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(Last Modified On 10/1/2013)
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(Last Modified On 10/1/2013)
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Species
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Tephrosia multifolia Rose
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PlaceOfPublication
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Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 1: 320. 1895.
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Note
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TYPE: Mexico, Palmer 1364 (US, holotype; isotypes GH, NY).
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Synonym
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Cracca multifolia (Rose) Rose, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 12: 270. 1909. Cracca arcuata Rydb., No. Amer. Flora 24: 166. 1923. TYPE: Mexico, Nelson 4193 (US, holotype; isotype GH). Cracca heydeana Rydb., No. Amer. Flora 24: 166. 1923. TYPE: Guatemala, Heyde & Lux (D. Smith dist. no. 6111) (NY, holotype; isotypes GH, US). Tephrosia heydeana (Rydb.) Standley, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 17: 167. 1927. Tephrosia arcuata (Rydb.) Standley, Publ. Field Columbian Mus., Bot. Ser. 4: 213. 1929.
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Description
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Shrubs or erect herbs to 2.5 m tall, much branched; stems, leaves, and inflo- rescence pubescent, pilose, or velvety. Leaves to 35 cm long; leaflets (15-)21- 31(-40), linear, oblong or narrowly elliptic, 2-6 cm long, 0.5-1.2 cm wide, the middle leaflets often the longest, rounded to somewhat acute basally and apically, mucronulate, paler green and more densely pubescent beneath, the main second- ary veins 10-15 on each side, these and the midrib slightly raised beneath; petiole 1.5-3.0 cm long; rachis grooved, 5-25 cm long. Inflorescences terminal and ax- illary, to 20 cm long; peduncle 2-9 cm long, the nodes 20-50, buds to 7 per node; primary bracts 5-10 mm long; secondary bracts 4 mm long; pedicels 4 mm long, slender. Flowers drying to 15 mm long; calyx strigose, 3-6 mm long, the lower and 2 lateral teeth subequal, narrowly triangular to acuminate, the upper teeth connate, shorter, the teeth approximately equaling the tube; petals clawed, ap- parently white to pink, the standard circular to oblong, ca. 15 mm long, the claw to 3 mm long, densely covered with brown appressed hairs on the back, the wings narrow, oblong, ca. 15 mm long, the claw to 3 mm long, slightly adherent to the keel; keel narrow, oblong, to 5 mm wide, the claw to 3 mm long; staminal tube 10-15 mm long, the vexillary stamen connate in part, basally free; ovary silky, linear, ovules 8-10, the style hairy above. Fruit 5-6 cm long, 5 mm wide, widest toward the tip, flattened, slightly upcurved, velvety, the style base persistent, calyx persistent but somewhat torn, the 2 valves twisting on dehiscence; seeds 6-10, brown, oblong, 3 mm long.
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Habit
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Shrubs or erect herbs
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Distribution
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found from Mexico southward throughout Central America, but is apparently absent from South America.
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Note
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It has been collected in open habitats in three provinces of Panama. Tephrosia multifolia is similar in appearance and apparently closely related to T. sinapou. The most easily differentiated character separating the two is the shape of the lateral calyx lobes which are symmetrical and narrowly triangular in T. multifolia and oblique, asymmetrical, and abruptly acute in T. sinapou. The latter also tends to have narrower leaflets with more secondary veins, pubescence more densely velvety and browner in color, and the calyx larger and heavier in appearance. Both species are cultivated for use as fish poisons and insecticides.
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Specimen
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CANAL ZONE: Chiva-Chiva Trail, Red Tank to Pueblo Nuevo, Piper 5125 (US). CHIRIQUI: Near Las Lomas, 0-100 m, Burt & Koster 129 (MO). Boquete, Davidson 591 (F, GH, MO, US). Between Hato del Jobo and Cerro Vaca, 700-1000 m, Pittier 5419 (GH, NY, US). HERRERA: Near Las Minas, 320 m, Burt & Koster 92 (MO). VERAGUAS: Tienda Santa Ana (La Yeguada), Escobar et al. 291 (MO). El Embalsadero, 8 mi W of Santiago, Tyson 6085 (FSU, MO, SCZ).
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