Orbexilum lupinellus (Michx.) Isely

  • 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 lupinellus (Michx.) Isely

  • Description

    Species Description - Glabrous to very sparingly pubescent, glandular, perennial herbs to 0.75 m , stems seldom clustered on apex of root, usually from rhizomes or pseudoscapes, these arising for some distance along the apex of the root, stems striate, sometimes somewhat glaucous at base; cataphylls present on rhizomes, 4-7 mm . Stipules persistent, erect or arching away from the stem, linear to linear-lanceolate, 2.5-4 x 0.5-1 mm, green, glandular, at most faintly nerved. Leaves palmately (3-)5-7-foliolate, the 3-5-foliolate ones the earlier leaves and usually deciduous; petiole 1.3-4.0 cm, glandular, at least faintly canaliculate at base, faintly striate, the base of different color and texture, usually somewhat swollen and either wrinkled or winged, jointed to stem; petiolules 0.25-0.75 mm, blond to golden-brown, wrinkled; leaflets 2.2-6.5 x 0.5-3.5 mm, linear, those on early leaves linear-elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate, glabrous, glandular on both surfaces, but more so above. Inflorescence shortelliptic, with 3-11 nodes and 1-3 flowers per node; peduncle 3.4-10.0 cm; rachis 1.5-6.0 cm, the nodes crowded to 3 mm distant; bracts quickly deciduous, linear-elliptic to lanceolate, 1-2 x 0.5-0.75 mm, glabrate to very sparingly pubescent along margins, glandular; pedicels 1-2 mm, elongating to 3 mm in fruit. Flowers 5-7 mm; calyx glabrate to very sparingly pubescent and then more so on tooth margins, glandular, in flower 2-2.5 mm long to upper teeth, 2-3 mm long to lower tooth, the tube 1-1.5 mm, teeth triangular, the upper four 0.5-1.25 mm, the lower one 0.75-1.5 mm, the teeth in fruit flaring back widely from the throat; petals blue-purple; banner round, 4-5 x 3-4 mm, the claw 1-1.5 mm, the blade emarginate at apex, biauriculate, the auricles internally callose; wing petals 5-6 mm, the claw 1-1.5 mm; androecium 2.5-3.0 mm, anthers elliptic, 0.25 mm; gynoecium 2.5-3 mm, ovary glabrous, the style gently arcuate. Fruit in profile depressed-obovate, 9-11 x 5-5.5 mm, rugose, glabrous, glandular on distal V2 or throughout. Seed reniform though proximally acute, 5.5-7 x 3-4 mm, red-brown.

  • Discussion

    Holotypus, A. Michaux, P, not seen, photo G H ! Lotodes lupinellus (Michx.) Kuntze, Revis. gen. pi. 1: 194. 1891. Rhytidomene lupinellus (Michx.) Rydb., N. Amer. Fl. 24: 12. 1919.

  • Distribution

    An uncommon species, widespread but scattered, in sandy soils, mostly in pine-barrens, at 0-200 m, from central Florida (Polk, Hillsborough, Orange and Lake COS.), northwestern Florida (Leon Co.) and southwestern Georgia (Baker Co.), north in the Atlantic Coastal Plain in Tatnall, Bullock, Johnson and Echols cos., Georgia, and Cumberland, Moor, Scotland, Pamlico and Ruchman cos.. North Carolina.

    Florida United States of America North America| Georgia United States of America North America|