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Leguminosae
Aeschynomene americana L.
Nomenclature
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Tribe: AeschynomeneaeGenus: Aeschynomene
SUMMARY
Annual herb, up to 2 m tall; stems erect, glandular-hispid. Leaves imparipinnate, alternate; petioles 4−5 mm long; stipules peltate-appendiculate, glabrous or somewhat hispid at the point of attachment, striate, ciliate, 10−25 by 1−4 mm, caducous; rachis up to 1 mm long. Leaflets 24−32 pairs, alternate; petiolules ca. 0.5 mm long; lamina asymmetrically linear-lanceolate, 9−10 by 1.5−2 mm, apex acute and mucronate, base oblique, one margin entire, the other serrulate near the tip; basal primary veins many, only one vein reaching the tip, inconspicuous above, conspicuous beneath. Inflorescences with peduncles 7−9 mm long, axillary or terminal, racemose to paniculate, 4−5 cm long; bracts thin, 7 by 3 mm, ovate-oblong, apex acute, base cordate; bracteoles 2 per flower, similar to the bracts, 5−5.5 by 1 mm. Flowers 5−10 mm long. Calyx glabrous to hispidulous, bilabiate, 3−5 mm long. Petals yellowish to tan, with red or purplish lines, glabrous; standard obovate, rounded, ca. 2 mm long, apex shallowly emarginate, base clawed; wings obliquely oblong, 2 by 5−8 mm; keel asymmetrically ovate, 2.5−4 by 4−5 mm. Stamens 5−8 mm long, glabrous. Ovary linear. Pods 2−3 cm long, slightly curved, abaxial suture undulate, with 3−9 rounded articles; articles 3−6 by 2.5−5 mm, glandular-hispidulous. Seeds reniform, 1.5−2 by 2−3 mm, dark brown.