Chamaecrista plumosa var. plumosa, E. Mey.

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 : 1008

10a. CHAMAECRISTA PLUMOSA E.Mey. var. PLUMOSA .

Cassia plumosa (E.Mey.) Vogel var. plumosa, Schorn & Gordon-Gray in J.S. Afr. Bot. 41: 153 (1975); Gordon-Gray in F.S.A. 16(2): 104 (1977).

Prostrate and diffusely branched herbs, with several branches from the ground forming spreading mat 0.4 m in diameter. Stems glabrous or sub-glabrous, or with short appressed curved greyish becoming dense at the top parts, often reddish or purplish on one side. Leaves 10–45 × 1–10 mm.

Diagnostic Characters — Chamaecrista plumosa var. plumosa is distinguished by its short prostrate stems, with several branches from the ground forming a spreading mat to 0.4 m in diameter, glabrous or covered with curved appressed greyish hairs, and short leaves, up to 45 mm long.

Distribution and Ecology — Chamaecrista plumosa var. plumosa is widespread in KwaZulu-Natal from Ubombo through Mtubatuba to Port Shepstone ( Fig. 15 ). Flowering from September to March.

Additional Specimens Examined — South Africa. — KWAZULU-NATAL: 2732 (Ubombo): Ingwavuma, Tongaland (–AB), 10 Dec 1968, Pooley 240 ( NU) ; Ingwavuma, Malangeni E of Maputa (–BB), 19 Dec 1966, Martin 065 ( NU) ; Lake Sibaya S Basin area (–BC), 5 Nov 1969, Hart 19 ( NU) ; Mpilo Game Reserve (–CA), 19 Nov 1970, Willo 9 ( PRE) . 2832 (Mtubatuba): Hlabisa, Hluhhuwe Game Reserve (–AA), 28 Nov 1953, Ward 1873 ( PRE) ; Hlabisa, Hluhluwe Nature Reserve (–AA), 6 Oct 1983, Phelan 710 ( NU) ; Hlabisa, Hluhluwe Nature Reserve (–AA), 1 Nov 1962, Scott-Smith 53 ( NU) ; St Lucia E shores (–AD), 8 Dec 1974, Smook 630 ( NU) . 2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Farm Ambleside, New Hanover (–BC), 13 Feb 1976, Abraham 31 ( NU) ; Shongweni Dam, Camperdown (–DC), 21 Feb 1966, Morris 713 ( NU) ; Isipingo N (–DD), Oct 1948, Ward 555 ( NU) . 2931 (Stanger): Tugela River crossing main N. Coast road (–AB), 8 Dec 1973, Stirton 402 ( NU) ; Lower Tugela (–AD), 29 Sep 1974, Stirton 1156 ( PRE) . 3029 (Kokstad): E Griqualand, near Clydesdale (–BD), Mar 1883, Tyson 1167 ( NBG) ; Alfred Harding (–DB), 4 Jan 1964, Lemox s.n. ( NU) . 3030 (Port Shepstone): Umzinto Pennington S Coast (–BB), 5 Jan 6220, Gordon -Gray 6220 ( NU) ; Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (–CB), 6 Feb 1972, Glen 528 ( NU) .

Figures

FIG. 15. Known distribution of Chamaecrista plumosa var. plumosa (O) and C. plumosa var. erecta (-) in southern Africa.