Aeschynomene portoricensis Urb.
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Authority
Rudd, Velva E. 1955. The American species of Aeschynomene. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 32: 1-172.
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Family
Fabaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type locality: Maricao, Aguadilla, and Laguna Tortuguero, near Manatí, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Syntypes collected by Sintenis (No. 4889 in flower, and No. 6657 in fruit), the latter cited below.
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Description
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Description - Stems prostrate, to about 5 dm. long, moderately subappressed-pubescent and also sparsely beset with glandular hairs, glabrate toward base; stipules lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 2-4 mm. long, 1 mm. or less at base, subglabrous, ciliate ; petiole and rachis pubescent like the stem; leaves 5-10-foliolate; leaflets predominantly obovate, 3-8 mm. long, 2-4 mm. wide, entire, the apex rounded, mucronate, the base asymmetrically rounded to subcordate, the upper surface appressed-pubescent to subglabrous, the lower appressed-pubescent, reticulate; inflorescences commonly 2-4-flowered, slightly longer than the subtending leaf; peduncles and pedicels with pubescence like the stems; bracts and bracteoles ovate, acute, subglabrous, 1 mm. long or less, about 0.5 mm. wide; flowers 5-6 mm. long; calyx 2-2.5 mm. long, subglabrous; standard 5-6 mm. long, the claw about 1 mm. long, the blade orbiculate, 4-5 mm. in diameter, entire; wings about as long as the standard, the blade about 1.5-2 mm. wide; keel petals arcuate, about 5 mm. long, the claws 1.5 mm. long, the blades about 3.5 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide; stamens 5-6 mm. long; fruit 3-6- (commonly 4- or 5-) articulate, falcate, the stipe (4-) 5-8 mm. long, subglabrous or with a few glandular hairs, the articles about 3 mm. in diameter, crisp-pubescent; seeds about 2.5 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide, dark brown.
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Discussion
This apparently endemic species suggests both Ae. falcata and Ae. elegans, from which it differs in having smaller flowers and fruits with fewer but larger articles and a slightly shorter stipe. The leaflets are usually more numerous than those of Ae. falcata, but fewer than those of Ae. elegans. At present, without seeing or knowing the status of the specimens studied by Urban, I hesitate to designate a lectotype. It would be my preference, if possible, to select as type the collection in fruit (Sintenis 6657) rather than the collection in flower (Sintenis 4889).