Aeschynomene americana L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aeschynomene americana L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Erect subshrub to 75 cm tall, glabrous to hispid, manybranched from a woody base. Leaves 3-7 cm long, weakly sensitive (folding when touched); leaflets numerous, alternate, 5-15 x 1-2 mm , oblong, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex acute and mucronulate, the base strongly asymmetric, cuneate-cordate, the margins hispid; rachis without glands; stipules peltate, the upper portion lanceolate, 5-12 mm long, ciliate at margins, persistent. Flowers bisexual, in axillary or terminal racemes; bracts and bracteoles lanceolate, persistent. Calyx nearly bell-shaped, 3-5 mm long, hispid; corolla yellow, the standard widely ovate, with a reddish ring at base, to 1 cm long, the wings longer than the keel, clawed. Legume 10-30 x 3-4 mm , oblong, flattened, 3-9 articulate, glabrous. Seeds 2-3 mm long, kidney-shaped, brown.

  • Discussion

    Aeschynomene glandulosa Poir. in Lam., Encycl. Suppl. 4: 76. 1816. Aeschynomene americana var. glandulosa (Poir.) Rudd, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 32: 26. 1955.

    Aeschynomene americana var. depila Millsp., Publ. Field Columbian Mus., Bot. Ser. 1: 494. 1902.

  • Distribution

    Common roadside weed of humid areas. Fish Bay (A3892), Lameshur (B613), Rosenberg (B313). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; throughout warm areas of the New World.

    Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|