Tecoma stans
Content
Description
Shrub, up to c. 1-4 m.
Stamens included, anther-cells ± pilose.
Capsule acute, often lenti-cellate, 10-22 by ½-¾ cm.
Seeds (incl. wings) 2 by ½ cm, inserted in two rows on the margins of the septum.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Central and South America present, N. Argentina present, Northern America: Florida (Florida present), Pacific: Marquesas (Marquesas present), Society Is present, Tahiti present
From Florida through Central and South America to N. Argentina, widely cultivated in the tropics, also in Malesia, and sometimes run wild, naturalized e.g. in Tahiti, the Society Is. (Raiatea), and the Marquesas (Nunuhiva), often together with tree ferns and Gleichenia.
Notes
Vegetatively a rather variable species. The normal form is with pinnate leaves, but sometimes there are 3-foliolate and even simple leaves intermixed in one sheet. In Tahiti the specimens have 5-6 pairs of leaflets. (This may be var. multi-jugum R. E. FRIES, Ark. Bot. 1 (1903) 401). In Mexico a sheet had almost entire leaflets (SUMI-CHRAST 1885). There is in America a form with underneath woolly-hairy leaflets: T. stans var. velutina DC. (T. mollis H.B.K.), but the density of the tomentum varies considerably in degree and I am not very much in favour to recognize this; this is also the opinion of STANDLEY ().
JOHNSTON () said that in Mexico the normal-leaved form occurs in coastal regions, the incised-leaved form in inland places and the tomentose form south of these two, all three replacing, suggesting subspecific segregation.
It is rather peculiar that, though the normal-leaved form is widely cultivated throughout Malesia, the only naturalized one is a fairly constant form with deeply incised leaflets, which seems to be rather rare in the Americas.
JOHNSTON () said that in Mexico the normal-leaved form occurs in coastal regions, the incised-leaved form in inland places and the tomentose form south of these two, all three replacing, suggesting subspecific segregation.
It is rather peculiar that, though the normal-leaved form is widely cultivated throughout Malesia, the only naturalized one is a fairly constant form with deeply incised leaflets, which seems to be rather rare in the Americas.
Citation
BUREAU 1864: Mon.: t. 13
STEEN. 1927: Thesis: 905
DC. 1845 – In: Prod.: 224
JUSS. 1789: Gen.: 139
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 444
BACK. & BAKH. f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 539
SEEM. 1863 – In: J. Bot.: 88
SANDWITH 1938 – In: Pulle, Fl. Surinam 4: 79
RECHINGER 1911 – In: Denkschr. K. Ak. Wiss. Wien: 356
F.-VILL. 1880: Nov. App.: 151
JOHNSTON 1924 – In: Proc. Cal. Ac. Sc.: 1166
SEEM. 1928 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg: 218
Corner 1940: Ways. Trees: 170: f. 44, pl. 159
Merr. 1912: Fl. Manila: 428
GENTRY 1973: p. 958. – In: Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard.: f. 38, with full synonymy.