Cassia lindheimeriana Scheele ex Schltdl.

  • 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 lindheimeriana Scheele ex Schltdl.

  • Description

    Species Description - Robust, usually erect to decumbent, velutinous, perennial herb, with 1-several stems .5-1.5(-2) m from a heavy taproot or woody caudex (to 5 cm diam). Stem and leafstalk villosulous to tomentulose, hairs on leafstalk the longer; leaflets sericeous with subappressed to low-ascending hairs, thinning above. Leafstalk 6-10 dm with often curved, linear or apically capitate glands to 5 mm between most leaflet pairs; leaflets 5-6(-7) pairs, shortly petioluled, obovate to elliptic-oblong, slightly asymmetric, 1.5-4 cm, 2.2-4 r, mucronate; stipules subulate, curved, semi-persistent. Flowers 5-12 in axillary and terminally clustered racemes. Pedicels slender, 8-11 mm; buds divergent or nodding; sepals subequal, elliptic-oblong, 7-8 mm, pubescent; corolla pale yellow, 2-2.5 cm diam; functional stamens 7, anthers longer than filaments; ovary pubescent. Legume dehiscent from apex down, oblong, flat, usually curved, 4-6(-8) cm long, 6-7 mm wide; valves thick-papery, pubescent, becoming glabrate. Seeds several.

  • Discussion

    Earleocassia lindheimeriana (Scheele) Britt. (1930) CN n = 14 (Irwin and Turner, 1960). Cassia lindheimeriana enters several floristic regions and its irregular occurrence suggests more than one phase or variety. Some Mexican material has longer pods and more numerous leaflets than that of U.S. and may be varietally distinct. Plants of central Texas are usually robust with leaflets 3 cm or more; those of west Texas, possibly including several ecotypes, are predominantly smaller with leaflets 2-2.5 cm.

  • Distribution

    Sc Texas to se Arizona. Texas: rocky limestone outcrops, slopes, flats, igneous slopes, canyon bottoms and slopes, arroyos, often with juniper, pinyon, oak, common. Arizona: Lower Sonoran desert, and canyons and slopes in desert mountains. 1000-6500(-7000) ft. June-Aug.(-Sept.). N. Mexico.

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