Cassia covesii A.Gray

  • 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

    Cassia covesii A.Gray

  • Description

    Species Description - A cinereous, erect, xerophytic perennial herb from heavy taproot, 3-4(-6) dm, branched at or above base. Stem tomentulose; leaflets subappressed-villous to tomentulose. Leafstalk 3-4 cm with a slender-conical to filamentous gland between each leaflet pair; leaflets (2-)3(-4) pairs, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, slightly oblique, 1-3 cm, 1.5-2.2 r, mucronate. Stipules setaceous, usually some of upper persistent. Flowers 4-8 in slender axillary racemes which exceed leaves. Pedicels 1-1.5 cm; sepals subequal, puberulent, elliptic, 7-8 mm; corolla yellow, 2-2.8 cm diam; functional stamens 7, anthers exceeding filaments. Legume dehiscent through both sutures from apex, strongly ascending or erect, asymmetric-oblong or lanceolate to subfalcate, turgid, 2-3.5 cm long, 3-6.5 mm wide, conspicuously beaked; valves thick-papery, thinly villous, transverse-striate, light-margined. Seeds several.

  • Discussion

    Earleocassia covesii (Gray) Britt. (1930) CN n = 14 (Irwin and Turner, 1960). New shoots and flowers may arise from medial axils of stems which yet bear persistent pods from prior years. This approach to a suffrutescent habit is more frequent in California than in Arizona.

  • Distribution

    S New Mexico to s California. Lower elevation sandy or rocky desert-foothills, flats, washes with Carnegea, Larrea, Franseria, etc. (?-) 1000-2000(-3500) feet.

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