Cassia serpens 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 - Slender, prostrate mat-forming, glabrate or puberulent annual herb, 1-4 dm. Leafstalk 1-2 cm, the petiole bearing a slender-stalked discoid gland and often a few pilose hairs; leaflets sessile, 4-6 pairs, elliptic-oblong, asymmetrically elliptic-oblong or -obovate, 3-6(-8) mm, 3.5-6 r, weakly asymmetric, 2-3 nerved from base, mucronate. Flowers axillary, 1-2. Pedicels erect, filiform, 1-2 cm, to 3 cm in fruit; sepals equal, 5-6 mm; corolla yellow, 1-1.5 cm diam; stamens 10, irregular in length. Legume elastically dehiscent, oblong, flat, 1.5-3 cm long, ca 4 mm wide.
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Discussion
Chamaecrista serpens (L.) Greene (1899) CN n = 8 (Irwin and Turner, 1960). Records from Hillsborough, Polk and Highlands cos., Florida. Also introduced as experimental novelty in Austin, Texas. Most tropical material is slightly or considerably pilose but not U.S. introductions.
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Distribution
Florida. Slightly introduced in ruderal areas. June-August. Native of Antilles to South America.
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