(Last Modified On 11/15/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/15/2012)
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Genus
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CALLIANDRA Benth.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Hook. Jour. Bot. 2:13 8. 1840, nom. conserv.
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Synonym
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Anneslia Salisb. Parad. Lond., pl. 64. 1807. Inga Annesleya G. Don, Gen. Hist. Dichl. PI. 2:396. 1832, in part. Clelia Casar. Nov. Stirp. Brasil. Dec. 83. 1845. Codonandra Karst. Fl. Columb. 2:43, t. I22. 1862.
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Description
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Usually shrubs or small trees, unarmed except in one or two (non-Panamanian) species, mostly not heavily pubescent. Leaves bipinnate, the pinnae 1 to several pairs; leaflets 1 to many pairs per pinna; petiole and rachis eglandular; leaflets large and broad (ovate) or more frequently small and narrow (linear or linear-oblong), glabrous in most species, frequently ciliate marginally, almost invariably very oblique basally, the costa prominent, but the secondary veins obscure in many species; stipules mostly striate and subpersistent. Inflorescence commonly of axillary, pedunculate spikes, sometimes a terminal raceme or panicle. Flowers in dense, globose heads, sometimes dimorphic (center flower of head larger or more gross, sometimes sterile), normally 5-parted and perfect, regular, sympetalous; calyx relatively broad, mostly cupulate or campanulate; corolla usually funnelform, never narrow and tubular like species of Ingma and Pithecolobiun, usually lobed for about half its length, the lobes valvate; stamens many, elongate, conspicuous and showy, obscuring the corolla, united below into an included or exserted staminal tube; anthers small, usually eglandular; ovary usually sessile, glabrous, several- ovulate, the style filiform, the stigma terminal. Legume broadly linear, straight or nearly so, gradually constricted baseward and thus cuneate-substipitate, flat and thin, the margins elevated, bivalvate, the valves elastically dehiscent from the apex but not twisting, not septate, the seeds (obliquely) transverse or nearly longitudinal.
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Distribution
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Primarily a New World genus, extending from southwestern United States and Mexico to southern South America: one or two Oriental or African species have at times been recognized.
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Note
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The genus is fairly distinctive and seemingly quite natural. It is especially characterized by the glandless petiole and rachis, the dense heads of "exserted stamens" and the distinctive, elastically dehiscent legume. Specific boundaries within the genus are for the most part indistinct and often artificial. Several readily identifiable complexes can be distinguished, and within these a great many of the species can be united with profit. Probably not more than 20 or 25 "good" species occur in all Central America, most of these in the northern part. Eight species are here recognized from Panama, one of which is questionably recorded.
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Key
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a. Leaflets normally 3 per pinna, comparatively large and broad (about 1 cm. wide)-; pinnae 1 pair. b. Flowers large (corolla about 13 mm. long, stamens 6-7 cm. long); staminal tube well exserted (about 4 cm. long); peduncles thick - 1. C. GLABERRIMA bb. Flowers smaller (corolla about 6 mm. long, stamens 2-2.5 cm. long); staminal tube included; peduncles slender - 2. C. SEEMANNI aa. Leaflets few to many per pinna, comparatively small (never more than a few mm. wide); pinnae 1 to several pairs. b. Inflorescence of axillary, pedunculate heads; pinnae 1-11 pairs. c. Pinnae a single pair ---------------- 3. C. MAGDALENAE cc. Pinnae 2-11 pairs. d. Corolla essentially glabrous; leaflets membranaceous, dull, the secondary veins obscure. e. Branchlets terete; flowers rather small -4. C. CARACASANA ee. Branchlets quadrangular, markedly angled; flowers larger 5. C. TETRAGONA dd. Corolla pubescent; leaflets thicker, often subcoriaceous, darker or more lustrous above, venation more or less evident as far as known. e. Pinnae 2-6 pairs; leaflets usually 10-25 pairs, 4-7 mm. long; corolla about 8 mm. long -.--------------------------.--.--.--....---6. C. CUMINGII ee. Pinnae mostly 7-11 pairs; leaflets normally 20-65 pairs, mostly 3-5 mm. long; corolla 5-6 mm. long - 7. C. PITTIERI bb. Inflorescence a terminal raceme or panicle; pinnae several to many (usually about 15) pairs-. - .-- .--. - --- S. C. CONFUSA
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