Acacia globulifera (David S. Seigler & John E. Ebinger 1995)
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Ordo: Fabales
Familia: Fabaceae
Genus: Acacia
Name
Acacia globulifera David S. Seigler, 1995 – Wikispecies link – Pensoft Profile
- Acacia globulifera David S. Seigler, 1995, Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 82: 128-129.
Type Material
Mexico at the port of Silam (Tzilam), N coast of Yucatan G. F. Gaumer Mexico at the port of Silam (Tzilam), N coast of Yucatan G. F. Gaumer Mexico at the port of Silam (Tzilam), N coast of Yucatan G. F. Gaumer Mexico at the port of Silam (Tzilam), N coast of Yucatan G. F. Gaumer Mexico at the port of Silam (Tzilam), N coast of Yucatan G. F. Gaumer Mexico at the port of Silam (Tzilam), N coast of Yucatan G. F. Gaumer
Materials Examined
Honduras San Pedro de Sula, Cortes C. Thieme
Description
Shrub or small tree usually less than 3 (rarely 10) m tall, young twigs brown to reddish brown, glabrous to lightly puberulent. Stipular spines (Fig. IB) usually dark brown to black (sometimes yellow to ivory), smooth, terete, glabrous to lightly puberulent, symmetrical, V-shaped with an angle of 40-120°, straight to reflexed near the apex, 25-60 mm long, 4-7 mm thick near the base. Leaves 60-250 mm long; pinnae 6-26 pairs per leaf, 30-65 mm long, 6-11 mm between pinna pairs, rachis grooved, glabrous to lightly puberulent, a small volcano-shaped gland present between each pinna pair; petiole grooved, glabrous to lightly puberulent, 8-18 mm long. Petiolar glands (Fig. 1 G) volcano-shaped, commonly laterally compressed, densely puberulent, usually lightly striate, apex nearly circular, 0.3-0.9 mm across, base 1-2 mm across, usually 2-5 glands scattered along the petiole. Leaflets 20-50 pairs per pinna, glabrous, linear, 4-6 mm long, 0.6-1.2 mm wide, lateral veins not obvious, only one vein from the base, apex mostly acute. Inflorescence a densely flowered globose head 4-7 mm across, in clusters of 4-8 in the axil of slightly reduced leaves, or in small clusters in the axil of small spines on lateral, usually leafless branches; peduncles glabrous to lightly puberulent, 6-25 mm long, 0.5-1.0 mm thick, nearly the same thickness throughout; involucre located on the lower 1/4 of the peduncle, glabrous to lightly puberulent, 4-lobed. Floral bracts peltate, apex circular, the stalk about 1 mm long. Flowers sessile; calyx 5-lobed, glabrous, 1-1.5 mm long; corolla 5-lobed, glabrous, pale yellow, 1.5-2.0 mm long. Legumes slightly curved, elliptical to nearly terete in cross section, 50-90 mm long, 9-12 mm wide, glabrous, not striate, black to dark brown, dehiscent along one suture, stipe less than 5 mm long, the apex narrowing to a terminal spinelike beak usually less than 10 mm long. Flowering January-April.
Distribution
Distribution. In riparian and swamp successional stages as well as open, dry habitats, from sea level to about 1200 m, in southern Mexico (Campeche, Oaxaca, Yucatan), Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Materials Examined
Belize Vaca Gentle Belize Vaca Gentle Belize Vaca Gentle Belize Vaca Gentle Belize Vaca Gentle Guatemala Laguna (Lake Amatitlan) Kellerman Guatemala 20.5 mi. NE Guatemala City on hwy. 9 Janzen Guatemala 20.5 mi. NE Guatemala City on hwy. 9 Janzen Guatemala 20.5 mi. NE Guatemala City on hwy. 9 Janzen Guatemala 20.5 mi. NE Guatemala City on hwy. 9 Janzen Guatemala 20.5 mi. NE Guatemala City on hwy. 9 Janzen Guatemala 20.5 mi. NE Guatemala City on hwy. 9 Janzen Guatemala in Mananche Contreras Guatemala in Mananche Contreras Guatemala in Mananche Contreras Guatemala along Rio Teculutan, above Teculutan Steyermark Guatemala along Rio Teculutan, above Teculutan Steyermark Honduras Yoro Edwards Honduras Yoro Edwards Honduras 26 mi. SW of San Pedro Sula on hwy. 18 Janzen Honduras 10.4 mi. SW of Santa Rosa on hwy. 18 Janzen Honduras 10.4 mi. SW of Santa Rosa on hwy. 18 Janzen Honduras 10.4 mi. SW of Santa Rosa on hwy. 18 Janzen Honduras 10.4 mi. SW of Santa Rosa on hwy. 18 Janzen Honduras 10.4 mi. SW of Santa Rosa on hwy. 18 Janzen Mexico 48 mi. NE of Puerto Real (Isla Aguada) on hwy. 180 Janzen Mexico 48 mi. NE of Puerto Real (Isla Aguada) on hwy. 180 Janzen Mexico 48 mi. NE of Puerto Real (Isla Aguada) on hwy. 180 Janzen Mexico 11.3 mi. N of intersection of Mexico hwy. 185 and 190, on hwy. 185 Janzen Mexico 11.3 mi. N of intersection of Mexico hwy. 185 and 190, on hwy. 185 Janzen Mexico 11.3 mi. N of intersection of Mexico hwy. 185 and 190, on hwy. 185 Janzen Mexico 11.3 mi. N of intersection of Mexico hwy. 185 and 190, on hwy. 185 Janzen Mexico 11.3 mi. N of intersection of Mexico hwy. 185 and 190, on hwy. 185 Janzen Mexico 11.3 mi. N of intersection of Mexico hwy. 185 and 190, on hwy. 185 Janzen Mexico 11.3 mi. N of intersection of Mexico hwy. 185 and 190, on hwy. 185 Janzen Mexico 11.3 mi. N of intersection of Mexico hwy. 185 and 190, on hwy. 185 Janzen Mexico en San Jose de la Montana, km 8 de la carreterra a Tomas Garrido Cabrera et al. Mexico Silam Gaumer Mexico Silam Gaumer Mexico Silam Gaumer
Discussion
Acacia globulifera is easily distinguished from most ant-acacias by its spherical inflorescences, small leaflets that lack obvious secondary veins, and 2-5 narrow volcano-shaped petiolar glands. It is most closely related to A. chiapensis and has been occasionally combined with it (Janzen, 1974). These two species differ, however, in petiolar glands, inflorescence clusters, and fruit characteristics (see discussion under A. chiapensis). Acacia globulifera is commonly found in riparian or relatively dry sites from sea level to about 1200 m, which is the upper elevation limit of ant-acacias. It usually grows in open, fully insolated habitats, rarely exceeds 3 m in height, and is usually restricted to young successional habitats (Janzen, 1974). Beltian body production in Acacia globulifera is typical of that found in most ant-acacias that inhabit more open sites. These bodies, which are less than 0.8 mm long, usually are present on more than half of the leaflets of a developing leaf. The bodies are rarely seen, as they are usually "harvested" soon after development by obligate acacia- ants. Acacia globulifera is similar to A. chiapensis in that many individuals of both species are cyanogenic; the cyanogenic glycoside of A. globulifera is (R)- epiproacacipetalin, whereas that of A. chiapensis is (S)- proacacipetalin. Of the specimens of A. globulifera tested, most gave a positive test for HCN. Of these specimens, however, nearly one- third required the addition of emulsin to give a positive test. This suggests that many individuals of this species either lack the enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the cyanoglycoside, or that the enzyme is inactivated by drying and storage (Seigler & Ebinger, 1987). Janzen (1974) suggested that Acacia globulifera may occasionally hybridize with a non-ant-acacia of the A. macracantha complex. During the present study no specimens were found that would indicate hybridization involving this species.
Taxon Treatment
- David S. Seigler; John E. Ebinger; 1995: Taxonomic Revision of the Ant-Acacias (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae, Acacia, Series Gummiferae) of the New World, Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 82: 128-129. doi
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