(Last Modified On 11/16/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/16/2012)
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Species
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ENTADA POLYSTACHYA (L.) DC.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Mem. Legum. 434. 1825.
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Synonym
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Mimosa polystochia L. Sp. P1. 520. 1753. Mimosa bipinnata Aubl. P1. Guian. 2:946. 1775. Mimosa caudata Vahl, Eclog. 3:35. 1807, fide Benth. Mimosa chiliantha G. F. W. Mey. Prim. Fl. Esseq. 163. 1818, fide Benth. Adenanthera Bonplandiana Kunth. in HBK. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 6:311. 1824. Acacia caudata DC. Prodr. 2:456. 1825. Entada Plumieri Spreng. Syst. 42:164. 1827. Entadopsis polystachya Britt. in N. Am. Fl. 23:191. 1928.
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Description
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Large, woody liana up to 15 or more m. tall, the branchlets glabrous, longi- tudinally striate, the old stems rather shaggy-barked. Leaves large, bipinnate, the pinnae commonly about 4 pair, opposite, the leaflets mostly 5-8 pairs per pinna; petiole mostly 4-8 cm. long, eglandular, glabrous, flattened above; rachis similar to the petiole, eglandular; pinnae usually 6-15 cm. long, the axis often puberulent above; leaflets oblong, 15-40 mm. long and 5-18 mm. wide, usually rounded apically and obliquely so basally, glabrous or sometimes sparingly pubescent below or along the margins, glossy above, the venation prominently reticulate; stipules linear, small, caducous. Inflorescence a large, terminal raceme (often 2 dm. long) of slender spikes, the latter 6-7 cm. long, inserted singly or in pairs; floral bract- lets not apparent; axis usually puberulent. Flowers small, very briefly stipitate, reported reddish, pinkish, whitish or greenish, with a disagreeable odor; calyx shallowly cupulate, scarcely 1 mm. deep, briefly dentate, glabrous; corolla of 5, free, narrowly oblong, glabrous petals about 2 mm. long; stamens 10, somewhat exceeding the petals, glabrous, the anthers (at least in youth) gland-tipped; ovary glabrous. Legume large, oblong, commonly 25-30 cm. long and 6 or 7 cm. wide, curved, flat, thin, glabrous, lustrous, the valves in time breaking into segments, the margins persistent; seeds comparatively small, oblong, no more than 1 cm. long.
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Distribution
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Mexico to middle South America; West Indies.
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Specimen
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BOCAS DEL TORO: Chiriqui Lagoon, H. von Wedel io62, I2I4, 2495, 2743. CANAL ZONE: Friloles, Bro. Heriberto II3; Miraflores Lake, P. White 256. HERRERA: Pese, Allen 804. PANAMA: R. La Maestra, Allen 34; Juan Diaz, Standley 30518.
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Note
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The species is an interesting tall vine of the lowland areas, with a large, term- inal, disagreeably odoriferous inflorescence and large, persistent legumes. Macerated root or stem reportedly produces a soap-like lather with water, suitable for washing.
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