Nissolia wislizeni (A.Gray) A.Gray
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Authority
Rudd, Velva E. 1956. A revision of the genus Nissolia. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 32: 173-206.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type locality: Sacramento, Chihuahua, Mexico. Type collected by Wislizenus (No. 151), cited below.
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Description
Description - Prostrate herb, the stems moderately white-pubescent and also sparsely beset with yellowish, glandular setae; stipules lanceate to deltoid-ovate, acute to acuminate, commonly 5-7 mm. long, 1-2.5 mm. wide, pubescent to subglabrous, entire or glandular-denticulate; leaves 0.5-5 (commonly 2-4) cm. long; leaflets essentially orbicular or sometimes elliptic, 4-20 mm. in diameter, obtuse to emarginate, mucronulate, the base obtuse to subcordate, the upper surface glabrous, the lower moderately pubescent to subglabrous; inflorescences fasciculate, 1-5-flowered, the pedicels 3-15 mm. long, pubescent; flowers (8-)10-15 mm. long, the standard straight or scarcely recurved; calyx pubescent and setose, (3-)4-5 mm. long, the tube (2-)3-4 mm. long, about 3 mm. in diameter, the teeth deltoid-subulate, about 1 mm. long; fruit commonly 2-4 cm. long, 2-5 articulate, pubescent to subglabrous, the stipe 1-2 mm. long, the fertile articles about 7-10 mm. long, 3-7 mm. wide, the terminal, sterile article flat and winglike but scarcely broader than the fertile articles; seeds about 5 mm. long and 3 mm. broad.
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Discussion
This species seems to be the only one of the genus with a prostrate habit. The slightly recurved axis of the leaflet and the tendency of the leaflets to fold when disturbed makes herbarium specimens of N. wislizenti rather distinctive. In fruit the species is easily recognized by the slight development of the sterile, terminal article, in contrast to the enlarged wing of all the other species. Illustrations of the fruit and flowers are given by Torrey (Bot. Mex. Bound, pi. 18. 1859) and by Rose (Contr. U. S. Nat, Herb. 5: 158, fig. 17. 1899).