Pediomelum canescens (Michx.) Rydb.
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Authority
Grimes, J. E. 1990. A revision of the New World species of Psoraleeae (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 61: 1-114.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Glandular, strigose to canescent perennialto 0.8 m tall, the stems arising from the apices of deep woody roots, these 4-9 x 3-4.5 cm and rough-funowed; stems usually one, rarely two, lightly striate and glandular with blond to dark brown glands, strigose with hairs 1-2 mm , to 1 cm diam. and fistulose below, sometimes purplish toward base, commonly glaucous, rarely with remnants of cataphylls, these usually only one or two, remote, and some distance from base, 6-11 mm , obviously veined, persistent. Leaves palmately 1- or 3-foliolate, the unifoliolate leaves appearing earlier in the season; petiole 2-6 mm, round to slightly canaliculate, strigose, not jointed to stem and not swollen at base, shorter than petiolules, or very rarely 1 mm longer, or petiole lacking and petiolules attached directly to leaf spur; petiolules usually darker in color than petiole, strigulose, 5-9 mm; leaflets rhombic-elliptic, obovate, broadly oblanceolate to orbicular, 3.0-5.5 X 2.0-3.2 cm, at apex broadly acute to rounded, basally attenuate, glabrous to glabrate on upper surface, and with numerous small dark brown small dark brown or rarely light-blond glands, sparingly to densely canescent and less glandular beneath. Inflorescence shortly elongate, with (2-)3-6 nodes and three flowers per node; peduncle 2.7-8.2 cm, base of same color and texture, not jointed to stem; rachis 1.5-5.3 cm, continuing to elongate through fruit, the internodes 2-20 mm; bracts persistent or tardily deciduous, oval-elliptic to lanceolate, 7-12 x 4-5 mm , appressed-pubescent to lightly canescent and sparingly to densely glandular; pedicels 4-5 mm . Flowers 11-16 mm; calyx strigulose to canescent and glandular with dark brown or occasionally blond glands, 7-9 mm long to upper teeth, 8-12 mm long to lower tooth, the tube 3-5 mm , the upper teeth triangular, 2-3 X 1.5 mm , the lateral ones triangular, 2.5-3.5 X 2 mm , the lower tooth elliptic-lanceolate, 4.5-6 X 2.5 mm , all internally glabrate or minutely pubescent, the calyx in fruit broadly campanulate, with veins to the apex of each tooth and sinus, those to sinuses bifurcating and proceeding along the edge of each tooth as submarginal veins; petals blue, often lighter on exterior faces, fading yellowish-green; banner oblanceolate, 11-15 X 6-8 mm , the claw 3-5 mm , the blade emarginate, biauriculate, the auricles internally callose; wings 10-13 x 2.5-3 mm , the claw 4-5 mm , the auricle to 1.5 mm; keel petals 7.5-9 X 2-2.5 mm , the claw 4-5 mm , the blade with darker blotch on apical portion; androecium 9-9.5 mm , anthers ovoid-ellipsoid, 0.5 mm; gynoecium 8-9 mm , ovary glabrous to pubescent, style glabrous to pubescent on lower Vi. Fruit body oval in profile, 5-6 x 4-5 mm , densely dark brown-glandular, short-strigose on upper Vi, the beak 4-6 x 2 mm , glandular and usually short-strigose, equal to or slightly shorter than calyx teeth. Seed reniform in profile, 4-5 x 3-4 mm, gray-green to red-brown, compressed but not flattened.
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Discussion
Holotypus, Michaux, P, photo G H ! Lotodes canescens (Michx.) Kuntze, Revis. gen. pi. 1: 194. 1891.
The petiole shorter than petiolules clearly distinguishes this species, and commonly canescent vestiture and the reduced number of nodes in the inflorescence seem to suggest close affinity with P. argophyllum and P. digitatum. However, both Pp. argophyllum and digitatum have eglandular fruits, otherwise unknown in subgenus Pediomelum.
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Distribution
A species of sandy soils in clearings and in open places in pine barrens and woodlands from 0-200 m , in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and southern Mississippi. R.
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