Cassia tomentosa L.f.

  • 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 tomentosa L.f.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Pubescent shrub or small evergreen tree to 6 m, said to spread by roots. Young growth tawny, pubescence persistent but thinning on upper leaf surface. Leafstalk 4-10 cm; gland(s) conic, either inconspicuous and easily deciduous between lower leaflets and obscure above, or present between all leaflet pairs but diminishing upwards; leaflets subsessile, 5-9 pairs, slightly larger distally, elliptic to short-oblong, slightly asymmetric proximally, (1-) 1.8-4 cm, 2.4-3.3 r, mucronulate, lighter below than above. Stipules not seen. Flowers in axillary or corymbosely clustered racemes. Pedicels 1-2 cm; buds plumply ellipsoid; sepals unequal, the two outer pubescent, 7-8 mm, the inner 8-10 mm, petaloid; corolla yellow, 2.5-3 cm diam, slightly irregular; functional stamens 7, the 2 lower longer; pistil lanate. Legume indehiscent, stipitate, oblong, turgid but somewhat compressed, straight or slightly curved, 8-12 cm long, 8-10 mm wide, often tipped with remnants of filiform beak; valves coriaceous, pubescent, becoming glabrate, septate within. Seeds many.

  • Discussion

    Adipera tomentosa (L.f) Britt. & Rose (1930) CN 2n = 24 (Diers, 1961). Cassia tomentosa is common in residential areas and is employed to some extent in highway plantings.

  • Distribution

    Urban California. Cult, ornamental and moderately naturalized. March-April or all year. Mexico to South America.

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