Aeschynomene
Aeschynomene pratensis
bastard sensitive plant, jointvetch
meadow jointvetch
erect to decumbent or prostrate, young stems glabrous or sparsely to densely pubescent, with or without glandular hairs.
alternate, odd- or even-pinnate;
stipules present, peltate and appendiculate proximal to point of attachment or attached at base and not appendiculate;
petiolate;
leaflets 5–80, alternate or subopposite, blades subsessile, pulvinate, sometimes sensitive to light and touch, margins entire or ciliate-denticulate, surfaces glabrous or pubescent.
1–15-flowered, axillary [terminal], usually racemes, sometimes fascicles (in A. villosa var. villosa), rarely solitary flowers, [panicles];
bracts present, usually stipulelike, smaller;
bracteoles paired at base of calyx.
papilionaceous;
calyx campanulate, lobes 5, subequal or bilabiate and abaxial lip 3-parted and adaxial lip 2-parted;
corolla yellowish, sometimes with red or purplish markings, keel acute, included, bent, or curved;
stamens 10, diadelphous, 5 + 5 or filaments forming sheath, splitting adaxially;
anthers usually dorsifixed, sometimes basifixed;
style glabrous;
stigma terminal, capitate or minutely penicillate.
loments, sessile, gynophore present, compressed, straight or curved, pubescent;
segments (1 or) 2–18, each 1-seeded, joints between seeds sometimes poorly developed, proximal segment dehiscent or indehiscent, sometimes continuous with gynophore.
1, reniform, smooth, sublustrous;
hilum lateral, circular.
= 10.
Aeschynomene
Aeschynomene pratensis
Species ca. 150 (9 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 2 (1 in the flora).
Variety caribaea Rudd is widespread in the West Indies, Central America, and South America.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Stems floating; corollas 18–30 mm. | A. fluitans |
1. Stems erect, decumbent, or prostrate, not floating; corollas 4–15 mm. | → 2 |
2. Stipules attached at base, not peltate; calyces campanulate with 5 subequal lobes; banner pubescent abaxially; stems prostrate. | → 3 |
3. Leaflets 5–9, blades obovate, 4–10(–18) × 3–7(–10) mm, margins ciliate-denticulate; loment segments 2 or 3(–5), densely white-tomentose, usually also viscid-hispid; gynophore subglabrous; stems viscid. | A. viscidula |
3. Leaflets (8–)15–30, blades oblong-elliptic, 2–5(–6) × 1–2(–5) mm, margins entire or sparsely denticulate-ciliate; loment segments 2 or 3, appressed pubescent; gynophore hispid with yellowish hairs; stems canescent. | A. histrix |
2. Stipules peltate, appendiculate; calyces bilabiate, adaxial lip 2-parted, abaxial lip 3-parted; banner usually glabrous on abaxially, sometimes ciliate; stems usually erect, sometimes decumbent (in A. villosa). | → 4 |
4. Leaflet blades asymmetric, linear-oblong, apparently 2–5-veined. | → 5 |
5. Loments usually glabrous or puberulent, rarely hispidulous, hairs bulbous-based, glandular; loments with conspicuous reticulate venation, especially near margins, center of each segment usually muricate or verrucose, sutures between segments prominent. | A. americana |
5. Loments villous-hispid, hairs yellow, bulbous-based, glandular; loment segments with inconspicuous venation, center of each segment rarely muricate or verrucose, sutures between segments usually distinct, sometimes absent. | A. villosa |
4. Leaflet blades nearly symmetrical, 1-veined. | → 6 |
6. Gynophore separating from proximal segment of loment by distinct suture; loments with both margins crenate; plants darkening on drying; calyx lips nearly entire. | A. pratensis |
6. Gynophore continuous with proximal segment of loment; loments with abaxial margin crenate or slightly crenate, adaxial margin ± straight; plants not darkening on drying; calyx lips dentate or lobed. | → 7 |
7. Gynophores (10–)12–25 mm; corollas yellowish, usually with reddish markings; leaflet blades 8–20 mm. | A. virginica |
7. Gynophores 3–10 mm; corollas yellow to purplish; leaflet blades 2–15 mm. | → 8 |
8. Corollas 7–10 mm, calyces 4–6 mm; loment segments rarely muricate or verrucose near center at maturity; leaflets (30–)50–70, blades 2–10 ×. | → 1–2 |
1–2. 5 mm. | A. indica |
8. Corollas (8–)10–15 mm, calyces 5–8 mm; loment segments usually muricate or verrucose in center at maturity; leaflets 30–40(–50), blades 6–15 × 2–3 mm. | A. rudis |
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
