sandy-clay calcareous soil. May-June.
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