Orbexilum onobrychis (Nutt.) Rydb.

  • Authority

    Grimes, J. E. 1990. A revision of the New World species of Psoraleeae (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 61: 1-114.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Orbexilum onobrychis (Nutt.) Rydb.

  • Description

    Species Description - Erect, perennial herbs, minutely glandular on upper leaflet surfaces, densely pubescent on young parts, glabrate with age, stems arising singly from roots or rhizomes, striate, commonly anthocyanic at base and somewhat fistulose; cataphylls sometimes present on lowest nodes, 4-25 mm long, bifid. Stipules arcuately to strictly reflexed, with the bases decurrent, elliptic below, linear above, 2-9 x 0.5-4 mm, commonly not larger than 4 x 1 mm , green, glabrate, quickly to tardily deciduous. Leaves pinnately trifoliolate, though the lowermost palmately so; petiole 2.2-9.0 cm; rachis 0.8-2.6 cm; petiolules 2-4 mm , darker brown in color, pubescent; leaflets elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate, 4.0-12.0 x 1.7-5.2 cm, the terminal one larger, all rounded at base, narrowly acuminate, upper surface darker, sparingly pubescent along veins, with few scattered isolated hairs elsewhere, ciliate, lower surface pubescent on veins, and sparingly but uniformly pubescent between. Inflorescence elongate, with 15-40 or more nodes and 1-3 flowers per node; peduncle 5.2-14.3 cm; rachis 3.5-20.0 cm, elongating in fruit, the nodes short, elongating to 7 mm in fruit; bracts quickly deciduous, linear 2-3 mm; pedicels 1-1.5 mm , elongating to 2.5 mm in fruit. Flowers 5-6.5 mm; calyx puberulent, 2-2.5 mm long to upper teeth, 2-2.5 mm long to lower tooth, the tube 1-1.5 mm , the teeth triangular to more commonly round-deltate, the tube in fruit elongating to 3.0 mm and the teeth flaring back, becoming broadly campanulate, with 10 veins; petals violet to purple, occasionally white; banner round, 4-5 x 3-3.5 mm , the claw 1-1.5 mm , the blade emarginate, not auriculate, but the edge just above the claw commonly slightly callose; wings 5.5-6 x 1-1.5 mm, the claw 1-1.5 mm, the auricle 0.3-0.5 mm; keel petals 4-5 x 1.5- 2 mm, the claw 1.5-2 mm; androecium 3.5-4.5 mm, anthers ovate-elliptic, 0.25 mm; gynoecium 3-4 mm, ovary glabrous. Fruit depressed-obovate in profile, 8.5-12 x 5-5.5 mm, including a broadly attached beak 3-4 mm, black with age, mgose and papillate, eglandular; seed reniform, 4-6 mm, red-brown, very plump.

  • Discussion

    Holotypus, Nuttall, not seen, description decisive. Lotodes onobrychis (Nutt.) Kuntze, Revis. gen. pi. 1: 194. 1891.

    Holotypus, Nuttall, not seen, description decisive. Lotodes onobrychis (Nutt.) Kuntze, Revis. gen. pi. 1: 194. 1891.

    Northeastern plains and Appalachian foothills, approx. 200- 500 m , in Iowa (Lee Co.), Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, uncommon in Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. Fl. VI-VIII. Map, Fig. 17A.

  • Distribution

    Northeastern plains and Appalachian foothills, approx. 200-500 m , in Iowa (Lee Co.), Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, uncommon in Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. Fl.

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