Pithecellobium unguis-cati (L.) Benth.
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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 - Armed or unarmed shrub or small tree. Leaves 4-foliate, 2 pinnae each with 2 leaflets; petioles 1-2(-2.5) cm, usually longer than secondary axes; cupuliform glands between pinnae and leaflet pairs; leaflets obovate to elliptic, 1.5-4(-6) cm long, 1-2 (-3.5) cm wide, 1.2-1.6(-2) r, chartaceous. Spines when present to 5 mm. Flowers in whitish to yellow-green heads 1-2 cm diam on peduncles 1.5-2.5 cm in axillary racemes with axes mostly 3-6 cm and exserted beyond leaves. Perianth glabrate to finely strigose-puberulent; calyx ca 1.5 mm, corolla 3.5-4.2 mm. Legume oblong to linear, turgid, 8-15 cm long, ca 1 cm diam, initially curved, becoming circinate, irregularly constricted, dehiscent; valves coriaceous, reddish, at maturity dark brown, separating, twisting and persistent. Seeds ultimately protruding from open valves, black, attached with red arillar tissue.
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Discussion
I have previously reviewed P. unguis-cati and P. keyense on a comparative basis (Isely, 1972). The species are sympatric in the Keys, but P. unguis-cati is primarily of the western mainland coast while P. keyense is (or was) of the Atlantic side.
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Distribution
S Florida; Keys, w coast to Lee Co. Coral soil in wooded scrub, shell mounds, sand ridges, hammocks, roadsides; slightly in cultivation (Bailey & Bailey, 1941). Oct.-Feb. April-Aug. West Indies.
United States of America North America| West Indies|