Cercis canadensis 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

    Cercis canadensis L.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Glabrous or pubescent shrub or widely spreading small tree, 3-6(-10) m. Leaves ovate, orbicular to subreniform, basally truncate to cordate, apically acuminate or acute to rounded or subemarginate, 3.5-10(-12) cm, .7-1.1 r, lighter below than above, glabrate to puberulent beneath. Flowers appearing before leaves, cauliflorous, fascicled from spurs, incipient common axis 1 mm or less; flowering pedicels 6-10 mm; calyx asymmetric, 2.5-3.5 cm high, 4.3-6.3 (-7) cm wide; corolla pink-purple to lilac (rarely white), 9-12.5 mm, keel petals 3.8-5 mm wide. Legume oblong, flat, tapering both directions, 4-8(-10) cm long, .8-1.8(-2) cm wide; wing .8-2.1 mm wide; valves glabrous (or puberulent, var. mexicana), often glaucous, cross-reticulate at maturity.

  • Discussion

    CN 2n = 14 (Baldwin, 1939) The redbud, familiar and beloved in cultivation and a harbinger of spring in the woodlands of eastern North America, changes both habitat and aspect in North-central Texas and adjacent Oklahoma. There is precedent for treating the Texas taxon as a separate species (Britton and Rose, 1930; Anderson, 1953), and such interpretation may be tempting and alternatives have been discussed in preceeding pages. I presently abide with Texas authors (Turner, 1959; Correll and Johnston, 1970) in regarding C. canadensis to be a species of eastern North America and Texas consisting of 3 geographic varieties. Senn (1938a) has reported 2n = 12 that is undoubtedly incorrect in view of Baldwin’s (1939) count and modern reports for other species.

  • Distribution

    E U.S.: s New England, e Nebraska, n and e Texas, Florida. Rich woodlands in e to open calcereous soils in w. Common ornamental. Redbud, Judas Tree. Mexico.

    United States of America North America| Mexico North America|