Shrubs or trees to 20 m. Leaves: stipules obliquely reniform, 3–5 × 3–6 mm; pinna blade ovate to elliptic, 40–170 × 20–110 mm, base rounded to cuneate, apex obtuse to acute or acuminate, surfaces micro-alveolate or sericeous, or hairs slightly crispate abaxially, sometimes glabrescent, veinlets usually more densely pubescent, sericeous or minutely pilose to glabrescent adaxially. Inflorescences with densely gray-puberulent axis; bracts at base of pedicel, ovate to elliptic, 1–1.5 × 1 mm, apex obtuse; bracteoles caducous, paired at base of calyx, ovate to elliptic, 2–3 × 1 mm, apex acute. Pedicels 4 mm. Flowers: calyx subactinomorphic, 4–6 mm, silvery-sericeous or subsericeous; lobes rela­tively short, subequal, adaxial lobes often connate; corolla 12–15 mm; banner pubescent abaxially; anthers oblong; ovary sessile to shortly stipitate; style filiform, glabrous distally; stigma terminal, minutely penicillate. Loments: stipe 1–3 mm; 40–100 × 30–45 mm. Seeds laterally compressed, 4.5–6 × 2.5–3 mm, lustrous; hilum lateral, orbiculate, to 1 mm diam. 2n = 22.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun, fruiting Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Hammocks, shell middens, pine rocklands.
Elevation: 0–30 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America.

Discussion

In the flora area, Piscidia piscipula is known in pen­insular Florida, from Miami-Dade and Monroe coun­ties, including the Florida Keys, northward through the western coastal counties to Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Piscidia erythrina Linnaeus, P. inebrians Medikus, P. toxicaria Salisbury, and Robinia alata Miller are superfluous, illegitimate names that pertain here.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.