Eriosema benthamianum Mart. ex Benth.

  • 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 benthamianum Mart. ex Benth.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Subshrub to 90 cm tall, with several stout, much-branched, erect or ascending stems from woody base, the stems sparsely rufo-pilose and densely yellow-glandular, often becoming viscid. Stipules ovate, connate, caducous, externally glandular, 5.5-6.0 mm long, 2.5-3.0 mm wide. Petiolules 3.0-6.5 mm long, pilose and glandular. Leaflet 1, broadly ovate to cordate, extremely variable in size even on individual plants, 7.0-8.0 (-8.5) cm long, 7.5-60.0 mm wide, scabrous or rufo-velutinous and glandular on both surfaces. Inflorescences glandular, 6.0-12.5 cm long, multiflorate, peduncles 1-6 cm long, pedicels 2-5 mm long. Bracts broadly ovate, caducous, externally villous and glandular, 5.0-5.5 mm long, 2-3 mm wide. Calyx externally glandular, 7.5-8.0 mm long, tube 3.0-3.5 mm long, lobes 4.0-4.5 mm long. Corolla yellow, 15-18 mm long. Standard broadly obovate, externally glandular, 17-18 mm long, 12.0-12.5 mm wide, auricles 1 mm long, claw 2.5-3.0 mm long. Wings narrowly oblong, 1.4-1.5 cm long, 3.0-3.5 mm wide, claw 2.5-3.0 mm long. Keel blades 14.5-15.5 mm long, 6.0-6.5 mm wide at maximum, claw 2.5-3.0 mm long. Stamens 17-18 mm long. Fruit ovate, rufo-puberulent and glandular, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 8-11 mm wide. Seeds broadly oblong, brown to black, 5.0-5.5 mm long, 3.0-3.5 mm wide.

    Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Central and southeastern Brazil (Fig. 7). Occurring in camposcerrados, along roadsides and on limestone slopes; at elevations of 700-1000 m.

  • Discussion

    Holotype examined (K): Brazil, Minas Gerais, aad Rio S. Francisco (locality data supplied by Martius, 1859, p. 210)." Martius 1132. W/o date. Isotype (LE).

    Eriosema benthamianion is characterized by having all of its plant parts clothed with yellow-glandular hairs. It is one of the most distinctive species of the genus and is seldom confused with any other. This is due primarily to its retention of most of the mature leaflets while the younger ones are still forming so that an array of both large and small leaflets is found on the erect, ramose stems. It is also one of the more shrubby representatives of the genus, often approaching one meter in height.