Cassia emarginata L.
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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 - Pubescent shrub or tree to 10 m with tawny young growth. Leafstalk glandless, 3.5-10 cm, petiole often exceeding rachis; leaflets 2-4 pairs, broadly ovate or obovate to elliptic, (2-)3-12(-15) cm, 1.3-2.2 r, rounded or retuse to infrequently acute, persistently tomentulose beneath. Stipules subulate, caducous. Flowers mostly in small racemes 2-3 cm at branch tips among leaves. Sepals unequal, inner 6-7 mm; corolla yellow, 2-3 cm diam, nearly regular; functional stamens 7, short. Legume indehiscent, linear, compressed, 1.5-3.5 dm long, 8-13 mm wide; valves woody, lightly segmented, ultimately breaking irregularly; sutures conspicuously thickened. Seeds many.
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Discussion
Isandrina emarginata Britt. & Rose (1930) Mexican material marked Cassia emarginata includes specimens with larger leaves and more numerous leaflets than specified above. Also some have elongate inflorescence axes. I do not know the variational limits of C. emarginata but doubt if these are conspecific.
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Distribution
Subtropical Florida, Texas. Novelty. May-July as to material seen. Tropical America, widely distributed in Mexico.
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