Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 77 FAB ACEAE 95
Aeschynomene Linnaeus (Faboid)
Herbs; leaflets many, odd-pinnate; stipules peltate (ours)
extended below attachment; hit jointed, breaking up at
maturity.
1. Leaflets with several primary veins; pods deeply crenate on
lower margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. americana
1. Leaflets with a single midrib; pods slightly crenate on
lower margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. sensitiva
Aeschynomene americana
Aeschynomene mricona haws, 1753:713.-Rudd, 195524.
Flowers purplish; stipules and bracts persistent.
Neotropics and Africa; weed of disturbed places in Dominica:
L’Or River in gravel dump (Nicolson 2023, Roseau
(Krauss 1245), Trafalgar Falls road (Whitefoord 4587).
Our material seems to have fruits with glandular hairs and
hispid stipules of Aeschynomene americana var. glandulosa
(Poiret) Rudd.
Aeschynomene sensitiva
Aeschynomene sensitivo Swam, 1788:1CV.--Rudd, 1955:50.
Flowers yellow; stipules and bracts deciduous.
Neotropics and Africa; weed of wet disturbed areas of
Dominica: Cabrit Swamp (Whitefoord 4055); Castle Bruce
Road (Ernst 1458), Chaudiere (Hodge 3615), Pont Casse area
(Webster 13467, Wilbur 7826), Portsmouth area (Hodge 589),
Providence Valley near Laudat (Hodge 2053), Sylvania Estate
(Cooper 67, Hodge 588).
Albizia Durazzini (Mimosoid)
Albizia lebbeck
Albizio lebbeck &maws) Bentham, 1844a:W.
Mimosa lebbeck Linnaeus, 1753516.
Unarmed trees; leaves bipinnate with 2-4 pinnae, each with
4-9 pairs of 1.5-5 cm x 0.5-2 cm leaflets; flowers umbellate,
greenish white; petals united to middle; stamens many, united
below, -3 cm long; pods 15-30 cm x 2-4 cm, flat, thin,
shining, rattling in the wind; seeds light brown.
Introduced from Old World and naturalizing; locality
information for Dominica not available (cultivated?): (Dudley
s.n., Mar 1890).
Alysicarpus Desvaux, nom. cons. (Faboid)
Alysicarpus vaginalis
Alysicorpur voginolis (Linnaeus) A.P. Candolle, 1825,2:353.
Hedysorum voginale Linnaeus, 1753:746.
Perennial herb with branches spreading; stipules scarious,
4-6 mm, k united, enclosing 2 stipels; leaflet solitary, orbicular
to lanceolate on the same plant; flowers purplish, in short
terminal racemes, stamens 9+1; pod nearly terete, with several
indehiscent joints.
Old World but now widely naturalized; low weed in
Dominica from sea level to 200 m: Carib Point (Wilbur 7911),
Coulibistri (Erst 1393, Imperial Road (Hodge 591), Mome
Daniel (Kimber 1105), Mome Plaisance Estate (Whitefoord
4424,4505), Roseau (Hodge 590), St. David Bay (Ernst 1464,
Scotts Head (Whitefoord 5131), Tarou Cliffs (Ernst 1706).
Anadenanthera Spegazzini (Mimosoid)
Anadenanthera peregrina
Anadenonthero peregrina (Linnaeus) Spegazzini, 1923:313.-Reis-Altschal,
1964:46.
Mimo peregrina Linnaeus, 1753:520.
Piptodenio peregrina (Linnaeus) Bentham, 1841 :340.-Little & Wadswolth,
1964:158, pl. 660.
Niop peregrina (Linnaeus) Britton &Rose, 1927:37.
Unarmed tree; leaves bipinnately compound, pinnae pairs
10-30, each with 25-80 pairs of leaflets 2-8 mm x 0.5-1.5
mm; flowers capitate, white to creamy; stamens 10, without an
apical gland; legume flat, straight to falcate, 5-35 cm x 1-3
cm; seeds dark brown to black, shiny, flat.
South America, believed introduced and naturalizing in the
West Indies; said to be common in ravines of dry west coastal
area of Dominica: Chateau Comer (Eggers 703), Grand
Savanne (Wilbur 8347), Roseau vicinity (Stehle 6320),
Springfield road (Whitefoord 5834). Flowering without leaves
in April.
This and other m a of the genus are the source of an alkaloid
capable of producing profound and deep changes in perception,
elsewhere called yopo, coholba, or vilca.
Andira Jussieu, nom. cons. (Faboid)
Andira sapindoides
Andira sopindoides (A.P. Candolle) Bentham, 1860:123.-Howard, 1988,
4448.
Pierocorpur sopindoides A.P. Candolle, 1825,2:475.
Andira inermis var. sapindoides (A.P. Candolle) Grisebach, 1860:202.
L’angelin, bastard mahogany, na kabu (Carib).
Tall tree; leaves odd-pinnate, with 4-7 pairs of opposite,
large (5-8 cm long) stipellate leaflets; flowers paniculate, pink
to purple; pod globose, indehiscent; 3.5 cm drupe with a single
pendulous seed.
Lesser Antilles; cited for Dominica by Hodge (1954:27, as A.
inermis) as a component of transition zone around Milton
Estate: Layou River (Ramage s.n. 6 Jul 1888 at K), La Plaine
(Ramage s.n. 10 Jan 1889 at GH). Rarely collected, possibly
because of the size of the trees. Cut for valuable timber with
durable, red-brown wood (Hodge and Taylor, 1957561).