Chamaecrista biensis Lock, Kew Bull.
Creators: name: Musandiwa, Liada
name: Magee, Anthony R.
name: Boatwright, James S.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Fabales
Fabaceae
Chamaecrista
Chamaecrista biensis

description: 2. CHAMAECRISTA BIENSIS (Steyaert) Lock, Kew Bull. 43(2): 335 (1988); Brummitt in Fl. Zambesiaca 3(2): 130 (2007). <i>Cassia katangensis</i> (Ghesq.) Steyaert var. <i>biensis</i> Steyaert., Bull. Jard. Bot. Etat 20: 260 (1950). <i>Cassia biensis</i> (Steyaert) Mendonça &amp; Torre., Bol. Soc. Brot. Ser. 29(2): 33 (1955); Schreiber in F. S.W.A. 59: 11 (1956); Gordon-Gray in F.S.A. 16(2): 100 (1977). TYPE: ANGOLA. Bie Province, Dec 1932, <i>Gossweiler 9</i> (holotype: BR [BR08918918]–image!.). Perennial herbs, to 0.5 m tall. Stems producing multiple branches from a woody rootstock, prostrate or decumbent, pubescent, with small curved appressed hairs. Leaves paripinnate, 10–65 × 5–20 mm, oblong to linear oblong, tapering slightly distally; stipules straight, 5–10 mm long, base oblique, apex acuminate; rachis channelled; extrafloral nectaries on petiole, circular, concave, ± 0.3 × 0.2–0.5 mm, attached with short stalk. Leaflets 6–25-jugate, 5–10 × 1–2 mm, linear oblong, base oblique, apex apiculate, margin ciliate, midrib strongly excentric towards anticous margin. Inflorescence axillary, 1–2 flowered; flowers 5–10 × 4–6 mm, bract ± 3 mm long, base oblique, apex acuminate; bracteoles 2, glabrous, towards top of pedicels. Pedicels with short, straight or curved hairs, 15–20 mm at flowering, 20–25 mm at fruiting. Sepals 5, ovate, 4–8 × 2–3 mm, pubescent on the outer surface. Petals 5, obovate 7–10 × 3–5 mm, bright yellow. Stamens 10, straight or slightly curved, anthers vary in size, often in two (5 medium and 5 large) or three series (3 small, 4 medium, and 3 large), 2–7 mm long, filaments very short, 1 mm long. Ovary 6–9 mm long, densely covered with white hairs, slightly curved or straight, glabrous. Pods 20–50 × 3–5 mm, flattened, straight or curved, with small curved suppressed hairs. Seeds 2.5–4.0 × 1–2 mm, rhomboid, flattened, brown to light brown. <i> <i>Diagnostic Characters</i> — Chamaecrista biensis</i> shares a low growth form and leaf structure with <i>C. capensis</i> (particularly <i>C. capensis</i> var. <i>capensis</i>). However, <i>C. biensis</i> can be distinguished by its extrafloral nectaries on the petiole attached by a very short stalk, ± 0.3 × 0.2–0.5 mm (Fig. 3C) (well developed in <i>C. capensis</i>) and short pedicels 15–25 mm (up to 45 mm in <i>C. capensis</i>) bearing small flowers 5–10 × 4–6 mm (large flowers 10–17 × 5–15 mm in <i>C. capensis</i>). <i>Distribution and Ecology</i> —The species is widespread from the north-eastern parts of Namibia, extending to South Africa with a wide distribution in the North West Province through to the Northern Cape, Emalahleni (Witbank) in Mpumalanga and along the drier northern parts of the country across to Botswana (Fig. 5). <i>Chamaecrista biensis</i> grows on sandy or well-drained soil at elevations below 1530 m. Flowering from October to March. <b> <i>Additional Specimens Examined</i> — Namibia. —1817 (Tsitsabis): along the main road from farm Sachsenheim to Oshivelo (–CA), 3 Apr 2002, <i>Uiras MU547</i> (PRE)</b> . <b>1819 (Karakuwisa):</b> Cigarrete, NE of Karakuwise (–BA), 25 Jan 1953, <i>Maguire 2331</i> (NBG). <b>1918 (Grootfontein):</b> Taranaki, 80 km from Grootfointein on road to Rundu (–BA), 5 Mar 1995, <i>Germishuizen 7510</i> (PRE); on road to Sonap Research Station, 4 km from Taranaki farm (–BB), 6 Mar 1995, <i>Germishuizen 7617</i> (PRE). <b>1919 (Kanovlei):</b> on road to Tsumkwe, 50 km NE of Grootfointein (–AC), 7 Mar 1995, <i>Germishuizen 7643</i> (PRE). <b>1920 (Tsumkwe):</b> southern Bushmanland, Revele BL 3.2 km W of Kremetartkop (–DD), 26 Feb 1986, <i>Hines 578</i> (PRE). <b>2017 (Waterburg):</b> Waterburg (–AA), 21 Dec 1970, <i>Rutherford A 12</i> (PRE). <b>2116 (Okahandja):</b> Thorn tree farm 80 km from Okahandja on road Otjiwarongo (–BD), 6 Mar 1983, <i>Germishuizen 2596</i> (PRE). <b>2118 (Steinhausen):</b> Hennopsrus farm, on R16 road to Steinhausen (–BB), 5 Mar 1997, <i>Germishuizen 9360</i> (PRE); Kaokoveld (–BD), Oct 1972, <i>Giess 9781</i> (PRE). <b>2217 (Windhoek):</b> Windhoek (–CA), 1 Feb 1976, <i>Giess 13927</i> (PRE). <b>2218 (Omaheke):</b> Omaheke, road D 1793, 21 km N of junction with D1792 (–CB), 22 Apr 1998, <i>Kolberg HK 915</i> (PRE); Hennopsrus Farm, on R16 road to Steinhausen (–BB), 5 Mar 1997, <i>Germishuizen 9360</i> (PRE). <b>2219 (Sandfontein):</b> Sandfontein (–CC), 21 Feb 1955, <i>De Winter 2443</i> (PRE); 5 km from turn off on road to Rietfointein from Buitepos/Gobabis road (–BC), 6 Mar 1997, <i>Germishuizen 9493</i> (PRE). <b>Botswana. —1824 (Kachikau):</b> 1.75 km South of the Seronga/Savuti track junction near the Sandridge gap (–CC), 21 Jan 1979, <i>Smith 2631</i> (PRE). <b>2220 (Kalkfontein):</b> 6 km North of Okwa Valley along the track between Ncojane and Mamuno (–AC), 31 May 1905, <i>Skarpe S-448</i> (PRE). <b>2326 (Kgatleng):</b> Masana Ranch (–CD), 10 Nov 1978, <i>Hansen 3545</i> (PRE). <b>2324 (Mahalapye):</b> Dinojane to Salajwe road on sand (–DD), 10 Dec 1987, <i>Barnard 409</i> (PRE). <b>2325 (Lephepe):</b> central Kalahari, Dinojane (–BC), 12 Dec 1986, <i>Barnard 218</i> (PRE). <b>2426 (Mochudi):</b> Bochudi (–AC), Jan-Apr 1914, <i>Harbor 6585</i> (NBG). <b>South Africa.</b> — LIMPOPO: <b>2327 (Ellisras):</b> Njala Nature Reserve (–DA), 5 Feb 1994, <i>Swartz PPS 94–22</i> (PRE). <b>2329 (Pietersburg) [Polokwane]:</b> Pietersburg [Polokwane] (–BB), Mar 1919, <i>Breijer 19556</i> (PRE). <b>2429 (Zebediela):</b> Sunningdale Private Nature Reserve (–AC), 3 Jan 1970, <i>Hofmeyer 158</i> (PRE). — NORTH WEST: <b>2526 (Zeerust):</b> Zeerust (–CA), Oct 1972, <i>Leendertz 11303</i> (PRE); Zeerust (–CA), Jan 1928, <i>Thode 1402</i> (PRE). <b>2527 (Rustenburg):</b> Saulspoort, Kwa-Ramoga in kloof on side of Mountain (–AA), 28 Nov 1977, <i>Germishuizen 00486 (20032)</i> (PRE); Klipvoordam (–BB), 8 Jan 1978, <i>Peters, Gericke and Burelli 3536</i> (PRE). <b>2529 (Witbank):</b> Stoffberg, next to R555 road (–BD), 14 Jan 2018, <i>Musandiwa 8</i> (NBG). <b>2624 (Morokweng):</b> ca. 12 km N of Stella, on road to Papiesvlakte (–BD), 3 Mar 1998, <i>Smook 10067</i> (PRE). <b>2626 (Klerksdorp):</b> <i>Witstinkhoutboom</i> (–AB), 28 Jan 1926, <i>Liebenberg 26</i> (PRE). <b>2627 (Potchefstroom):</b> Meyer street, near military base (–CA), 9 Dec 2011, <i>Komape, Mabe and Siebert KMS265</i> (NBG). <b>2724 (Taung):</b> Zoet Vley (–AA), 10 Nov 1988, <i>Speedy 208</i> (PRE); near Vryburg, Farm Palmyra, 97 km northwest of Vryburg (–CA), 5 Feb 1948, <i>Rodin 3499</i> (PRE); Andalusia (–DD), 7 Jan 1941, <i>Herre 60661</i> (PRE). <b>2725 (Bloemhof):</b> Leeuwfontein, 10 km W of Wolmaransstad (–BB), 17 Dec 1974, <i>Van Wyk 742</i> (PRE). — GAUTENG: <b>2528 (Pretoria):</b> Bultfontein Verena (–BD), 27 Dec 1972, <i>Grobbelaar 1679</i> (PRE); Christianville, Springbokvlakte road, NW of Montana Secondary School (–CA), 6 Feb 2005, <i>Bester and Archer 5645</i> (PRE); Arcadia (–CA), Jan 1926, <i>Smith 2089</i> (PRE); Wonderboom Reserve (–CB), 17 Nov 1944, <i>Wasserfall 3536</i> (NBG); Verwoerdburg, De Hoeve Farm (–CC), 1 Feb 1776, <i>Victoria 12</i> (NU); Farm Annoda, 56 km N East of Pretoria (–DA), 20 Oct 2005, <i>Meyer 4542</i> (PRE). — MPUMALANGA: <b>2431 (Acornhoek):</b> beyond Blyde River Nature Reserve camp (–CA), 21 Jan 1968, <i>Hilliard 6031</i> (NU). <b>2529 (Witbank):</b> Loskopdam-Donkerhoek (–CA), 11 Feb 1968, <i>Theron 1673</i> (PRE). <b>2630 (Carolina):</b> Nooitgedach (–CD), 31 Dec 1926, <i>Henrici 1388</i> (PRE). Free State: <b>2727 (Kroonstad):</b> Klipspruit (–CA), Feb 1928, <i>Pont 294</i> (PRE); Klipspruit (–CA), Jan 1928, <i>Pont 352</i> (PRE). <b>2728 (Frankfort):</b> 6 km from Reitz on the road to Rietpan (–CD), 25 Jan 1983, <i>Retief 888</i> (PRE). <b>2826 (Brandfort):</b> Glen (–CD), Mar 1926, <i>Glen School of Agriculture 3449</i> (PRE). Northern Cape: <b>2723 (Kuruman):</b> 11.3 km from Kuruman on road to Hotazel (–AD), without date, <i>Brenda 602</i> (PRE). <b>2824 (Kimberly):</b> Barkly West, Panplaas (near Boetsap) (–AB), 20 Feb 1974, <i>Hanekom 2233</i> (PRE); Rooipoort NW corner of Rooipoort farm (–CA), 19 Feb 1991, <i>Phelan 1120</i> (PRE); Barkley West, Vaalbos National Park (–CB), 23 Feb 1994, <i>Zietsman 2365</i> (PRE).
description: Published as part of <i>Musandiwa, Liada, Magee, Anthony R. &amp; Boatwright, James S., 2022, A Taxonomic Revision of Chamaecrista (Caesalpinioideae, Cassieae, Cassiinae) in Southern Africa, pp. 992-1011 in Systematic Botany (Basel, Switzerland) (Basel, Switzerland) 47 (4)</i> on pages 998-999, DOI: 10.1600/036364422x16674053033831, http://zenodo.org/record/8117056