Caesalpinia decapetala

Primary tabs

Caesalpinia decapetala

Description

Liana or shrub, up to 25 m, young parts densely brown hairy, glabrescent; branchlets armed with recurved prickles (to 5 mm long). Leaves: rachis 7-38 cm, hairy; pinnae 2.5-7 cm long, 3-10 pairs, hairy. Stipules subpersistent, obliquely ovate- semicordate, 8-13 by 4-7 mm, acuminate, hairy. Inflorescences axillary and terminal, racemose, 15-32 cm long, the rachis hairy; bracts ovate to lanceolate, 4-8 by 1-2.5 mm, pubescent; pedicels 15-30(-35) mm, pubescent, articulated 1-3 mm below the apex. Flower buds ovoid, hairy. Petals 6.5-13 by 4-8 mm, clawed (claw up to 6 mm). Stamens exserted; filaments 10-15 mm; anthers 1.5-2 mm, glabrous. Seeds ellipsoid 8-12 by 6-8 mm, black, dull.

Distribution

Asia-Temperate, Asia-Tropical: India present; Jawa (Jawa present); Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka present), Burma present, Flores present, Japan present, Lombok present, Luzon present, Oahu present, Penang I. present, SW Celebes present, Tahiti present, Timor present, northern half present, other tropical countries cultivated
India, Burma, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, and Pacific Islands (Tahiti and Oahu, indigenous?), also cultivated in other tropical countries and then run wild. In Malesia: Sumatra (northern half), Malay Peninsula (Penang I.), Java, Philippines (Luzon), SW Celebes, Lesser Sunda Islands (Lombok, Flores, Timor).Pacific Islands (Tahiti and Oahu)

Uses

Used as impenetrable hedges . Pods are (were?) used for tanning .

Citation

J.E. Vidal 1980: p. 28. – In: Fl. Camb., Laos & Vietnam: pl. 3/1-7
Ridley 1922 – In: Fl. Malay Penins.: 650
Backer & Bakh.f 1964 – In: Fl. Java: 545
J.E. Vidal 1984: p. 67. – In: Fl. Thailand: f. 16/1-7
Rudd 1991 – In: Fl. Ceylon: 51.
Miq. 1855 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 109
Merr. 1910 – In: Philipp. J. Sc., Bot.: 55, 371
Miq. 1860: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 108
Hattink 1974 – In: Reinwardtia: 24