Senna cumingii var. coquimbensis (Vogel) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

  • Authors

    Howard S. Irwin, Rupert C. Barneby

  • Authority

    Irwin, Howard S. & Barneby, Rupert C. 1982. The American Cassiinae. A synoptical revision of Leguminosae tribe Cassieae subtrib Cassiinae in the New World. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35, part 1: 1-454.

  • Family

    Caesalpiniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Senna cumingii var. coquimbensis (Vogel) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

  • Type

    Holotypus, Gaudichaud 115-a, †B = F Neg. 1675! neoholotypus, former isotypus, P! isotypus, K!

  • Synonyms

    Cassia coquimbensis Vogel, Cassia flaccida Clos, Cassia coquimbensis Vogel, Cassia cumingii Hook. & Arn.

  • Description

    Variety Description - Differing from other forms of S. cumingii in ample foliage, larger dolichostylous fls and more numerous ovules, the pubescence on average longer and more often yellow; lfts 4-6(-7) pairs, varying in outline from broadly obovate to elliptic- obovate or oblance-elliptic, commonly obtuse or obtuse-mucronulate, rarely emarginate or depressed-acuminulate, the larger ones (10-) 13-31 x (4.5-)7-16 mm, 1.4-2.6(-3) times as long as wide, the secondary venulation usually prominulous on both faces, more sharply so beneath: seeds 5.5-7.2 x (4-)5-6.3 mm, the areole 4-5.5 x 4.3-5 mm; otherwise as given in key. [Key: "Fls larger, the longest petal 15-26 mm; filaments of long abaxial stamens 10-17 mm; style 5-9.5 mm; pod 9-11 mm wide; ovules 16-24; Coquimbo."]—Collections: 20.

    Distribution and Ecology - Coastal hills and gulches leading to the ocean, not recorded from above 300 m but probably ascending somewhat higher in interior valleys, Coastal Cordillera of centr. Chile between 29°30' and 32°S in deptos. La Serena, Coquimbo and Ovalle of province Coquimbo.—Fl. primarily IX-II, sporadically later, sometimes while bearing mature pods.

  • Discussion

    A handsome floriferous senna, worthy of trial in gardens that can provide Mediterranean conditions. In the field it is likely to be confused only with S. candolliana, which has very similar individual flowers but more elaborately venulose leaflets, a subterete pod and unmarked seeds.

  • Distribution

    Coquimbo Chile South America|