Eysenhardtia
Eysenhardtia orthocarpa
kidneywood
Tahitian kidneywood
erect, eglandular or glandular-punctate, brown- to gray-pubescent, often becoming glabrescent.
alternate, odd-pinnate, scented when crushed;
stipules present, subulate, relatively small;
petiolate;
leaflets (5 or)7–47[–61], stipels usually present, subulate, blade margins entire, surfaces pubescent abaxially, brown glands sometimes present, glabrous or pubescent adaxially.
(5–)30–100(–150)-flowered, usually terminal, rarely axillary, racemes (spikelike);
bracts present, early-deciduous to persistent, minute, usually lanceolate;
bracteoles minute or absent.
fragrant, not typically papilionaceous;
calyx funnel-shaped, pubescent, lobes 5;
corolla white [yellow-white or pink], sometimes becoming purple, slightly irregular, petals scarcely differentiated, subequal, eglandular, glabrous;
stamens 10, visible, diadelphous, filaments connate ca. 1/2 their lengths;
anthers basifixed;
style bent apically, often with gland at bend or near tip;
stigma capitate.
legumes, subsessile to short-stalked, laterally compressed, ovoid-ellipsoid, oblong, or oblong-lanceolate, indehiscent, glabrous.
1(or 2), obovoid, oblanceolate, or oblong-subreniform to falcate-ellipsoid.
= 10.
Eysenhardtia
Eysenhardtia orthocarpa
Species 10–15 (3 in the flora).
Eysenhardtia is a complicated genus with unclear species boundaries, especially in Mexico. It is closely related to Amorpha, Apoplanesia, Errazurizia, and Parryella, all members of the papilionoid tribe Amorpheae (M. McMahon and L. Hufford 2004).
The Mexican Eysenhardtia polystachya is reputed to be a New World source of lignum nephriticum, which was used to treat kidney ailments (J. M. Lang and D. Isely 1982). Wood chips from this plant, placed in water, produce a solution that fluoresces blue in bright light. The tropical Asian Pterocarpus indicus Willdenow also has been a source of lignum nephriticum. The chemical properties of these fluorescent solutions were described by M. Muyskens (2006).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 2 (1 in the flora).
In the United States, only the widespread, typical variety of Eysenhardtia orthocarpa is native; var. tenuifolia Lang is found only in Mexico (J. M. Lang and D. Isely 1982; R. McVaugh 1987; F. Shreve and I. L. Wiggins 1964 [treated as E. reticulata Pennell]).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Shrubs, to 1 m; styles eglandular; racemes 1–3.5 cm; legumes ascending, straight, ovoid-ellipsoid, lengths less than or equal to 2 times widths, not flattened; seeds completely filling fruit, slightly compressed, edges blunt; leaves (0.5–)1–2.5(–3) cm, leaflets (5 or)7–15(or 17), blades 1–4(–5) mm, abaxial surfaces with glands of similar size; w Texas. | E. spinosa |
1. Shrubs or trees, 1.5–5 m; styles with glands near tip; racemes 3–11(–16) cm; legumes ascending or reflexed, straight or falcate, oblong or oblong-lanceoloid, lengths more than or equal to 3 times widths, flattened throughout or near base; seeds filling 1/2 or 2/3 of fruit, slightly or strongly compressed, edges blunt or sharp; leaves (1–)2–10(–14) cm, leaflets (7–)13–35(–47), blades 3–20 mm, abaxial surfaces with some glands much larger than others; Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. | → 2 |
2. Leaflet blades with largest abaxial glands along midvein and margins; legumes ascending, flattened near base; seeds filling ca. 2/3 of fruit, slightly compressed, edges blunt; Texas. | E. texana |
2. Leaflet blades with largest abaxial glands randomly scattered; legumes reflexed, entire fruit appearing flattened; seeds filling ca. 1/2 of fruit, strongly compressed, edges sharp; Arizona, New Mexico. | E. orthocarpa |
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