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shyleaf

Photo is of parent taxon
Habit Herbs, annual or perennial, not darkening on drying.
Stems

erect, to 2.5 m, ± glabrous or glandular-hirsute, hairs bulbous-based.

Leaves

1–7 cm;

stipules peltate, (5–)10–25 × 1–4 mm, apex attenuate;

leaflets 20–60, blades apparently 2–4-veined, asymmetric, subfalcate, linear-oblong, 4–15 × 1–2 mm, margins ciliate-denticulate, apex acuminate, surfaces glabrous.

Inflorescences

1–7-flowered, racemes, axis hispidulous.

Flowers

calyx 3–6 mm, bilabiate, abaxial lip 3-parted, adaxial lip 2-parted, glabrous or hispidulous;

corolla yellowish to orange or tan, usually with red or purplish lines, 5–10 mm, banner glabrous;

gynophore 1–3 mm, continuous with proximal segment, glabrate.

Seeds

dark brown, 2–3 × 1.5–2 mm.

Loments

abaxial margin crenate, adaxial margin straight or curved, sutures between segments prominent, margins not separating from valves;

segments (3–)6–8(–9), semiglobose, 2.5–5 × 3–6 mm, reticulate venation conspicuous, especially near margins, center of each usually muricate or verrucose, faces usually glabrous or puberulent, rarely hispidulous, hairs bulbous-based, glandular.

2n

= 20.

Aeschynomene americana

Aeschynomene americana var. americana

Phenology Flowering Aug–Nov.
Habitat Disturbed areas, edges of fields, wet roadsides.
Elevation 0–50 m. (0–200 ft.)
Distribution
from USDA
se United States; Mexico; Central America; South America; West Indies [Introduced in Asia, Africa]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
FL; GA; LA; MD; Mexico; Central America; South America; West Indies [Introduced in Asia, Africa]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (1 in the flora).

Variety flabellata Rudd occurs in Mexico and Central America.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Variety americana is used for forage in Florida with various grasses in permanent pastures (A. E. Kretschmer and R. C. Bullock 1980).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Aeschynomene Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Aeschynomene > Aeschynomene americana
Sibling taxa
A. fluitans, A. histrix, A. indica, A. pratensis, A. rudis, A. villosa, A. virginica, A. viscidula
Subordinate taxa
A. americana var. americana
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 713. (1753) unknown
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