Hoffmannseggia oxycarpa Benth.

  • 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

    Hoffmannseggia oxycarpa Benth.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Pubescent, subscapose to caulescent, ascending to decumbent, stipitate-glandular, often densely bushy perennial herb with clustered stems or scapes l-3(-4) dm from a thick woody base or (younger plants) slender taproots. Stem pubescence villosulous, spreading to retrorse. Stipules ovate, persistent but inconspicuous. Leafstalk 3-10 cm, leafstalk and pinnae axes sparsely pilose; pinnae 2-4 pairs plus 1, slightly increasing in size distally; leaflets 4-9 pairs, subpetioluled, asymmetric, shortly oblong, 3-9 mm, 1.8-2.9r, glabrous, without nervation or midnerve faintly evident. Flowers 5-15 in exserted, terminal, sparsely or conspicuously stipitate-glandular, ultimately declined racemes. Pedicels 2-5 mm, not jointed; calyx lobes valvate, lanceolate, 5-8 mm, petals yellow-orange, obovate, 9-13 mm, nearly regular, the claws short, scarcely exserted at anthesis, eglandular or slightly glandular, standard reddish spotted. Legume elastically dehiscent, oblong, straight to lunate or falcate, commonly declined and upcurved, asymmetrically tipped, 2-3.5 cm long, 6-8 mm wide, conspicuously stipitate-glandular and pubescent. Seeds few.

  • Discussion

    Caesalpinia oxycarpa (Gray) Fisher (1893) Larrea oxycarpa (Benth.) Britt. (1930) CN 2n = 24 (Turner and Fearing, 1959). Eifert (in litt.) would now revert this species to Caesalpinia, its dehiscent pods and woody base rendering it anamolous in Hoffmanseggia. On the contrary, I cannot avoid the conclusion it is closely related to H. glauca and H. drepanocarpa and retain it in Hoffmanseggia.

  • Distribution

    Sc and w Texas, adjacent to Rio Grande (Terrell to Maverick cos.), and a few records n and e. March-April(-June). Open rocky limestone hills and along streams, roadsides; locally frequent. Mexico.

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