Acacia cornigera (L.) Willd. var. americana
Acacia spadicigera Schltdl. & Cham. , Linnaea 5: 594. 1830
Tauroceras spadicigerum (Schltdl. & Cham.) Britton & Rose , N. Amer. FI. 23: 85. 1928
Acacia campecheana Schenck , Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 361. 1913
Acacia cubensis Schenck , Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 360. 1913
Acacia interjecta Schenck , Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 361. 1913
Acacia nicoyensis Schenck , Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 360. 1913
Acacia rossiana Schenck , Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 361. 1913
Acacia furcella Saff ., J. Wash. Acad. Sei. 4: 359. 1914
Acacia hernandezii Saff ., J. Wash. Acad. Sei. 4: 358. 1914
Acacia turgida Saff . in W. M. Wheeler, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoology Harvard Coll. 90: plate 45, 1942
Taxonomic Revision of the Ant-Acacias (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae, Acacia, Series Gummiferae) of the New World
David S. Seigler
John E. Ebinger
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden
1995
82
117
138
8P2V
(L.) Willdenow
Willdenow
L.
Magnoliopsida
Fabaceae
Acacia
Plantae
Fabales
Tracheophyta
species
cornigera
Acacia cornigera (L.) Willd. var. americanaDC. Prodr. 2: 460. 1825. Acacia spadicigera Schltdl. & Cham., Linnaea 5: 594. 1830. Tauroceras spadicigerum (Schltdl. & Cham.) Britton & Rose, N. Amer. FI. 23: 85. 1928. TYPE: Mexico. Veracruz: near La Laguna Verde, Mar. 1828, Schiede& Deppe 685( lectotype, designated here, US, fragment [ Bdestroyed]). Acacia campecheana Schenck, Repert. Spec. Nov.Regni Veg. 12: 361. 1913. type: Mexico. Campeche: von Chrismar( holotype, Bdestroyed). Acacia cubensis Schenck, Repert. Spec. Nov.Regni Veg. 12: 360. 1913. type: Cuba. N coast, 21 Apr. 1863, C. Wright 2402( lectotype, designated here, USfragment and photo [ Bdestroyed]; isotypes, G, GOET, HAL, JE, K, MO, US). A note on the herbarium sheet (JE) indicates that the seeds he grew came from Martinique. Acacia interjecta Schenck, Repert. Spec. Nov.Regni Veg. 12: 361. 1913. TYPE: Engler 3870a( lectotype, designated here, JE [ Bdestroyed]). Material growing in the Singapore and Kew Botanical Gardens ( Janzen, 1974). Acacia nicoyensis Schenck, Repert. Spec. Nov.Regni Veg. 12: 360. 1913. TYPE: Costa Rica. Guanacaste: shore of the Gulf of Nicoya, sea level, Feb. 1900, A. Tonduz 13538( lectotype, designated here, US [ Bdestroyed]; isotypes, BM, GH, K, NY, US). Acacia rossiana Schenck, Repert. Spec. Nov.Regni Veg. 12: 361. 1913. type: Mexico. Veracruz: Santa Lucrezia, Isthmus of Tehuantepec, 8 Oct. 1906, H. Ross 918( lectotype, designated here, M, photo, US). Acacia furcella Saff., J. Wash. Acad. Sei. 4: 359. 1914. TYPE: Mexico. Veracruz: shore of Lake Catemaco, southernVeracruz, 1000 ft., 26 Apr. 1894, E. W. Nelson 427( holotype, US). Acacia hernandezii Saff., J. Wash. Acad. Sei. 4: 358. 1914. TYPE: Mexico. San Luis Potosi: vicinity of Rascon, 19-22 July 1905, E. Palmer 699( holotype, US; isotypes, F, GH, MO, NY). Acacia turgida Saff. in W. M. Wheeler, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoology Harvard Coll. 90: plate 45, 1942( holotype, plate 45 in Wheeler, 1942).
Shrub or small tree to 10 (rarely 15) m tall, young twigs dark gray to reddish brown, lightly to densely puberulent. Stipular spines light to dark brown to sometimes ivory to yellow, glabrous to densely puberulent, smooth, terete to slightly flattened, symmetrical, commonly V-shaped with an angle of 60-150°, straight to slightly reflexed near the apex, 30-100 mmlong, 4-10 mmthick near the base. Leaves 40-160 mmlong; pinnae 3-14 pairs per leaf, 30-70 mmlong, 7-17 mmbetween pinna pairs; rachis grooved, glabrous to densely puberulent, rachis glands usually absent; petiole grooved, usually puberulent, 5-20 mmlong. Petiolar gland (Fig. 1 F) canoe-shaped, usually solitary, glabrous, striate on the sides, apex 1-4 mmlong, located near the middle to top of the petiole, sometimes a small tubular gland below. Leaflets 15-40 pairs per pinna, glabrous, oblong, 4-11 mmlong, 1.3-2.7 mmwide, 2-3 veins from the base, lateral veins obvious, apex usually mucronate. Inflorescence a densely flowered, cylindrical spike, 20-35 mmlong, 8-11 mmthick near the base and narrowing slightly toward the blunt apex, solitary in the leaf axil, or solitary or in clusters of 2-4 inthe axil of small spines on short, lateral, usually leafless, axillary branches; peduncles glabrous to lightly puberulent, 5-15 mmlong, 2-4 mmthick, thickest just below the inflorescence; involucre usually puberulent, 4-lobed, the lobes spreading, located near the base of the peduncle. Floral bracts peltate, the apex tailed on one side, the stalk 0.7-1.3 mmlong. Flowers sessile; calyx shallowly 5-lobed, glabrous to lightly puberulent on the lobes, 1-1.4 mmlong; corolla glabrous, pale yellow, 1.1-1.5 mmlong, only slightly longer than the calyx. Legume usually straight, mostly terete, 50-90 mmlong, 13-18 mmthick, glabrous to minutely puberulent, usually not strongly longitudinally striate, mostly red to maroon, indehiscent, stipe to 10 mmlong, the apex narrowing to a spinelike beak 20-50 mmlong. Flowering January-July.
Distribution. Wet to relatively dry, mostly disturbed habitats at lower elevations from southern Mexico to Costa Rica.
Representative specimens. BELIZE. Mile 42.5 on Northern Hwy., N of Maskall River, Dwyer 11023( F). COSTA RICA. Guanacaste: NW of Paloverde, Barbudal Hills, Garwood et al. 570( F). EL SALVADOR. Banks of Rio Acelhuate, SE part of San Salvador, 690 m, Carlson 55( F). GUATEMALA. Alla Verapaz: near Pancajche, about 360 m, Standley 70768( F). El Peten: 2 mi. E of Melchor, roadside, Croat 24623( MO). Escuintla: near San Joseat sea level, Standley 64241( F). Retalhuleu: 9 mi. N of Champerico, Harmon 2298( MO). San Marcos: 2 mi. E of the border between Mexico (Puente Talisman) on hwy. 2, Janzen 1045( F, MEX, MO). Suchitepequez: S of Alotenango Farm, 7 mi. S of Tiquisate along rd. within 3 mi. of ocean, 30-50 m, Steyermark 47739( F). HONDURAS. Vegas del Rio Agua, 3 kmde Yoro, 1000 m, Molina R. 6807( F). MEXICO. Campeche: 30 kmE of Campeche on hwy. 261, Seigler et al. 11603( ILL, MEX). Chiapas: Ciudad Cuauhtemoc on hwy. 190, Janzen 499( F, MEX). Guerrero: 1 mi. NW Cuajinicuilapa, Johnson 740-79( WIS). Oaxaca: Capilla, N end of lake behind Presa Aleman, W of Tierra Blanca, Janzen 1937( F, MO, WIS). Quintana Roo: 52 mi. W of jet. of Mexico 307 & 186 on hwy. 186, Seigler et al. 11594( ILL, MEX). San Luis Potosi: Barrio de San Juan, Tamazunchale, Edwards 600( F, MO). Tamaulipas: Tampico, Rujal rd., Kenoyer 791( F). Veracruz: Zacuapan, Purpas 7748( GH, MO). Yucatan: Izarnal, Greenman 379( GH). NICARAGUA. Laguna de Masaya, a 2 kmde la entrada, Araquistain& Moreno 593( MEX).
Acacia cornigerais probably the best known of the ant-acacias. It is easily separated from other ant-acacias by having peltate floral bracts in which the apex is tailed on one side. Also, the presence of canoe-shaped petiolar glands separates this taxon from all ant-acacias except A. mayanaand A. sphaerocephala. The presence of obvious secondary venation in the leaflets and the relatively thick cylindrical inflorescences separate this taxon from A. sphaerocephala, while the smaller leaflets and the lack of longitudinal flanges on the stipular spines separate it from A. mayana. Acacia cornigerais a highly variable species that occurs in a wide range of habitats. This morphological diversity has resulted in an extensive synonymy, which is discussed by Rudd (1964). It is the most common of the ant-acacias, and its geographic range is almost as extensive as that of A. collinsii. It is relatively common in riparian and swamp habitats and is the common ant-acacia in fallow fields, pastures, roadsides, and other disturbed sites from sea level to about 1200 m( Janzen, 1967a, b). Some of its present distribution has been caused by the dissemination of seeds by birds, people, and cattle into secondary growth vegetation. The present distribution of this species into the drier parts of the Yucatan peninsula is probably due to introduction by humans, since most collections are from around settlements, cattle corrals, and Indian ruins. It has also become naturalized on the Caribbean islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Cuba, as well as in extreme southern Florida. Beltian body production in Acacia cornigerais typical of that found in ant-acacias that inhabit more open sites. Generally, these bodies are relatively small, 0.5-0.9 mmlong, 0.4-0.6 mmwide, and are present on more than half of the leaflets. Since individuals of this species are usually occupied by obligate acacia-ants, the Beltian bodies are rarely seen because they are usually "harvested"as soon as the young leaves develop. Of the more than 250 herbarium specimens of this species examined, none tested positive for cyanide production. Also, numerous living specimens have been tested, usually with negative results. Leaves of Acacia cornigerahave been reported to contain a ss-glucosidase( Rehr et al., 1973). It appears that the hydrolytic enzyme necessary for the liberation of HCN is present, but the cyanogenic glycoside is absent. Living material from two populations of this species collected near Canas, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, gave a very weak positive test for cyanide ( Seigler & Ebinger, 1987). Dried material from these same individuals gave a negative test with and without emulsin. Janzen (1974)reported seeing a single plant of A. cornigera x A. sphaerocephalaon the dunes south of Veracruz, Mexico, and suggested that A. cornigeramay occasionally hybridize with A. chiapensis. It is also possible that this species may occasionally hybridize with the non-ant-acacia A. pennatula( Ebinger & Seigler, 1992).
923902208
BM
Linnaeus
Netherlands
the garden of George Clifford, between Haarlem and Leyden
8
125
1
holotype
923902200
US
Linnaeus
Netherlands
the garden of George Clifford, between Haarlem and Leyden
8
125
1
holotype
923902204
1828-03
US
Schiede, Deppe
Mexico
near La Laguna Verde
8
125
685
1
Veracruz
lectotype
923902202
1828-03
B
Schiede, Deppe
Mexico
near La Laguna Verde
8
125
685
Veracruz
holotype
923902212
B
von Chrismar
Mexico
Campeche
8
125
Campeche
holotype
923902211
1863-04-21
US
C. Wright
Cuba
N coast
8
125
2402
1
lectotype
923902209
1863-04-21
B
C. Wright
Cuba
N coast
8
125
2402
1
holotype
923902216
1863-04-21
G
C. Wright
Cuba
N coast
8
125
2402
1
isotype
923902219
1863-04-21
GOET
C. Wright
Cuba
N coast
8
125
2402
1
isotype
923902207
1863-04-21
HAL
C. Wright
Cuba
N coast
8
125
2402
1
isotype
923902218
1863-04-21
JE
C. Wright
Cuba
N coast
8
125
2402
1
isotype
923902205
1863-04-21
K
C. Wright
Cuba
N coast
8
125
2402
1
isotype
923902215
1863-04-21
MO
C. Wright
Cuba
N coast
8
125
2402
1
isotype
923902221
1863-04-21
US
C. Wright
Cuba
N coast
8
125
2402
1
lectotype
923902232
JE
Engler
Singapore
8
125
3870 a
1
lectotype
923902223
B
Engler
Singapore
8
125
3870 a
holotype
923902220
1900-02
US
A. Tonduz
Costa Rica
0 m
shore of the Gulf of Nicoya
8
125
13538
1
Guanacaste
lectotype
923902222
1900-02
B
A. Tonduz
Costa Rica
0 m
shore of the Gulf of Nicoya
8
125
13538
Guanacaste
holotype
923902217
1900-02
BM
A. Tonduz
Costa Rica
0 m
shore of the Gulf of Nicoya
8
125
13538
1
Guanacaste
isotype
923902238
1900-02
GH
A. Tonduz
Costa Rica
0 m
shore of the Gulf of Nicoya
8
125
13538
1
Guanacaste
isotype
923902206
1900-02
K
A. Tonduz
Costa Rica
0 m
shore of the Gulf of Nicoya
8
125
13538
1
Guanacaste
isotype
923902234
1900-02
NY
A. Tonduz
Costa Rica
0 m
shore of the Gulf of Nicoya
8
125
13538
1
Guanacaste
isotype
923902203
1900-02
US
A. Tonduz
Costa Rica
0 m
shore of the Gulf of Nicoya
8
125
13538
1
Guanacaste
isotype
923902201
1906-10-08
M
H. Ross
Mexico
Santa Lucrezia, Isthmus of Tehuantepec
8
125
918
1
Veracruz
lectotype
923902224
1906-10-08
US
H. Ross
Mexico
Santa Lucrezia, Isthmus of Tehuantepec
8
125
918
Veracruz
lectotype
923902240
1894-04-26
US
E. W. Nelson
Mexico
1000 ft
9
126
shore of Lake Catemaco, southern Veracruz
8
125
427
1
Veracruz
holotype
923902227
1905-07-19
1905-07-22
1905-07-19
US
E. Palmer
Mexico
vicinity of Rascon
9
126
699
1
San Luis Potosi
holotype
923902229
1905-07-19
1905-07-22
1905-07-19
F
E. Palmer
Mexico
vicinity of Rascon
9
126
699
1
San Luis Potosi
isotype
923902225
1905-07-19
1905-07-22
1905-07-19
GH
E. Palmer
Mexico
vicinity of Rascon
9
126
699
1
San Luis Potosi
isotype
923902241
1905-07-19
1905-07-22
1905-07-19
MO
E. Palmer
Mexico
vicinity of Rascon
9
126
699
1
San Luis Potosi
isotype
923902231
1905-07-19
1905-07-22
1905-07-19
NY
E. Palmer
Mexico
vicinity of Rascon
9
126
699
1
San Luis Potosi
isotype
4418981301
9
126
holotype
923902242
F
Dwyer
Belize
Mile 42.5 on Northern Hwy., N of Maskall River
9
126
11023
1
923902239
F
Garwood et al.
Costa Rica
NW of Paloverde, Barbudal Hills
9
126
570
1
Guanacaste
923902236
F
Carlson
El Salvador
690 m
Banks of Rio Acelhuate, SE part of San Salvador
9
126
55
1
923902233
F
Standley
Guatemala
360 m
near Pancajche
9
126
70768
1
Alla Verapaz
923902243
MO
Croat
Guatemala
2 mi. E of Melchor
9
126
24623
1
El Peten
923902237
F
Standley
Guatemala
0 m
near San Jose
9
126
64241
1
Escuintla
923902235
MO
Harmon
Guatemala
9 mi. N of Champerico
9
126
2298
1
Retalhuleu
923902247
F
Janzen
Mexico
2 mi. E of the border between Mexico (Puente Talisman) on hwy. 2
9
126
1045
1
San Marcos
923902257
MEX
Janzen
Mexico
2 mi. E of the border between Mexico (Puente Talisman) on hwy. 2
9
126
1045
1
San Marcos
923902249
MO
Janzen
Mexico
2 mi. E of the border between Mexico (Puente Talisman) on hwy. 2
9
126
1045
1
San Marcos
923902250
F
Steyermark
Mexico
30 - 50 m
S of Alotenango Farm, 7 mi. S of Tiquisate along rd. within 3 mi. of ocean
9
126
47739
1
Suchitepequez
923902245
F
Molina R.
Honduras
1000 m
Vegas del Rio Agua, 3 km de Yoro
9
126
6807
1
923902244
ILL
Seigler et al.
Mexico
30 km E of Campeche on hwy. 261
9
126
11603
1
Campeche
923902264
MEX
Seigler et al.
Mexico
30 km E of Campeche on hwy. 261
9
126
11603
1
Campeche
923902228
F
Janzen
Mexico
Ciudad Cuauhtemoc on hwy. 190
9
126
499
1
Chiapas
923902266
MEX
Janzen
Mexico
Ciudad Cuauhtemoc on hwy. 190
9
126
499
1
Chiapas
923902226
WIS
Johnson
Mexico
1 mi. NW Cuajinicuilapa
9
126
740 - 79
1
Guerrero
923902230
F
Janzen
Mexico
Capilla, N end of lake behind Presa Aleman, W of Tierra Blanca
9
126
1937
1
Oaxaca
923902246
MO
Janzen
Mexico
Capilla, N end of lake behind Presa Aleman, W of Tierra Blanca
9
126
1937
1
Oaxaca
923902261
WIS
Janzen
Mexico
Capilla, N end of lake behind Presa Aleman, W of Tierra Blanca
9
126
1937
1
Oaxaca
923902253
ILL
Seigler et al.
Mexico
52 mi. W of jet. of Mexico 307 & 186 on hwy. 186
9
126
11594
1
Quintana Roo
923902254
MEX
Seigler et al.
Mexico
52 mi. W of jet. of Mexico 307 & 186 on hwy. 186
9
126
11594
1
Quintana Roo
923902252
F
Edwards
Mexico
Barrio de San Juan, Tamazunchale
9
126
600
1
San Luis Potosi
923902265
MO
Edwards
Mexico
Barrio de San Juan, Tamazunchale
9
126
600
1
San Luis Potosi
923902259
F
Kenoyer
Mexico
Tampico, Rujal rd.
9
126
791
1
Tamaulipas
923902267
GH
Purpas
Mexico
Zacuapan
9
126
7748
1
Veracruz
923902260
MO
Purpas
Mexico
Zacuapan
9
126
7748
1
Veracruz
923902262
GH
Greenman
Mexico
Izarnal
9
126
379
1
Yucatan
923902258
MEX
Araquistain, Moreno
Nicaragua
Laguna de Masaya, a 2 km de la entrada
9
126
593
1