Aeschynomene nicaraguensis (Oerst.) Standl.
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Authority
Rudd, Velva E. 1955. The American species of Aeschynomene. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 32: 1-172.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type locality: El Viejo, Nicaragua. Type collected by Oersted (No. 4701), cited below.
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Description
Description - Shrub or small tree, 2-4 m. high; stem pubescent when young, glabrate, with grayish bark when older; stipules linear, acuminate, 6-10 mm. long, scarcely 1 mm. wide, subglabrous; leaves 5-10 cm. long, about 8-18-foliolate, the petiole and rachis pubescent; leaflets elliptic-oblong, the apical leaflets usually Jobovate, 10-35 mm. long, 5-12 mm. wide, obtuse, subglabrous; inflorescences axillary or terminal racemose or paniculate, the axes pubescent, the bracts ovate, acute to obtuse, 1-2 mm. long, 0.5-1 mm. wide, pubescent; flowers 8-10 mm. long; calyx about 3.5-5 mm. long, pubescent to subglabrous; standard commonly about 9 mm. long, the claw 2 mm. long, the blade about 7 mm. long, 8-10 mm. wide; wings and keel about the same length as the standard, the wing blades 3-4 mm. wide, the keel blades 1.5-2 mm. wide; stamens about 9 mm. long; fruit 2- or 3-articulate, the stipe 5-7 mm. long, appressed-pubescent, the articles 12-15 mm. long, 7-8 mm. wide, moderately appressed-pubescent, sometimes glabrate; seeds 5-6 mm. long, 3-3.5 mm. wide, light brown.
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Discussion
This is the only species of the series which has been found in Central America exclusive of Mexico. The articles of the fruit are large and moderately pubescent; the stipules are linear. Although color is not too stable a character, specimens of Ae. nicaraguensis commonly exhibit large, dark green, but not blackish, leaflets, and the petals are usually longitudinally striped with purple. This species was first ascribed to the genus Brya and later independently described as an Aeschynomene; Standley then recognized the similarity of the material involved and published the combination Ae. nicaraguensis.