Sapindus drummondii var. drummondii

Franck, Alan R., 2024, Revision of Sapindus sect. Sapindus (Sapindeae, Sapindoideae, Sapindaceae), including the description of three new species, Phytotaxa 648 (1), pp. 1-71 : 17-19

2a. Sapindus drummondii var. drummondii ( Figure 6 ).

Description:—Tree, to 20 m tall, bark texture finely roughened with numerous irregular longitudinal fissures breaking the bark up into longitudinal strips or scales and becoming somewhat platy on larger trees. Petiole 2–7 cm long, glabrate, puberulent, to villosulous, light green, unwinged; rachis moderately pubescent to glabrate, unwinged or wing to 2.5 mm wide on one side of the rachis; leaflets 10–20; petiolule 0–7 mm long, densely villous to villous-pubescent; leaflet blade narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, strongly asymmetric to nearly symmetric, falcate to nearly straight, the apex acuminate with an acute to bluntly acute tip, 2–14 cm long, 0.6–3 cm wide, 2.5–17 times longer than wide, adaxially drying green, olive green, to brown-green, glabrous to puberulent, midrib pale yellow to pale green, at mid-blade the ridge ca. 0.1 mm wide, ca. 0.1 mm high, the blade even with the midrib base or scarcely sunken along the midrib, secondary veins pale green, tertiary venation prominulous to obscure, intermediate in color between blade surface and secondary veins, quaternary venation becoming obscure, abaxially drying pale green, moderately pubescent, along the midrib proximally densely villous to villous-pubescent, midrib pale yellow, secondary veins prominent, pale green, tertiary venation prominulous, nearly concolorous with the blade surface, quaternary venation obscure; exudates clear, inconspicuous to conspicuous abaxially on the blade surface. Petal with 2 appendages. Mature mericarp subglobse, 0.8–1.4 cm wide, seed 6–9 mm wide.

Distribution, habitat, and phenology:— USA (Louisiana west to Arizona, north to Colorado, Kansas and Missouri); northwestern Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora) ( Fig. 3 ), 10–1500 m. Arroyos, bajada, bosque encino, bottomland forest, canyon bottom, deciduous forest, desert scrub, limestone glade, matorral, mesquite bosque, and riparian woodland. Flowering April–July.

Notes:— Sapindus drummondii var. drummondii is easily distinguishable vegetatively from the other species of Sapindus . The usually smaller and more numerous leaflets are densely villous along the petiolule and base of the midrib, abaxially. The hairiness of the rest of the leaflet can vary from otherwise glabrous to pubescent throughout. Plants are often clonal ( Simpson 1988, Gilman & Watson 1994, McNair & Andresen 2020). The taxon has been called dioecious ( Simpson 1988), but probably the trees are duodichogamous and Simpson (1988) observed only one sexual phase.

Trunks of small trees of S. drummondii var. drummondii can be strongly longitudinally fissured and platy ( Settergren & McDermott 1964) unlike similar-sized trees of other species of Sapindus . The species was included in a key to leafless winter twigs of the southwestern USA (Little, Jr. 1951). The Sapindus reported by Leavenworth (1845) from Oklahoma must be var. drummondii . Sprague (1849) provided a detailed illustration of the plant’s morphology from a Texas specimen.

The variety has been cultivated outside its native range in the USA, e.g. Alabama, District of Columbia, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee (specimens cited below). The tree was cultivated in Alabama as early as 1893 (Mohr s.n.) and Georgia as early as 1901 (Cuthbert s.n.). One specimen from Alabama was said to be “Adventive near an old place in the pine hills” and “most probably an escape from cultivation” ( Mohr 1901). A specimen was collected by Hume in “mixed woods” from southern Walton County in the Florida panhandle, probably escaped or persistent from cultivation .

Phaeostrymon alcestis ( Lepidoptera ) feeds on the leaves of S. drummondii var. drummondii , and it apparently is unknown on any other species of Sapindus ( McNair & Andresen 2020) . Agrilus prionurus ( Coleoptera ) is considered a recent pest of S. drummondii var. drummondii in the USA, feeding on the inner bark ( Billings et al. 2014), and it may be native to northeastern Mexico ( Westcott & Hespenheide 2006), where S. drummondii var. glabratus occurs. Jadera haematoloma ( Hemiptera ) feeds on the seeds of S. drummondii var. drummondii , but, notably, in South Florida ( USA) J. haemataloma feeds on Cardiospermum Linnaeus (1753: 366) and not on S. saponaria ( Carroll & Loye 1987) . Porcupines sometimes feed on the inner bark of stems of S. drummondii var. drummondii ( Caire et al. 2008) .

Conservation Status:—This widespread variety should be categorized as Least Concern ( IUCN 2012), given the large extent of occurrence ( IUCN 2012).

Specimens examined:— MEXICO. Chihuahua: vicinity of Chihuahua, 5-10 June 1908, Palmer 339 ( MO) ; Presa near Chihuahua, 24 June 1936, LeSueur 1191 ( BRIT, F) ; vicinity of Fierro, 4 km SE of Rancho Encinillas, Sierra de Encinillas , 8-9 July 1941, Stewart 770 ( F) ; La Bufa region, south side of Barranca de Batopilas , 3 October 1972, Bye 2894 ( MICH) ; East end of Canyon de la Santa Clara, Sierra Compana , 4 mi. W est of MExico Hwy 45, at Restaurante Parrita , KM 92 , 6 July 1974, Engard & Getz 275 ( SBBG); S side of Lago Toronto, 24.5 km from El Tigre, Johnston et al. 11415 ( SD) ; 8 km al S de Chihuahua, por la carretera a Delicias , 1400 m, 10 May 1997, Yen & Estrada 7046 ( BRIT) . Coahuila: Diaz, 27 June 1901, Rose & Hay 5255 ( US); Allende , 10 May 1939, Marsh, Jr. 1808 ( BRIT, F) ; Sierra de San Antonio, San Antonio de los Alamos , 2–3 September 1940, Johnston & Muller 916 ( MICH) ; between Rancho Sierra Hermosa and Rancho Columbia, west of Piedras Negras , 25 June 1952, Gould 6468 ( MICH) . Durango : April 1909, Patoni-Ochoterena 4739 ( MEXU) . Sonora: Chirillon , 20 June 1855, Schott s.n. ( F) ; Alamo, N Magdalena, 22 May 1925, Kennedy 7093 ( US); Cañon de Santa Rosa , east of El Tigre , 15 July 1938, White 504 ( MICH) ; near Colonia Oaxaca , 30 July 1938, White 693 ( MICH) ; Cañón de Bavispe , 25 July 1940, White 3025 ( MICH) ; Cañon del Agua Amarga , 30-31 August 1940, White 3588 ( MICH) . USA. Alabama: Hale: Gallion, June 1893, Mohr s.n. [cultivated] ( US). Mobile : on the road to the Bienville Waterworks , October 1886, Mohr s.n. [cultivated/escaped?] ( UNA) . Arizona: Cochise County: Cienega Ranch , 32° 10.855’ N, 109° 31.030’ W, 18 July 2016, Roll CR0073 ( ASU) . Coconino County: 9 mi. E of Sedona , 8 September 1943, Dearing & Dearing 5649 ( SBBG) . Gila County: near Rock and Rye Creeks , [s.d.], Collom s.n. ( MICH) . Maricopa County: Queen Creek , 2 June 1935, Whitehead 1353 ( MICH) ; W of Mill Ave. near 13th Street , 28 May 1970, Keil 6393 [cultivated] ( FLAS) . Pima County: Tucson, Santa Cruz , 30 May 1932, Shreve s.n. ( MICH) . Santa Cruz County: Santa Cruz Valley , 25 May 1881, Pringle s.n. ( CINC, MICH) ; Madera Canyon , 9 May 1995, vanHoek 453 ( USF) . Arkansas: Baxter County: Bull Shoals , 7 October 1950, Demaree 30152 ( MICH) . Izard County: Guion , 9 August 1970, Thomas & Reid 20702 ( FLAS, MICH, SWSL, USF) . Phillips County: 9 mi. N of Helena , 18 October 1964, Moore 64309 ( UARK) . Colorado: Baca Co.: Everett Ranch , ca. 10 mi. N of Oklahoma state line, 4800 ft., 10 July 1990, Anderson 90-150 ( COLO) ; Gallinas Canyon , 1 mi. N of Oklahoma state line, 4200 ft., 1 June 1991, Wittman & Weber 18163 ( COLO) . District of Columbia: U.S. National Arboretum , 5 July 1990, Meyer 29686 [cultivated] ( FLAS) . Florida: Walton County: south Walton County , 19 May 1938, Hume s.n. [cultivated/escaped?] ( FLAS) . Georgia: Echols County: Fruitland [handwritten, Augusta also printed on label], 25 June 1901, Cuthbert s.n. [cultivated] ( FLAS) . Kansas: Barber County: Medicine Lodge , 15 July 1888, Kellerman s.n. ( MICH) ; 3 mi. S. Medicine Lodge , 6 July 1940, Horr & Franklin E331 ( FLAS) . Louisiana: Caddo Parish: Belcher , 28 May 1929, Glossell s.n. ( MICH) . Cameron Parish: Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge and Game Preserve , 22 October 1983, Taylor 6173 ( FLAS, USF) . Mississippi: Adams County: Laurel Hill Plantation W of Hwy. 61, 16 June 2004, Majure & Sullivan 411 [cultivated] ( MMNS) . Oktibbeha County: A and M College , 1 June 1929, Stauffer s.n. ( MISSA) ; 10 mi. S of Starkville , 14 October 1972, Rogers 8843 [cultivated/escaped?] ( USF) ; Mississippi State University , 23 October 2002, Bowers 25 ( MISSA) . Missouri: Barry County: near Eagle Rock, 20 July 1914, Palmer 6324 ( MICH) . New Mexico: Gila River , 25 June 1881, Rusby s.n. ( MICH) . Eddy County: Dark Cañon , 45 mi. SW of Carlsbad, 18 July 1930, Grassl 86 ( MICH) ; lower valley of Rocky River below Sitting Bull Camp , 16 April 1960, Martin 3882 ( UNM) . Luna County: Rockhound Park Road , 21 June 1968, Pinkava et al. 13235 ( ASU) . North Carolina. Anson Co.: fall 1936, student s.n. [cultivated] ( NCSC) . Oklahoma: Atoka County: Limestone Gap, Indian Territory , 27 June 1877, Butler s.n. ( BUF) . Cimarron County: Mesa de Maya, 3 miles north of Kenton , 10 July 1947, Rogers 4772 ( MICH) ; ibid., 24 August 1947, Rogers 5435 ( MICH) . Greer County: sandy roadside, 12 May 1968, Smith 31 ( FLAS) . McCurtain County: Garvin , 16 May 1936, Demaree 12618 ( BRIT) . Oklahoma County: along Jewel Ave., west side Oklahoma City , 11 June 1939, White 1347 ( MICH) . Payne County: Stillwater , 6 June 1896, Bogue s.n. ( MICH) ; roadside, 15 September 1964, Wills s.n. ( SWSL) . Woodward County: 5 mi. E of Woodward , 24 July 1934, Goodman 2193 ( MICH) . Tennessee: Washington County: Brachenridge Park, San Antonio , [s.d.], Schulz s.n. ( MICH) ; East Tennessee State University campus, 22 September 2011, Abbott 25907 [cultivated] ( FLAS) . Texas: Bastrap County: Hills Prairie, Lundell Plantation , 25 May 1940, Lundell & Lundell 9114 ( LL, MICH) . Bexar County: Leon Springs , 7 June 1911, Clemens & Clemens 825 ( MICH) . Brewster County: 65 mi. S of Alpine , 22 September 1959, Warnock & Johnston 17487 ( USF) . Cameron County: Brownsville , 20 May 1965, Runyon 5888 [cultivated] ( BRIT) . Childress County: 3.4 mi. E of Childress , 6 September 1945, Whitehouse 10714 ( MICH) . Clay County: 2.9 mi. S of Petrolia , 6 October 1945, Whitehouse 10825 ( MICH) . Culberson County: McKittrick Valley , 23 July 1931, Moore & Steyermark 3612 ( MICH) . Dallas County: White Rock Lake , 3 June 1940, Lundell & Lundell 9238 ( MICH) ; N of Irving, E of Sylvan, SW of I-35 E in Dallas , 23 September 1995, Thomas 145966 ( SWSL) . Ellis County: 1.5 mi. N of Palmer , 13 September 1946, Cory 52297 ( MICH) . Grayson County: near Denison , 2 June 1948, Gentry 50-196 ( FLAS) . Harris County: San Jacinto Battleground , 29° 44’ 56.69” N, 95° 4’ 38.25” W, 9 May 2014, Rosen & Burnett 6445 ( TEX) . Hemphill County: 5 mi. E of Canadian, Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area , 14 June 1955, Rowell 4106 ( MICH) . Hutchinson County: 3 mi. N of Stinnett , 18 October 1945, Cory 50332 ( MICH) . Jackson County: river flood plain, 2 November 1941, Tharp 8627 ( FLAS) . Johnson County: Egan , 4 April 2006, Quayle & Perez 947 ( BRIT) . Kerr County: Kerrville , 19–26 June 1894, Heller 1901 ( MICH) . Montague County: 2.4 mi. N of Nocona , 22 June 1945, Whitehouse 10085 ( MICH) . Presidio County: Capote Mountain , 7 June 1962, Rogers 165 ( USF) . Tarrant County: 10 June 1925, Ruth 195 ( BUF, MICH) ; Industrial Park , near E side of downtown Ft. Worth, 3 June 2001, Krall 91277 ( SWSL) . Taylor County: Abilene State Park , 12 June 1943, Tolstead 7412 ( MICH) ; 9 mi. NE of Abilene , 8 June 1956, Henry s.n. ( USF) . Terrell County: near Gravel Springs , 11 June 1949, Webster 227 ( MICH) . Travis County: Austin , 20 May 1872, Hall 89 ( BUF) ; Austin, 1923, Painter 29 ( MICH) . Waller County: Pattison , 3 July 1930, Fisher s.n. ( MICH) . USA / MEXICO: Herbarium Berlandierianum Texano-Mexicanum no. 2665, [1826-1851], Berlandier s.n. ( BUF, MO) ; Mexican Boundary Survey, chiefly in the Valley of the Rio Grande , below Donana [Along the Rio Grande and its tributaries; also near the Copper Mines, New Mexico, and in Sonora, fide Emory 1859: 47], [1848–1855], Emory et al. s.n. ( BUF) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Native distribution of cited specimens of Sapindus in the Americas and eastern Oceania (cultivated or naturalized occurrences are not mapped). Longer names of some taxa are abbreviated, i.e. S. drummondii var. drummondii (abbreviated as drum. var. drum.), S. drummondii var. glabratus (drum. var. glabratus), S. saponaria subsp. jardinianus (sap. subsp. jard.), and S. saponaria subsp. saponaria (sap. subsp. sap.), The symbol for the occurrence of S. saponaria subsp. jardinianus in Hawaii is placed beside Hawaii on the map.

FIGURE 6. Sapindus drummondii var. drummondii, clockwise from top-left: fertile branch (Cuthbert s.n., FLAS), adaxial side of petal with white arrow pointed at one appendage (Hume s.n., FLAS), leaflet adaxial surface (Tharp 8627, FLAS), leaflet abaxial surface (Hume s.n., FLAS), and petiole base (White 693, MICH).