Brixton: Studies of West Indian plants 



53. CHAMAECRISTA Moench IN THE WEST INDIES 



Type species: Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench. 



A. Sepals rigid, scarious, many-nerved (Diphyllae). 



B. Sepals membranous, scarcely nerved. 



a. Prostrate herbs, the flowers on filiform peduncles. 

 Leaflets only 1 pair, obovate; stipules cordate (Rotundi- 



foliae). 

 Leaflets 3-7 pairs, oblong to obovate; stipules lanceolate 

 (Pilosae). 

 Stems pilose. 

 Stems appressed-pubescent. 



b. Erect, ascending or rarely prostrate herbs or shrubs. 



1. Midvein of the leaflet central or excentric, not 

 marginal. 

 * Shrubs, with coriaceous or subcoriaceous leaves, 

 f Leaflets many, 20-50 pairs, linear; stipules 



large; stem flexuous (Flexuosae). 

 tt Leaflets fewer, 2-12 pairs, oblong or obovate; 

 stipules small; stem not flexuous (Linea- 

 tae). 

 J Foliage densely pubescent. 

 JJ Foliage glabrous or puberulent. 

 Leaflets dull. 

 Leaflets obovate or oblanceolate. 



Leaflets 2 or 3 pairs, 5 mm. long or 



less. 

 Leaflets 3-1 1 pairs, 7-15 mm. long. 

 Gland sessile. 

 Gland stalked. 

 Leaflets oblong. 



Leaflets acute, cuspidate. 

 Leaflets rounded and mucronulate 

 at apex. 

 Leaflets shining. 



Leaflets oblong, or the upper obovate, 

 1.5 cm. long or less, strongly 

 callous-margined. 

 Leaflets glabrous; gland large, 



nearly sessile. 

 Leaflets ciliate; gland small, stalked. 

 Leaflets elliptic to ovate to obovate, 

 1.5-3 cm. long, not callous- 

 margined. 

 Leaflets elliptic, acute. 

 Leaflets ovate to obovate, obtuse, 

 retuse, or mucronate. 

 Leaflets 1-3 pairs, obovate, 

 mostly retuse. 



1. C. diphylla. 



2. C. rotundifolia. 



3- C. 

 4. c. 



pilosa. 

 serpens. 



C. flexuosa. 



6. C. grammica. 



7. C. obcordala. 



C. 

 C. 



lineata. 

 granulala. 



10. C. pineloriim. 



11. C. jamaicensis. 



12. 

 13- 



C. 

 C. 



portoricensis. 

 Tuerckheimii. 



14. C. caribaea. 



15. C. inoguensis. 



