Arachis glabrata
Trans. Linn. Soc. London 18: 159. 1839.
Herbs perennial. Stems usually prostrate and creeping, sometimes branching adventitiously, 4 dm, puberulent or glabrescent. Leaves: stipules linear-lanceolate, 8–27 mm; leaflet blade obovate or ovate to elliptic or oblong, 6–32 × 5–17 mm, apex obtuse to retuse or acute, surfaces often glabrescent abaxially, sometimes minutely pubescent, midrib often with persistent and longer hairs, glabrous or early glabrescent adaxially, margins glabrous, villous, or, sometimes, sparsely bristly. Flowers: hypanthium elongated, 2.5–10 cm; calyx 6–10 mm, villous, hairs bristly; corolla yellow or yellow-orange, 15–24 mm. Loments longitudinally striate, ovoid, 10 × 5–6 mm, apex acute; pericarp smooth. Seeds ovoid; testa pale. 2n = 40.
Phenology: Flowering Apr–Aug.
Habitat: Roadsides, adjacent fields.
Elevation: 0–50 m.
Distribution
Introduced; Ala., Fla., Ga., South America (Brazil), introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, Asia, Africa.
Discussion
Arachis glabrata is used as a forage crop and groundcover in Florida and, to a limited extent, other parts of southern United States (A. Flores 2008; E. C. French et al. 1994) where it has locally escaped from cultivation. The variation in A. glabrata is extensive; variety hagenbeckii (Harms ex Kuntze) F. J. Hermann is recognized by its narrower leaflets and by its unique native range. Variety hagenbeckii (as A. hagenbeckii Harms) has been reported from Georgia.
Selected References
None.