Rhynchosia parvifolia DC.
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Authority
Grear, John W. 1978. A revision of the New World species of Rhynchosia (Leguminosae-Faboideae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 31 (1): 1-168.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Slender, prostrate or twining vine to 1 m, the stems several from woody tap root, branching, angled, greyish-tomentulose. Stipules subulate, persistent, tomentulose, 1-2 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide. Petioles (4-)5-25(-30) mm, tomentulose. Leaflets 3, coriaceous, discolorous, obovate, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, emarginate or mucronate, apex rounded or obtuse, rarely acuminate, base obtuse, margins slightly revolute, l-3.5(-4.5) cm long, 0.5-2 cm wide, densely greyish-tomentulose and gland-dotted on both surfaces, strongly reticulated beneath, terminal petiolule 1-6 mm, the laterals subobsolete to 3 mm, stipels setiform 0.5-1 mm. Inflorescences few-flowered (2-8), equalling or shorter than (rarely exceeding) the leaves, 2-5(-6) cm, nonbranching, peduncle 0.5-2.5 cm, pedicels 24 mm, viscid. Bracts subulate, acuminate, cauducous, 3-4 mm long, 0.5-1 mm wide. Calyx not exceeding the corolla, viscid, tomentose, 5-7 mm, tube 2-2.5 mm, lobes lanceolate, acuminate, 4-6 mm,vexillar sinus 2.5-3 mm. Corolla light yellow, 8-10 mm. Standard, suborbicular, emarginate, puberulent and gland-dotted, 8-10 mm long, 6-7 mm wide, auricles 0.5 mm, claw 1.5-3 mm. Wings oblong, glabrous, 8-9 mm long, 2.5-3 mm wide, claw 2 mm. Keel blades falcate, glabrous, 8-9.5 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide, claw 2-2.5 mm. Stamens 8-10 mm. Fruits elliptic, compressed, yellowish-hirsute and -puberulous intermixed, 1.5-1.7 cm long, 4-6 mm wide, beak eccentric, 1-3 mm. Seeds ovate-elliptic, brown, black or mottled, compressed, 2.5-4 mm long, 2.5-3 mm wide, hilum linear, 1-1.5 mm, strophiole lobes linear.
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Discussion
Dolicholus parvifolius (de Candolle) Vail, Bull. Torrey Club 26: 108. 1899. Leucopterum parvifolium (de Candolle) Small, Man. S. E. Flora 719. 1933. Type. Collected “ .. . à Saint-Domingue par M. Bertero . . . . ” (holotype, G-DC, not seen). Local Names. Peonía (CUBA). The type specimen (that of Bertero collected in the Dominican Republic) has not been located. However, the description by de Candolle, as well as specimens so determined, indicate clearly the identity of this taxon. This species is distinct and is easily recognized by its habit and leaflets. It exhibits the reproductive characters common to the other members of the series, but is the only one to occur in the Caribbean and southern Florida, where it is not common.
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Distribution
Distribution. S. Florida, Cuba and Hispaniola (Fig. 4). Occurring in sandy pinelands and grasslands, high areas of dry limestone rocks, along trails and roads and on beaches; at elevations of 350-1500 m.
United States of America North America| Cuba South America| Dominican Republic South America| Haiti South America|