Caesalpinia jamesii (Torr. & A.Gray) Fisher

  • Authority

    Isley, Duane. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (2): 1-228.

  • Family

    Caesalpiniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Caesalpinia jamesii (Torr. & A.Gray) Fisher

  • Description

    Species Description - Herbaceous, conspicuously black- (initially dark-orange) punctate, pubescent, green to cinereous, herbaceous perennial from a woody caudex to 1.5 cm diam and(or) slender or medially fusiform taproots. Stems usually clustered, branched, erect or ascending, .5-3(-5) dm. Leafstalk 3-5 cm; pinnae 2-3 pairs plus 1; leaflets 5-8(-10) pairs, asymmetrically subpetioluled, ovate to elliptic-oblong, 3-5(-7) mm, 1.8-2.3 r, intensely black-punctate, puberulent or glabrate, with or without faint nervation. Stipules narrowly subulate, to 3 mm, persistent or not. Flowers 5-15, spreading or declined, in included or exserted lax racemes that arise opposite leaves. Pedicels 2-5 mm, not jointed; calyx lobes valvate, lanceolate, 6-8 mm; petals yellow, drying orange to orange-red, punctate, slightly irregular, 6-9 mm; standard red-spotted, slightly largest with tube-like claw; stamens shorter than petals. Legume horizontal to declined and upcurved, slowly dehiscent, broadly half-ovate to lunate, (1-)2-3 cm long, .7-1 cm wide; valves thick-papery, black-punctate, stellate-pubescent, especially along margins. Seeds 2-4.

  • Discussion

    Hoffmanseggia jamesii T. 8c G. (1840) Larrea jamesii (T. 8c G.) Britt. (1930) This widespread and relatively common herbaceous Caesalpinia, traditionally referred to Hoffmanseggia, slightly extends into Mexico where it is closely allied to several subshrubby and herbaceous species. Caesalpinia canescens Fisher, of northern Mexican states, is clearly distinguishable only by the narrower and more strongly falcate rather than lunate pods. For lack of fruit, I cannot pass judgment on one specimen without fruit from Hudspeth Co. Texas that has the usually more canescent aspect of C. canescens. At best, C. canescens may be little more than a geographic variety of C. jamesii.

  • Distribution

    C and s Texas to Arizona, n to sw Nebraska and e Colorado. Abundant, usually sandy or gravelly to calcareous or igneous soils, short-grass or desert plains and slopes, mesas, washes, dunes, roadsides. 3500-6000(-7000) ft. S: (March-)May-June; n: June-Aug.(-Sept.); often all seasons. Mexico.

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