Xylopodium: proximal portion horizontal, cylindric, 5–15 × 0.4–1 cm, ligneous; distal portion 2+ m × 2–5 mm, bearing rootlets. Stems 1–4 from crown, erect, purplish, 15–50 cm; internodes nearly straight proximally, weak to moderately zigzag distally; branches few, mostly basal; branchlets glaucous. Leaves: stipules ovate to lanceolate-ovate, 2–4 × 1–2 mm, apex acute; petiole purplish, wiry, angular, ± canaliculate adaxially, 1.5–3(–3.5) cm, glaucescent; stipels linear to subulate, 1–3 mm; petiolules 2 mm; rachis 0.7–1.5 cm; leaflets 3, blades linear, linear-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, or (proximal) narrowly elliptic, 20–45 × 5–15 mm, thickly membranous to ± leathery, base rounded, primary lateral veins 6–8 pairs, apex obtuse to retuse and mucronate, surfaces glaucous, glabrous abaxially, pubescent adaxially. Peduncles 0.5–4 cm (chasmogamous flowers) or 0.4–0.8 cm (cleistogamous flowers). Inflorescences 1 or 2(–4)-flowered, to 4 cm, flowers cleistogamous and/or chasmogamous; bracts linear-lanceolate, 2–5 × 1 mm. Pedicels 2–7 mm; bracte­oles of chasmogamous flowers linear-lanceolate, (3–)4–5 × 1 mm, cleistogamous flowers 2(–3) mm, apex acute, uncinate-pubescent. Chasmogamous flowers: calyx tube purplish tinged near base, 7–10 × 2–3 mm at base becoming 5–6 mm wide; lobes ovate, 5–6 × 2–2.5 mm (at base, abaxial lobe 6–8 mm), apex gradually narrowed to short-acuminate; corolla lilac; banner 35–45 mm, claw 4–5 mm; wing blades 21–24 × 4–6 mm, claw 13–15 mm; keel 8–11 × 3–5 mm, claw 14–17 mm; staminal tube 17–22 mm; filaments distinct, 1–3 mm; anthers lanceolate, 1.2–1.5 mm; ovary 6–7 mm, densely uncinate-pubescent; style 13–17 mm. Cleistogamous flowers: calyx tube 3–4 × 1 mm at base becoming 1.5(–2) mm wide; lobes 1.5–3 mm; staminal tube 0.1 mm; ovary 4 mm; style 5–6 mm, bent backwards and in contact with anthers. Legumes brown, convex, conspicuously depressed between seeds, 30–55 × 6–8 mm; stipe 15–21 mm (9–14 mm in cleistogamous). Seeds 2–5(–8), reddish brown, cuboidal, 4 × 4–5 mm, viscid. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting (chasmogamous) May–Jun; (cleistogamous) May–Sep.
Habitat: Scrub and secondary regrowth, sandy soils with humus layer, open areas in bare, sandy soils.
Elevation: 0–30 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Fla.

Discussion

Clitoria fragrans is known from central Florida, primarily in Highlands and Polk counties. Plants are found infrequently in bare sand in open, sunny areas, commonly bearing cleistogamous flowers. Denser pop­ulations occur in scrub and secondary regrowth on sandy soils with a humus layer. Native habitats for this species are being destroyed.

Individual plants of Clitoria fragrans are more robust in partial shade, and chasmogamous flowers are more frequent. The erect, aerial stems usually die back each year. The flowers are faintly fragrant, not pungently sweet as the name implies.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.