Psoralidium tenuiflorum (Pursh) Rydb.
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Authority
Grimes, J. E. 1990. A revision of the New World species of Psoraleeae (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 61: 1-114.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Glabrate to pubescent, light- to dark-brownglandular perennial herbs to 1.3 m, green throughout or stramineous at the base of old stems; stems one to several, arising from, or at some distance from, the broad apex of the root; the diffuse caudex of short rhizomes and extensively branched woody roots with exfoliating epidermis; stems one to few from roots or rhizomes, solid or pithy, glabrate to densely appressed-pubescent, striate, especially above, sparingly to much branched, the base and lowermost 1-4 nodes with cataphylls 4-12 mm , these brown, papery, glabrous and veined below, sometimes subtending branches. Stipules erect, (2-)4-5 x 1 mm , the lower ones rarely somewhat falcate, the upper becoming linear-lanceolate, persistent to tardily deciduous. Leaves palmately (1-)3-5-foliolate; periole 1.5-17(-22) mm, round to somewhat canaliculate, very rarely from a swollen pulvinus, but this rarely of different color or texture; petiolules 1-2(-2.5) mm, glabrate or pubescent and stramineous; leaflets elliptic to very narrowly rhombic or oblanceolate, (10-)14-30(-41) x 4-8(-15) mm, at apex rounded to retuse, usually apiculate, at base rounded or slightly attenuate, the upper surface glabrous, lower surface strigose, both surfaces with conspicuous dark brown glands. Inflorescence with 3-12 nodes and 1-3 flowers per node; peduncle 2.0-9.5 cm; rachis 1.4-5.5 cm in flower, elongating to 10.5 cm in fruit, internodes extremely variable, the nodes within an inflorescence appearing opposite or to 35 mm distant; bracts persistent, trullate to somewhat lanceolate, 1.5-2.5(-5) x 0.5-2 m m, glabrate to strigose and glandular; pedicels 1.5- 3 mm, strigose to pubescent with erect or ascending hairs to 0.5 mm . Flowers 5-6 mm; calyx 2.5-4 mm, dark brown in color, sparingly to moderately appressed-pubescent, or with erect white hairs to 0.5 mm, densely glandular, the tube to 1.5 mm , the upper and lateral teeth to 1 mm long, the dorsal tooth 1.5-2 mm, margins of teeth usually with more hair, teeth usually short pubescent internally though upper four may be glabrate; petals violet to blue-violet, rarely white, keel usually darker; banner broadly elliptic to obovate, 4.5-6 x 4.5-6 mm, the claw 1- 1.5 mm, the blade rarely wider than long, biauriculate, the auricles commonly with internal callosities; wings widely flaring at anthesis, 6 x 1.5-2.5 mm, the claw 1.5-2 mm , the auricle 0.5-1.0 mm , bulging medially at base of claw; keel petals 3.5-4.5 X 1.5-2 mm, the claw 1.5 mm; androecium 3.5-4 mm , free filaments broadly dilated, anthers elliptic, 0.25 mm; gynoecium 3.5-4 mm, ovary elliptic to rhombic-elliptic, glabrous to appressed- pubescent at apex. Fruit deciduous with calyx and pedicel, elliptic in outline, 7-8 x 3-4 mm, including a broadly attached beak, yellowgreen to dark brown, glandular, glabrous. Seed reniform, to 6 mm long, brown, shiny.
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Discussion
Holotypus, labelled "Big Bend of Missouri, Sept 21, 1804," P H ! isotypus N Y (frag)! Lotodes tenuiflorum (Pursh) Kuntze, Revis. gen. pi. 1: 194. 1891.
Psoralea floribunda Nutt. ex Torr. & A Gray R N Amer. 1: 300. 1838. "Plains of the Arkansas and Platte, neariy to the Rocky Mountains, Nuttall," "Arkansas, Dr. Pitcher and Dr. Leavenworth," "Illinois, Mr. Buckley" Syntypi, Nuttall, BM! K (frag)! (probable) NY!, Leavenworth, K! NY!, Buckley, K! N Y (2)! (probable) NY!, Pitcher, PH! (probable) NY!, Nuttall or Leavenworth or Pitcher, K (2)! Lotodes jloribundum (Nutt.) Kuntze, Revis. gen. pi. 1: 194. 1891. Psoralea tenuiflora floribunda (Nutt.) Rydb., R. Nebr., Rosales 21: 55. 1895. Psoralidium floribundum (Nutt.) Rydb., N. Amer. R. 24: 15. 1919.
Psoralea obtusiloba Torr. & A. Gray, R. N. Amer. 1: 300.1838. "Texas, Drummond" Holotypus N Y! isotypus GOET! Psoralea tenuiflora var. obtusiloba (Torr. & A. Gray) S. Wats., Biblio. index N. Amer. bot. 255. 1878. Psoralidium obtusilobum (Torr. & A. Gray) Rydb., N. Amer. R. 24: 16. 1919.
Psoralidium bigelovii Rydb., N. Amer. R. 24:15. 1919. "at the Copper mines [Santa Rita del Cobre], New Mexico, 1850, Bigelow 218." Holotypus N Y! isotypi N Y (6)! US! Psoralea tenuiflora var. bigelovii (Rydb.) Macbr., Contr. Gray Herb. 65: 14. 1922. Psoralea bigelovii (Rydb.) Tidestrom, Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 25: 304. 1925.
Psoralidium batesii Rydb., Brittonia 1:91. 1931. "Nebraska: Wymore, July 3, 1909, Bates 4891." Holotypus NY!
Psoralea tenuiflora Pursh f. alba Steyerm., Rhodora 41: 585. 1939. "Missouri: . . . west of Warsaw, Benton County, June 3, 1938, J. A. Steyermark, 5779." Holotypus M O ! isotypi F! US!
Psoralidium youngiae Tharp & Barkley, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 73: 131. 1946. "Midfield, Texas, 7 Apr 1939, B.C. Tharp s. n." Holotypus TEX! isotypi G H! MO! NY
Psoralidium tenuiflora is variable in leaflet size, inflorescence length and calyx vestiture. Leaflets tend to be larger in the northern and eastern populations and smaller in the southwestern ones. However, the variation is continuous, does not correlate with any other feature, and appears to be influenced by microhabitat plants from more mesic areas tend to be larger. The variation in inflorescence length is continuous; no discontinuity is evident that would allow recognition of subspecific taxa. The pubescence on the calyx varies from short-appressed to long-appressed, long semi-appressed, and long erect. No discontinuities exist in this character and it does not correlate with geography.
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Distribution
A species primarily of plains and prairies, though occurring in desert shrub and woodlands, approx. 200-1800 m. From Montana to northern Mexico east to Minnesota and Indiana, with apparently isolated populations in Mississippi.
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