Eriosema glabrum Mart. ex Benth.

  • Authority

    Grear, John W. 1970. A revision of the American species of Eriosema (Leguminosae-Lotoldeae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 20: 1-98.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Eriosema glabrum Mart. ex Benth.

  • Description

    Species Description - Herb or subshrub usually less than 80 cm tall with several to many ascending, few-branched, glabrate to lightly strigose stems from woody base. Stipules free narrowly lanceolate, externally ciliate at base, 3-6 mm long, 0.1-1.5 mm wide. Petioles 4-5 mm long, lightly sericeous. Leaflets 3, narrowly or broadly oblong to obovate, sparsely strigose above, thin-coriaceous, terminal leaflet somewhat remote from laterals, 3-7 (-8) cm long, 2.0-3.5 (-4) cm wide, midrib prominent the two lateral veins marginal and near-convergent at apex. Inflorescences multiflorate, 3.5-6.5 cm long, peduncles 1-2 (-3.4) cm long, pedicels 4-5 mm long. Bracts broadly lanceolate, caducous, 2-4 mm long, 1-2 mm wide. Calyx 3-4.5 mm long, externally sericeous at base, tube 2-2.5 mm long, lobes 1-2 mm long. Corolla yellow, 12-14 mm long. Standard broadly obovate, externally finely sericeous and glandular, 12-14 mm long, 9-10 mm wide, claw 2-2.5 mm long, auricles 1 mm long. Wings narrowly oblong, 13-14 mm long, 3.0-3.5 mm wide, claw 2.0-2.5 mm long. Keel blades 13-14 mm long, 5-6 mm wide at maximum, externally glandular, claw 2.5-3.0 mm long. Stamens 13-15 mm long. Fruit glabrate to sparsely ferrouspilose, obliquely ovate, 1.0-1.6 cm long, 8-9 mm wide. Seeds 5-6 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, black, oblong.

  • Discussion

    Holotype examined (K). Brazil, Minas Gerais, "in campis siccis graminosis prov. Minarum (locality data supplied by Martius, 1859, p. 213)." Martius 1131 w/o date. Isotypes (BM, G, LE, NY).

    Eriosema glabrum is readily recognized by the absence of vesture on its leaflets and by the distinctive venation pattern on the undersurface, in which the two lateral veins are marginal and nearly convergent at the apex so that the leaflet is almost trinerved. It is also one of the least variable species. A species confined to Brazil primarily, it occurs sympatrically with other species of that area in the same habitats, but remains distinct and exhibits no close relationships with other taxa.

  • Distribution

    Distribution. Central to southeastern Brazil and adjacent Argentina (Misiones) (Fig. 7). Occurring in savannas, campos, cerrados; chiefly on sandy soils on rocky slopes of 800-1125 m alt.

    Brazil South America| Argentina South America|