Eriosema pulchellum (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth) Don

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 1993. Systematics of Serjania (Sapindaceae) Part I: A Revision of Serjania Sect. Platycoccus. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 67: 1-91.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Eriosema pulchellum (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth) Don

  • Description

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    Species Description - Herb or subshrub to 90 cm high with simple or few-branched, erect, ascending or often decumbent stems from woody base, the stems sericeous or loosely appressed pubescent, the hairs silvery. Stipules lanceolate, connate, persistent. 8-12 mm long, 2.0-3.5 mm wide. Petioles 1.0-3.5 mm long, sericeous. Leaflets 3, membranaceous to thin-coriaceous, oblong to lance-ovate, apex and base acute or obtuse, 3.0-7.5 cm long, 5-31 (-54) mm wide, shortly velutinous or sericeous above and below, the hairs usually appressed, terminal leaflet somewhat removed from laterals. Inflorescences 1.5-10.0 cm long, few-flowered (ca 4-10), the flowers clustered at end of peduncle, the peduncle 0.5-9.0 cm long, pedicels 1.5-3.5 mm long. Bracts lanceolate, caducous, 5-6 mm long, 1.0-1.5 mm wide. Calyx externally glandular, 8-9 mm long, tube 1.5-2.0 mm long, lobes 4.5-6.0 mm long. Corolla yellow, 9-10.5 mm long. Standard obovate, 9-10 mm long, 6.5-7.5 mm wide, auricles 1 mm long, claw 1.0-1.5 mm long. Wings narrowly oblong, 8.0-8.5 mm long, 2.0-2.5 mm wide, claw 2.0-2.5 mm long. Keel blades 8.0-8.5 mm long, 2.0-2.5 mm wide at maximum, claw 2.5-3.0 mm long. Stamens 8.0-8.5 mm long. Fruit ovate, rufo-pilose, 9-15 mm long, 6.0-8.5 mm wide. Seeds ovate, brown to black, 3-4 mm long, 3.0-3.5 mm wide.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Mexico through Central America to northern Colombia (Fig. 20). Occurring in savannas, open fields, rocky hills, oak and pine forests, and stream banks; at elevations of 265-3200 m.

  • Discussion

    Gycine pulchella H.B.K., Nov. Gen. & Sp. 6: 422. 1823. Photograph of holotype (US) examined: Colombia, "in ripa fluminis Orinoci; item prope Hondam Novo-Granatensium, alt 30-160 hex." The type specimen, presumably a collection of Humboldt, could not be found.

    Rhynchosia pulchella (H.B.K.) D C , Prodr. 2: 389. 1825.

    Local Names. Boca de leon (Guatemala); manilla de monte (Guatemala); oreja de conejo (Guatemala).

    As stated elsewhere under the discussion of Eriosema diffusum, E . pulchellum is probably more nearly related to that species. It can be distinguished from E. diffusum by its usually larger leaflets, which are pilose rather than sericeous, and by its long-pedunculate racemes, which usually exceed the leaflets. The two taxa are sympatric in certain areas in Mexico and Central America, and some evidence of hybridization is shown. The intergradation observed was slight, however, and did not seem to occur with regularity.