Cordeauxia Hemsl., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1907: 361. 1907

Gagnon, Edeline, Bruneau, Anne, Hughes, Colin E., de Queiroz, Luciano Paganucci & Lewis, Gwilym P., 2016, A new generic system for the pantropical Caesalpinia group (Leguminosae), PhytoKeys 71, pp. 1-160 : 51-52

16. Cordeauxia Hemsl., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1907: 361. 1907 Figs 26 , 27A-E

Type.

Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl.

Description.

Evergreen shrubs, multi-stemmed, to 4 m tall, unarmed, red gland dots on stems. Leaves alternate, pinnate; leaflets in (1-) 2-4 (- 6) pairs per leaf, ovate-oblong, coriaceous, with conspicuous red glands on the lower surface, elliptic-oblong, up to 3 (- 5) × 1.5 (- 2.5) cm. Inflorescence a terminal, few-flowered raceme. Flowers bisexual, sub-actinomorphic; sepals c. 1 cm long, with red gland dots; petals 5, free, yellow, c. 1.5 cm long, clawed; stamens 10, free, filaments pubescent; ovary with red gland dots. Fruit a compressed-ovoid, ligneous, dehiscent pod, 4-6 × 2 cm, with very hard, thick valves, and a cornute beak, 1-4-seeded. Seeds ovoid, 20-45 mm long.

Geographic distribution.

A monospecific genus from NE Africa (Somalia and Ethiopia). Introduced in Israel, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Yemen ( Orwa et al. 2009).

Habitat.

Seasonally dry tropical (semi-desert) bushland and thicket on sand.

Etymology.

Named by Hemsley for Captain H. E. S. Cordeaux (1870-1943), one time H. M. Commissioner in Somalia.

References.

Roti-Michelozzi (1957); Thulin (1983: 20-21; 1993: 348); Brink (2006).

Figures

Figure 26. Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl. A branch with foliage and flowers B flower C petal D stamen E stigma F fruit G seed H seed with testa removed. A, C-E from Thulin & Warfa 4610 B from Hemming 375 F from Wood 2184 G, H from Cordeaux s. n. (type). Drawn by unknown artist.

Figure 27. Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl. A inflorescence B open fruit with seed C undersurface of leaflets showing glands D young seedling (Jarmo Holopainen, cultivated plants in Sweden and Finland, unvouchered) E branch with flowers (M. Thulin, Somalia, unvouchered). Stuhlmannia moavi Taub. F, G inflorescence (R. Randrianaivo, Madagascar, Radrianaivo 1486 (MO, TAN )).