Aeschynomene deamii B.L.Rob. & Bartlett

  • Authority

    Rudd, Velva E. 1955. The American species of Aeschynomene. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 32: 1-172.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aeschynomene deamii B.L.Rob. & Bartlett

  • Type

    Type Locality: In marsh at base of old fort at outlet of Lake Izabal, San Felipe, Guatemala. Type collected by C. C. Deam (No. 26), cited below.

  • Description

    Description - Stem about 2-4 m. high, glabrous; stipules about 15 mm. long and 2.5 mm. wide, usually hyaline-margined, the portion above the point of attachment 12 mm. long, acuminate, the lower portion 3 mm. long, truncate-erose; leaves 5-7 cm. long, about 12-20-foliolate, the petiole and rachis glabrous to hispidulous; leaflets commonly 15 mm. long and 3 mm. wide, the largest about 20 mm. long and 4 mm. wide, the lower surface somewhat lighter than the upper, the veins conspicuously dark reddish; bracts stipule-like, decreasing in size toward the flowers, the uppermost about 5 mm. long; bracteoles ovate, acute, about 4 mm. long and 2 mm. wide; peduncles and pedieels glabrous; flowers 8-14 mm. long; calyx about 8 mm. long, the vexillar lip obtuse, entire, the carinal lip acute, entire; standard obovate, not distinctly clawed, about 10-12 mm. long, 8-10 mm. wide at maximum, entire, rounded or retuse; wings 10-12 mm. long, the claw 3-4 mm. long, the blade 7-8 mm. long, 4-5 mm. wide, entire; keel petals slightly shorter than the other petals, the claw 2-3 mm. long, the blade 6-7 mm. long, 3-4 mm. wide; stamens 10-12 mm. long; fruit commonly 12-14- articulate, the stipe about 5-8 mm. long, glabrous, the articles 5-7 mm. long and wide, glabrous, the upper edge of fruit entire, the lower edge entire or slightly crenate; seeds 4-5 mm. long, about 3 mm. wide, brown.

  • Discussion

    The large flowers distinguish Ae. deamii from all other species of the series, with the exception of Ae. selloi. From that, the fruits with 12-14 quadrate articles are sufficiently different to avoid confusion.

  • Common Names

    chipili, anilillo