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(Last Modified On 11/15/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/15/2012)
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Species
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ACACIA GLOMEROSA Benth.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Hook. Lond. Jour. Bot. 1:521. 1842.
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Synonym
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Senegalia gloinerosa Britt. & Rose, in N. Am. Fl. 23:116. 1928.
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Description
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Usually a moderate to large tree, often buttressed, unarmed or sparingly armed with a scattering of recurved prickles on twigs and rachis, the branchlets pubescent when young becoming glabrous with age. Leaves quite large, bipinnate, the pinnae several to many pairs, the leaflets many (about 30) pairs per pinna; petiole 2-4 cm. long, tomentulose to subglabrous, flattened or sulcate above, bearing 1 (-2?) Vessile gland usually below the middle; rachis up to 20 cm. long, similar to the petiole, sometimes aculeate below, usually bearing sessi'le glands above just below the distal few rachial nodes; pinnular rachis up to 10 cm. long, pubescent, gland- ular at the distal foliolar nodes; leaflets narrowly oblong or linear-oblong, mostly about 10 mm. long and 2-3 mm. wide, asymmetrically obtuse or acutish apically and thus subfalcate, obliquely truncate basally, puberulent or subglabrous above, appressed-pubescent below, the costa markedly excentric but not marginal, other venation visible but obscure; stipules linear, caducous. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of pedunculate heads; peduncles 5-15 mm. long, tomentulose; heads com- pact, globose, 12- to 20-flowered, the bracts minute. Flowers small, cream or white; calyx cupulate, about 1 mm. long, puberulent; corolla funnelform, 2-3 mm. long, pubescent, the lobes about 1/3 as long as the tube; stamens many, mostly 5-6 mm. long. Legume linear-oblong, up to 20 cm. long and 3 cm. wide, rounded- subcuneate apically and basally, flat, puberulent becoming subglabrous in age, the margins slightly elevated, the seeds few, transverse.
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Distribution
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Mexico to middle South America.
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Specimen
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CANAL ZONE: Barro Colorado Island, Aviles 10b.
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Note
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This species is quite variable, and in its extended range exhibits a number of diverse forms. Apparently it is commonly found as an erect tree, but sometimes it assumes somewhat the aspect of a liana. Most specimens are unarmed, but not a few bear scattered, recurved prickles, nor is this characteristic always associated with the subscandent habit. The Panamanian specimen cited possesses a longer pubescence than is typical for the species either in South America or north of Panama. It is also "atypical" in being armed and having more than the usual num- ber of pinnae. Yet it can probably be considered within the specific boundaries of A. glorserosa despite uncertainties and perhaps intermediacy towards A. tennti- folia. The plant is evidently uncommon in Panama. Our specimen (and others passing as the species) could almost as well be called A. polyphylla DC. as A. glomerosa. In fact, considered over their entire range, it is doubtful that A. glomerosa can be maintained as a species distinct from the older A. polyphylla.
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