Aeschynomene evenia var. serrulata Rudd

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aeschynomene evenia var. serrulata Rudd

  • Type

    Type: In the U. S. National Herbarium, No. 1193123, collected in a pond, San Juan de los Morros, Aragua, Venezuela, Dec. 28, 1923, by H. Pittier (No. 11321). Isotypes at GH, NY, and Ven.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - A varietate typica plantis utrinque minoribus, foliolis serratociliatis differt.

    Description - This variety differs from the typical in that the leaflets are rather consistently serrulate-ciliate and mostly smaller. The plants tend to be shorter, frequently less than 5 dm. high, and are generally more glandular in all parts than the typical variety. The stipules usually are more rounded at the base. The flowers are about 5-6, rarely 7-8, mm. long. The fruits are commonly 5-8-articulate.

  • Discussion

    As indicated above, this variety is mostly found in northern and eastern South America, at low elevations. The serrulate-ciliate leaflets, the narrow, short-stipitate fruits, and the small flowers are the most distinctive characters. There apparently is intergradation between this and the typical variety; leaves with entire leaflets sometimes occur on plants with predominantly serrulate leaflets.