Xerocladia viridiramis is a species of plant in the legume family (Fabaceae). It is the sole species in the monotypic genus Xerocladia.
This plant was first discovered in 1822 and named Acacia viridiramis by Burchell. In 1862, Harvey described the new genus Xerocladia, based on his species Xerocladia zeyheri Harv. In 1891, Taubert studied this species and discovered that Burchell and Harvey were actually describing the same species. He also determined that the plant doesn't fit into the genus Acacia and kept the name Xerocladia. Because the earliest publication (after 1753) has priority, Taubert made the new combination Xerocladia viridiramis (Burch.) Taub. In conclusion, Acacia viridiramis Burch. is the basionym for Xerocladia viridiramis (Burch.) Taub, and Xerocladia zeyheri Harv. is a synonym.[1]
South West Africa and Namaqualand, occurs in sandy to gravel riverbeds, or on riverbanks.[2]
Shrub to 1m tall, twigs zig-zag shaped, pale green to olive, terete,[2] internodes 10–14 mm. Leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, with a pair of spiny incurved basal stipules, 1.0-2.5 mm. Rachis 1.0-2.0 mm, with one pair of terminal pinnae, an acuminate to deltoid bract clasping the base of pinnae, small gland opposite the bract between the pinnae, rachilla 5.0-13.0 mm. Leaflets alternate, ovate to elliptic, 2.5-5.5 mm x 0.5-1.5 mm, with 13-17 leaflets per rachilla, margin entire. Inflorescence a capitulum, red to deep maroon, 5.0-8.5 mm in diameter, peduncle hirtellous, 4.0-13.5 mm. Flowers hermaphroditic, actinomorphic. Sepals 5, fused at the base, ovate to deltoid, hirtellous, 0.6-1.2 mm x 0.5–1 mm. Petals 5, ovate to acuminate, free, 2.0-3.0 mm x 0.6-1.0 mm. Stamens 10, distinct, filaments 2.0-2.8 mm, anther dorsifixed, 0.4-0.5 x 0.3-0.5 mm, pollen grains bright yellow. Ovary extremely hirtellous at the base, style 2.3-3.0 mm, stigma club to disc-shaped. Fruit an indehiscent, asymmetric, winged legume, 1-6 per head, 7.5-17.5 x 7.0-12.5 mm, reniform to flabellate, with an acute tip, pericarp red brown, pubescent, raised ridge forming a ring above the seed(s), style and stigma sometimes persistent on the fruit. Seeds 1-2 per fruit, obovate, 2.5-3.0 x 4.5–5 mm.
Xerocladia is most closely related to Prosopis (Melissa A. Luckow, personal communication, March 29, 2013 ). They both have stipular spines, leaves with few pairs of pinnae, and 10 stamens. In contrast to Xerocladia, Prosopis usually has a spicate inflorescence instead of a capitulum, an elongate straight or spiral legume pod which is not winged. Prosopis also has more (18-30) leaflets per rachilla, and leaflets opposite or sub opposite rather than alternate.
Xerocladia viridiramis is a species of plant in the legume family (Fabaceae). It is the sole species in the monotypic genus Xerocladia.
Xerocladia es un género monotípico de arbusto perteneciente a la familia de las fabáceas. Su única especie, Xerocladia viridiramis, es originaria de África.
Es un pequeño y rígido arbusto muy ramificado que alcanza un tamaño de hasta 1 m de altura, las ramas a menudo algo zigzageantes, de color verde pálido a verde oliva, cilíndricas, cano-pubérulas y substriadas. Estípulas espinescentes, en parejas, recurvadas, de color marrón rojizo, de hasta 3,5 mm de largo. Hojas bipinnadas, pequeñas: pecíolo de hasta 3 mm de largo, cano-pubérulas, con un color rojizo-marrón con glándula hasta 1 mm de altura justo por debajo del punto de unión de las pinnas; 1 par por pinna hoja, hojas en pares subopuestos 6-12, hasta 3 (4) x 1 (1,3) mm, oblongas o linear-oblongas, obtusas o agudas apicalmente. Las inflorescencias capitadas, pedunculadas, solitarias en las axilas de las hojas. Flores hermafroditas, sésiles, pedúnculos de hasta 8 mm de largo, cano-pubérulas. Cáliz dividido casi hasta la base. Pétalos libres, excepto basalmente, hasta de 2,5 (3) mm de largo.[1]
Se encuentra en el sudoeste de África y Namaqualand, en los ríos de arena, en márgenes de ríos, aluviones, etc.
Xerocladia viridiramis fue descrita por (Burch.) Taub. y publicado en Botanisches Centralblatt 47: 395. 1891.[2][3]
Xerocladia es un género monotípico de arbusto perteneciente a la familia de las fabáceas. Su única especie, Xerocladia viridiramis, es originaria de África.
Xerocladia é um género botânico pertencente à família Fabaceae.[1]
Xerocladia là một chi thực vật có hoa trong họ Đậu.[1]
Xerocladia là một chi thực vật có hoa trong họ Đậu.