Centrosema virginianum
| Centrosema virginianum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Magnoliophyta |
| (unranked): | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Centrosema |
| Species: | C. virginianum |
| Binomial name | |
| Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth. | |
Centrosema virginianum has different common names such as Virginian centro, wild blue vine, blue bell, and wild pea.[1] C. virginianum is a member of the Fabaceae family, it is identify by its trailing and twining vine.[2] The stems are tender and small in proportion to its height. C. virginianum habitats are in pine lands and coastal uplands.[2]
Morphology
Centrosema virginianum are perennial and herbaceous vine [3] a couple meters in length; stems are approximately 29 to 160 centimeters long.[1] It has three alternate pinnately leaves, 3 to 10 centimeters long. C. virginianum stipules are lanceolate or ovate, 1 to 4 mm long,[1] and the petiole are identify to be 2 to 5 cm long. C. virginianum is often deciduous, however it is mostly setaceous.[1] There is a wide range of leaflets from linear to ovate to oblong or lanceolate-oblong, acute or acuminate at the apex.[1] C. virginianum produces abundant flowers, between early August and late September [3]
Distribution
C. virginianum are present more or less constant from Uruguay and northern Argentina to the eastern United States found in places such as Texas.[1][2] In addition, it is found in tropical and subtropical areas.[1] Lastly, it is wide distributed throughout West Indies and has become naturalized in tropical West Africa.[1]
Flowers
Flowers of Centrosema virginianum, are highly specialized in an inverted flag adapted by pollinators.[3] A group of flowers of one to four flowers on axillary penducle, calyx deeply five-lobed, and the acute lobes longer than the tube.[1] The corolla purplish or lavender-blue close to white,[1] it contains four to ten dark or brown seeds.[1] The diversity of leaflets and corolla size, color and shape often are confused with C. pubescens.[1] Lastly, C. virginianum flowers are known to be hermaphrodite and are pollinated by bees, additionally they contribute to nitrogen fixing.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 "CentrosemaVirginianum". Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "IRC-Natives for your Neighborhood". Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Island and Mainland Pollination Ecology of Centrosema Virginianum and Opuntia Stricta". Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ↑ Benth., L. "Plants for the future". Retrieved 18 April 2012.