Cassia absus L.

• Authority

  Isley, Duane. 1975. Leguminosae of the United States: II. Subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (2): 1-228.

• Family

  Caesalpiniaceae

• Scientific Name

  Cassia absus L.

• Description

  
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  Species Description - Sparingly glandular-hispid, often viscid annual, 2-6 dm. Leafstalk 1-3 cm, with obscure or deciduous glands between leaflets and appearing eglandular; leaflets 2 pairs, petiolulate, obovate to elliptic, l-2.5(-4) cm, 1.2-1.8 r, glabrate above. Stipules subulate, inconspicuous. Flowers 1-6 in small terminal or intercalary hispid and viscid racemes. Pedicels 3-4 mm; sepals acute, 4-5 mm; petals yellow, becoming reddish, subequal, 5-6 mm; functional stamens 5(-7) with villous anthers. Legume elastically dehiscent, oblong to slightly falcate, 2-3(-4) cm long, 4-6(-8) mm wide; valves pustulate-hispid. Seeds few.

• Discussion

  Grimaldia absus (L.) Britt. 8c Rose (1930) CN 2n = 26 (Miège, 1962). Kearney, Peebles, et al. (1960) report localities from the Baboquivari and Atascosa mts. remarking “The presence of this plant in such remote localities in Arizona is remarkable.” The Arizona stations, however, are simply the northernmost outposts of well-established distribution in adjacent Mexico.

• Distribution

  S Arizona. Local in Pima and Santa Cruz cos. 4000-5000 ft. Aug-Sept. Tropics and warm regions of both hemispheres, possibly native Old World.