Shrubs. Twigs glabrous. Leaves: petiole 17–41 mm, glabrous; blade pale green abaxially, dark green, glossy, and reflective adaxially, coriaceous, thickened (0.15–0.3 mm), blades orbiculate to reniform, 26–97 × 20–104 mm (averaging 72 × 75 mm), base cordate, sinus 5–22.5 mm deep, margins sinuate, apex obtuse to retuse, surfaces glabrous. Pedicels glabrous. Flowers: calyx 5.6–5.9 mm wide; banner 4.5–6.3 × 3.3–4.4 mm, wings 4.7–6.5 × 3.4–3.6 mm, keel 7–8.5 × 4.4–6.2 mm. Legumes magenta to red-brown, 53–95 × 7–21 mm, glabrous, glossy waxy.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Apr.
Habitat: Limestone bluffs, canyons.
Elevation: 100–800 m.

Distribution

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Okla., Tex.

Discussion

Subspecies texensis ranges from the Arbuckle Mountains of south-central Oklahoma south and west through Texas to Kinney and Val Verde counties. It is found on limestone bluffs and is characterized by coriaceous, glossy, and undulate leaf blades, and gla­brous leaves and twigs. The taxon is morphologically distinct, yet it apparently readily hybridizes with subspp. canadensis and mexicana along contact zones.

Cercis reniformis Engelmann ex A. Gray is an invalid name that pertains here.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.