Chamaecrista absus

Musandiwa, Liada, Magee, Anthony R. & Boatwright, James S., 2022, A Taxonomic Revision of Chamaecrista (Caesalpinioideae, Cassieae, Cassiinae) in Southern Africa, Systematic Botany (Basel, Switzerland) 47 (4), pp. 992-1011 : 996-997

1. CHAMAECRISTA ABSUS (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby , Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 35(2): 664 (1982);

Brummitt in Fl. Zambesiaca 3(2): 125 (2007). Cassia absus L. , Sp. Pl. 1: 376 (1753); Oliv. in F. T. A. 2: 297 (1871); Steyaert in F. C.B. 3: 507 (1952); Brenan in F.T.E.A Legum.-Caesalp.: 81 (1967); Gordon-Gray in F.S.A. 16(2): 95 (1977); Brummitt in Fl. Zambesiaca 3(2): (2007).

TYPE: INDIA. Aegypto, Linn. No. 528.4 (lectotype: LINN, designated by De Wit (1956)).

Annual herbs to 0.55 m tall, whole plant glandular. Stems erect, slightly woody at base, densely covered with fine, short, curved and straight scattered hairs. Leaves paripinnate, 15–55(70) × 10–45(95) mm; stipules linear, 2–4 × 0.5 mm, covered with long soft hairs; extrafloral nectaries on the petiole lacking; rachis faintly channelled, with linear extrafloral nectaries between each pair of leaflets, ± 1 mm long. Leaflets 2-jugate, 7–45 × 3–35 mm, with black pitted dots on lamina, elliptic to obovate, base oblique, rounded at apex, uppermost pair usually the largest; margin ciliate. Inflorescence terminal, 1–8 flowered; flowers 4–6 × 3–4 mm; bracts ± 3 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, ovate, cordate at base, apex acuminate; bracteoles 2, glandular. Pedicels with long straight hairs, at flowering 3–5 mm long, at fruiting 5–8 mm long. Sepals 5, oblanceolate, 4–6 × 1–2 mm, glandular on the outside. Petals 5, broadly obovate, ± 6 × 1.5–2.0 mm, yellow or reddish. Stamens 5, straight or slightly curved, anthers in two series, 1(2) small 1.5–2.0 mm long, (3)4 large 3 mm long, filaments ± 2 mm long. Ovary ± 5 mm densely covered with white hairs; style glabrous, 2 mm long, slightly curved. Pods oblong, 30–50 × 6–8 mm, glandular, flattened, straight to slightly curved, with scattered straight hairs. Seeds 3–5 × 3–4 mm, elliptic, sub-rhomboid, flattened, shiny, black or brown.

Diagnostic Characters — Chamaecrista absus is unique among the species of Chamaecrista in southern Africa, distinguished by its glandular stems, two pairs of leaflets ( Fig. 2A ), the absence of extrafloral nectaries on the petiole, and 5 stamens. The flowers are small with yellow or reddish petals. Usually, 5 or up to 6 stamens have been recorded for this species (e.g. Brummitt et al. 2007), whereas other Chamaecrista species in southern Africa have 8 to 10 stamens. The pods are glandular, with scattered hairs.

Distribution and Ecology — Chamaecrista absus is widespread in tropical Africa, South Asia, and Australia ( Brummitt et al. 2007). In southern Africa, C. absus is widespread and common from Namutoni in Namibia, extending to Botswana (Maun and Gaborone) and beyond the region to Zimbabwe. The species is also common in South Africa, largely distributed in the Limpopo Province, along to Mpumalanga and extending to Rustenburg in the North West Province ( Fig. 4 ). It grows in open grassland or forest areas, often on rocky or sandy soil at elevations below 1550 m. Flowering from December to July.

Additional Specimens Examined — Namibia. —1714 (Ruacana Falls): Etoto hill, on S slope (–CA), 7 Mar 2003, Schubert SS60 ( PRE) ; ca. 60 km NW of Oshakati on the Ruacana Road (–DA), Mar 1975, Vahrmeijer 2613 ( PRE) . 1715 (Ondangwa): Ogongo Agricultural Collage (–CB), 26 Feb 1978, Van Jaarsveld 2986 ( NBG) . 1717 (Omboloko): communal land, E of Plot 1 outside Agriculture extension office fence (–CA), 6 Apr 2000, TPS798 ( WIND) . 1718 (Nkurenkuru): Calcrete Road between Mpambi and Mpungu Vlei, ca 10 km S of Okavango River (–AD), 7 Feb 1999, Burke 994 ( WIND) ; Omuramba at Dikweya (–CB), 8 April 2002, Uiras MU760 ( PRE) . 1720 (Sambo): Ndonga camp at the junction of Omuramba Omatako and Okavango River (–CD), 12 Dec 1956, De Winter 4617 ( WIND) . 1723 (Singalamwe): near Kwando River, at the turn off to Bum Hill campsite (–CD), 5 Mar 2006, Horn HOR2/384 ( WIND) . 1724 (Katima Mulilo): Ikowe, along Mulapos and Pools (–AA), 6 Nov 1972, Mcferren 28 ( PRE) ; Forestry Reserve, W of Katima Mulilo (–AD), 12 Feb 1988, Maggs 231 ( WIND) ; ca. 11.26 km S of Katima Mulilo on road to Ngoma (–DC), 22 Feb 1958, Killiok & Leistner 3022 ( WIND) ; Bukana to Lusikili (–DA), 1 Mar 1982, Muller 1837 ( WIND) . 1816 (Namutoni): next to the main road Oshivelo/Ondwangwa (–BD), 26 Mar 1999, Mannheimer 687 ( PRE) ; 17 km from Tsumeb on road to Otavi (–DB), 9 Feb 1974, Grobbelaar 1895 ( PRE) ; 8 km from Tsumeb on road to Otavi (–DB), 9 Feb 1974, Grobbelaar 1907 ( PRE) ; 40 miles (ca. 64.3 km) SE of Ondangua on road to Namutori (–DD), 13 Feb 1959, De Winter & Giess 6950 ( PRE) . 1817 (Tsitsabis): farm Sachsenheim (–CA), 2 Apr 2002, Uiras MU524 ( PRE) ; along the main road from Farm Sachsenheim to Oshivelo (–CA), 3 Apr 2002, Uiras MU526 ( PRE) . 1819 (Karakuwisa): along the road next to Mile 46 Research Station at Observatory (–AD), 8 Feb 2002, Strohbach BS5330 ( WIND) ; between Chassie and Gautscha Pan (–BA), 19 Dec 1952, Maguire 2119 ( PRE) . 1821 (Andara): Popa Falls Rest Camp (–BA), 21 Feb 1988, Hines 956 ( PRE) ; southern Border of Mahango Game Reserve on the floodplain margin (–BC), 22 Feb 1988, Hines 983 ( PRE) . 1916 (Gobaub): near Merwe Farm, ca. 20 km W of Otavi on road to Outjo (–DB), 9 Mar 1997, Germishuizen 9529 ( PRE) . 1918 (Grootfontein): 13 miles (ca. 20.9 km) from Grootfontein to Tsumeb (–AC), 3 Apr 1965, Tolken & Hardy 934 ( PRE) ; 15 km W of Grootfontein after Tsumeb (–CA), 3 Apr 1965, Giess 8572 ( PRE) ; Farm Olievenhof, GR 215 Palmenflache (–CB), 26 Apr 1963, Giess, Volk & Bleisssner 6513 ( WIND) . 1920 (Tsumkwe): ca. 8 km E of the Dorsland Boom (–BC), 21 Jan 1987, Hines 898 ( PRE) . 2016 (Otjiwatongo): Farm Jan Helpman (–BB), 29 Apr 2001, Strohbach 931 ( WIND) ; Otjikango Farm, 48 km turn off on road to Kalkfeld (–CA), 13 Mar 1997, Germishuizen 9778 ( PRE) ; Farm Okonjima (–DC), 26 Mar 2004, Hoffman LH1102 ( WIND) . 2017 (Waterberg): Tjozondjupa (–AB), 20 Jun 2008, Lushetile 170 ( WIND) . 2018 (Gunib): Omuramba Omatako (–DA), 9 May 2001, Uiras MU312 ( WIND) . 2115 (Karibib): Omaruru (–BA), 14/15 Feb 1958, Merxmuller & Giess 1592 ( PRE) ; Farm Okandjou, 105.30 km NW of Omaruru (–BC), 26 April 1968, Wanntorp 1038 ( PRE) ; Ameib Ranch (–DC), 15 Mar 1988, Goldblatt & Manning 8817 ( PRE) . 2118 (Steinhausen): Farm Kalidona OK 277 (–AC), 23 Apr 1961, Gaerdes 4 ( WIND) . 2219 (Eiseb): next to road Elandsbult-Babi Babi area (–BD), 19 Mar 1999, Theron 4a ( WIND) .

Botswana. —1922 (Nukaneng): Xamatshaa Island (–BB), 18 Feb 1975, Smith 1263 ( PRE) . 1923 (Maun): Okavango Delta, 12 km on road from Moremi to Chobe (–AA), 29 Jan 1994, Roodt 39 ( PRE) ; Chiefs Island (–AC), 26 Dec 1973, Biggs M 469 ( PRE) ; on road from Moremi to Chobe (–BC), 29 Jan 1994, Roodt 39 ( PRE) ; Island, Boro Floodplain (–CA), 22 Feb 1974, Biggs M 512 ( PRE) . 2425 (Gaborone): Polokwe Hills (–CD), 12 Apr 1995, Acocks 43 ( PRE) ; river bank north west of Runtu (–DA), 4 Mar 1956, Marais 1128 ( PRE) ; Gaborone Dam (–DB), 3 Feb 1996, Vega & Roduhr 2 ( PRE) . 2426 (Mochudi): Bechuanaland Protectorate (–AC), Apr 1914, Harbor 6584 ( PRE) ; Mochudi (–AC), Oct 1914, Harbor 14079 ( PRE) ; Bechuanaland Protectorate (–AC), without date, Rogers 13835 ( PRE) .

Zimbabwe. —1731 (Harare): Makabuzi hillside (–AB), 19 Jan 1963, Moll 520 ( NU) .

South Africa. — LIMPOPO: 2229 (Waterpoort): Greefswaldt (–AB), 8 Jan 1974, Theron 2886 ( PRE), 8 Jan 1974, Theron 2897 ( PRE) ; Messina, ca. 56 miles (ca. 90.1 km) NW of Farm Greefswald (–AB), 8 Jan 1974, Pienaar 383 ( PRE) ; Messina, ca. 56 miles (ca. 90.1 km) NW of Farm Greefswald (–AB), 8 Jan 1974, Pienaar 373 ( PRE) ; Breslau farm 3.2 km, near Pontdrift (–AC), 7 May 2000, Straub 788 ( PRE) ; Matolege E of Groot Kop (–BB), 20 Jan 2006, Van der Walt 273 ( PRE) . 2230 (Messina): Albasini Dam (–AA), 4 Apr 1971, Stephen 1587 ( PRE) ; Messina (–AC), May 1918, Rogers 20789 ( PRE) ; Waterberg (–AC), 15 Oct 1929, Turner 2 ( PRE) . 2327 (Ellisras): Ellisras, Matimba (–DA), 27 Feb 1984, Westfall 1664 ( PRE) ; Ellingtpon Ranch, Toulon farm (–DA), 25 Mar 1990, Schmidt 300 ( PRE) ; 33 km S of Ellisras on road to Thabazimbi (–DC), 1 May 2004, Meyer 4387 ( PRE) . 2328 (Baltimore): Swartwater, Farm Doornkraal LR 015 (–AA), 5 Feb 2004, Sebothoma & Winter 507 ( PRE) ; Swartwater, Farm Doornkraal LR 015 (–AA), 5 Feb 2004, Sebothoma & Winter 497 ( PRE) ; Calmar Ranch, Farm (–BA), 2 Mar 2004, Bester 4730 ( PRE) ; Calmar Ranch, Calmar Farm (–BA), 3 Mar 2004, Steyn 461 ( PRE) . 2329 (Pietersburg) [Polokwane]: Louis Trichardt [Makhado ] (–BB), Mar 1919, Breijer 19555 ( PRE) ; Soutpansberg, Blouberg Nature Reserve (–DA), 6 Jan 1988, Klopper 527 ( PRE) ; 23 km from Duiwelskloof on road to Pietersburg [Polokwane ] (–DB), 20 Mar 1980, Germishuizen 1349 ( PRE) . 2330 (Tzaneen): Duiwelskloof [Modjadjiskloof ] (–CA), Mar 1960, Scheepers SKF165 ( PRE) ; Letaba (–CA), 6 Feb 1960, Scheepers 891 ( PRE) ; Letaba Estate, Tzaneen (–CC), 13 Apr 1965, Grobbelaar 16282 ( PRE) ; Sibasa (–CD), Mar 1920, Junod 21210 ( PRE) ; Hans Merensky Nature Reserve (–DA), 20 Dec 1983, De Beer 142 ( PRE) . 2331 (Phalaborwa): Punda Maria (–CA), 30 Apr 1953, Schijff 2956 ( PRE) ; Silongwe 23 LU, 10 km N of Phalaborwa (–CC), 12 Feb 1984, Retief 230 ( PRE) ; Kruger National Park, Letaba River (–CD), 1 Dec 2006, Siebert & Siebert 152 ( PRE) . 2428 (Nylstroom): Farm Doornkraal (–AA), 5 Feb 2004, Sebothoma 507 ( PRE) ; Nylstroom, Visgat, Farm Waterhoutkloof (–AA), 15 Mar 1987, Westfall 2252 ( PRE) ; 15 km from Vaalwater on road to Melkriver side (–AB), 08 Mar 1978, Germishuizen 706 ( PRE) ; 9 km NE of Vaalwater on road to Malkrivier (–AC), 5 Mar 1985, Welman 518 ( PRE) ; 25 miles (ca. 40.2 km) along turnoff to Sterk River Settlement from National road between Naboomspruit & Potgieterstrust (–BA), 17 Mar 1972, Clarke 361 ( PRE) ; Nylstroom Sterkrivier Dam Nature Reserve (–BC), 10 Feb 1972, Jacobsen 2213 ( PRE) ; Vaalwater, Mooimeisiesfontein farm (–BD), 23 Mar 1991, Glen 2607 ( PRE) ; Warmbaths (–BC), Mar 1909, Leendertz 6532 ( PRE) ; Waterberg (–CD), Jan 1906, Bolus 11858 ( PRE) ; hills around Warmbaths [Bela-Bela ] (–CD), Apr 1945, Gerstner 5303 ( PRE) ; Nylsvley, between Naboomspruit and Nylstroom (–DA), 9 Mar 1976, Grobbelaar 2041 ( PRE) ; 8 miles (ca. 12.8 km) from Nylstroom on road to Naboomspruit (–DA), 15 Mar 1971, Coeteer 18 ( NBG) ; Nylstroom Nature Reserve (–DA), 9 Mar 1978, Grobbelaar 02422 (01245) ( PRE) . 2429 (Zebediela): Fenceline, ca. 18 km WSW of Phalaborwa (–AA), 16 Jan 2009, LWP 1755 ( PRE) ; Roadtan, Farm Sedan (–CB), 9 Feb 1993, Meyer 23 ( PRE) ; Lebowa (–CD), 5 May 1981, Ellery 155 ( PRE) . — NORTH WEST: 2526 (Zeerust): 7 km W of Lindleyspoort along road to Straatsdrif (–DA), 25 Feb 1975, Van der Meulen 230 ( PRE) . 2527 (Rustenburg): Beestekraal Game Reserve (PPC property) ca. 40 km N of Brits (–BA), 28 May 1989, Barker 625 ( PRE) . — GAUTENG: 2528 (Pretoria): Rooikop Bushveld (–CA), 12 Dec 1932, Smuts & Gillett 2050 ( PRE) ; Rooikop Bushveld (–CA), 1 Jan 1933, Smuts & Gillett 2531 ( PRE) ; Farm Vaarwaterkrans, 25.2 km from Pretoria (–CB), 28 Feb 1980, Retief & Herman 150 ( PRE) ; Bronkhorstspruit, Kranspoort Farm W bank of Wilge River (–DB), 15 Jan 1995, Glen 3741 ( PRE) . — MPUMALANGA: 2430 (Pilgrims Rest): Rietvlei Farm W of Blyderivierspoort Dam (–DA), 8 Mar 2000, Meyer 2701 ( PRE) . 2431 (Acornhoek): Kruger National Park (–AD), Mar 1975, Gertenbach 5026 ( PRE) ; Kruger National Park (–BC), Mar 1975, Gertenbach 5051 ( PRE) . 2529 (Witbank): Kwa-Ndebele, Farm Goederede (–AC), 16 Mar 1981, Du Toit 175 ( PRE) ; Laskop Dam (–AD), 5 Mar 1944, Mogg 17263 ( PRE) ; Laskop Dam Nature Reserve (–CC), 17 Mar 1969, Theron 2083 ( PRE) . 2530 (Lydenburg): 5 km from Barberton on road to Nelspruit (–DD), 9 Mar 1989, Germishuizen 5090 ( PRE) . 2531 (Komatipoort): Kruger National Park, near Shabin Kop (–AA), 14 Jan 1953, Acocks 16665 ( PRE) ; Kruger National Park (–AB), 11 Feb 1953, Van der Schijff 2080 ( PRE) ; ca. 8 km East of Malalane on Komatipoort road (–AC), 20 Jan 1966, Buit 3618 ( NU) ; 25.7 km South of Skukuza on Malalane road (–AC), 7 Feb1949, Codd & De Winter 5110 ( PRE) ; Kaapmuiden (Cape Mouth) 2 km from Kudu Lodge on road to Komatipoort (–CB), 11 Mar 1989, Germishuizen 5127 ( PRE) . KwaZulu-Natal. 2731 (Louwsburg): Nongoma, Bululwane (–DB), 25 Apr 1975, Rensburg 28 ( NU) .

Figures

FIG. 2. Variation in size, shape and number of leaflets of the Chamaecrista species. A. C. absus showing a leaf with only two leaflets. B. C. comosa subsp. comosa showing a large leaf bearing wide leaflets. C. C. stricta showing a leaf with narrow leaflets. D, F. C. capensis var. capensis and C. capensis var. flaoescens showing short leaves bearing wide linear to linear oblong leaflets. E. C. plumosa var. erecta showing a leaf with leaflets that are obliquely linear, often with white hairs on the margins. G. C. grandiglandulata showing a leaf with multiple small leaflets. Vouchers: A. Coeteer 18 (NBG). B. Nemando and Musandiaea 22 (NBG). C. Brenan 14186 (NBG). D. Nemando and Musandiaea 42 (NBG). E Musandiaea 18 (NBG). F Nemando and Musandiaea 19 (NBG). G. Brenan 14218 (NBG). Scale bars = 1 cm.

FIG. 4. Known distribution of Chameacrista absus in southern Africa.