Desmanthus velutinus Scheele

  • Authority

    Isley, Duane. 1973. Leguminosae of the United States: I. Subfamily. Mimosoideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (1): 1-152.

  • Family

    Mimosaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Desmanthus velutinus Scheele

  • Description

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    Species Description - Pubescent, herbaceous perennial with numerous, decumbent, villous to (rarely) glabrate stems, 2-5 dm. Stem pubescence of flexuous hairs .2-1 mm, of leaves mostly .5 mm or more. Leafstalk 2.5-3 cm; petiole .6-1.2 cm; gland small, .3-.5 mm, circular; pinnae (3-)4-6(-8) pairs; leaflets 6-14 pairs, oblong, 2.5-4 mm, without evident secondary nervation, initially villous-cinerous, glabrescent. Stipules acicular, 2-3 mm. Heads 1-1.7 cm diam, whitish, 10-15 flowered; peduncles exceeding leaves, 4-7(-8) in fruit. Corolla 3.5-4 mm; stamens 10. Legume linear, 4-6 cm long, ca 3 mm wide, pointed at tip, glabrous; margins straight or somewhat undulate at maturity. Seeds longitudinal or slightly oblique.

  • Discussion

    Acuan velutinum (Scheele) Ktze. CN 2n = 28 (Turner & Beaman, 1953). Desmanthus velutinus is normally marked by its pubescent, nonreticulate leaflets. It has conspicuous heads on exserted peduncles and well-petioled leaves; the seeds approach a longitudinal positioning. Its range meshes with that of D. obtusus.

  • Distribution

    C to w and s Texas. Rocky, open, limestone hills, streambeds, roadsides; grassland, live oak, juniper. May-June(Aug.). Adjacent Mexico.

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