Cassia calycioides DC. ex Collad.
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Authority
Isley, Duane. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (2): 1-228.
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Family
Caesalpiniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Decumbent to ascending, many-stemmed, pilose and puberulent perennial with clustered stems to 5 dm from a sometines fusiform, woody taproot. Petiolar gland slender, stipitate, discoid; leaflets 6—8(—11) pairs, oblong-oblanceolate, 4-10 mm, ca 4 r, with 2-3 longitudinal nerves, puberulent and finely ciliate. Stipules persistent, lanceolate, striate, 3-6 mm. Flowers often partially submerged in bracts; pedicels axillary, solitary, 2-5(-10) mm in flower, 4-12 mm in fruit; sepals narrowly lanceolate, striate, 9-11 mm; corolla campanulate, 1.5-1.8 cm diam if spread, light yellow, wilting after mid-day; stamens 10, irregular, anthers yellow; pistil pilose, conspicuous when elongating. Legume elastically dehiscent, flat, oblong-falcate, 3-4 cm long, 3-4 mm wide; valves pilose. Seeds few-numerous.
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Discussion
Chamaecrista aristellata Gray ex Pennell (1917) Cassia aristellata (Pennell) Cory & Parks (1937) CN n = 8 (Irwin and Turner, 1960; as C. aristellata). I refer Cassia aristellata of southern Texas and adjacent Tamaulipas to C. calycioides of northern South America and southern Mexico because I cannot properly distinguish them. Irwin (1970), although maintaining C. aristellata, has noted that it hardly differs from the tropical C. calycioides.
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Distribution
S Texas, n to Wilson Co., s and e of Edwards plateau. Sandy soil, in disturbed grassland, with mesquite, prairies, roadsides. April-Sept. Mexico and n South America.
United States of America North America| Mexico North America| South America|