Name
Vachellia hindsii (Bentham) Seigler & Ebinger, Phytologia 87: 159. 2005.syn. Acacia hindsii Bentham, London Journal Botany 1: 504. 1842.
Synonymy and types
Basionym: Acacia hindsii Benth., London J. Bot. 1: 504. 1842. Myrmecodendron hindsii (Benth.) Britton & Rose, N. Amer. Fl. 23: 91. 1928. - TYPE: MEXICO. JALISCO: Jalisco, shore of Manzanilla Bay, sea level, 1841, R. B. Hinds 248 (holotype: K, F photo).
Acacia bursaria Schenck, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 363. 1913. - TYPE: GUATEMALA. AMATITLÁN: Laguna Amatitlán, alt. 3,900 ft., Feb 1890, J. D. Smith 2304 [lectotype, designated by Seigler and Ebinger (1995): US (B, destroyed); isotypes: GH, K].
Acacia sinaloensis Saff., J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 4: 365. 1914. - TYPE: MEXICO. SINALOA: vicinity of Villa Unión, growing about a pond, 2 Apr 1910, J. N. Rose, P. C. Standley & P. G. Russell 13972 (holotype: US; isotype: NY).
Acacia tepicana Saff., J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 4: 366. 1914. - TYPE: MEXICO. NAYARIT: thickets, vicinity of Acoponeta, Tepic, alt. 30 m, 10 Apr 1910, J. N. Rose, P. C. Standley & P. G. Russell 14357 (holotype: US, F photo; isotype: NY).
Formal description
Tree to 13 m tall. Bark dark brown to gray, shallowly furrowed. Twigs reddish brown to dark brown, not flexuous, glabrous to rarely lightly puberulent. Short shoots absent. Leaves alternate, 45-180 mm long. Stipular spines light brown to nearly black, sometimes light gray, symmetrical, flattened near the base, nearly flat to broadly U-shaped across the top, straight, stout and inflated, 30-55 x 10-20 mm near the base, glabrous to lightly puberulent. Petiole adaxially grooved, 7-14 mm long, usually densely puberulent; petiolar glands (1-2)3 to 7, scattered along the petiole, sessile, narrow volcano-shaped to nearly columnar, apex nearly circular, 0.4-0.7 mm across, base 0.8-1.2 mm across, puberulent and lightly striate. Rachis adaxially grooved, 35-170 mm long, usually puberulent, a small narrow volcano-shaped to columnar gland located between each pinna pair. Pinnae 10 to 18 pairs per leaf, 20-45 mm long, 5-12 mm between pinna pairs. Petiolules 0.4-1.6 mm long. Leaflets 12 to 30 pairs per pinna, opposite, 0.9-2.0 mm between leaflets, linear, 3.0-7.3 x 0.9-1.8 mm, glabrous, lateral veins not obvious, only one vein from the base, base oblique, margins lightly ciliate, apex obtuse; beltian bodies 0.5-1.0 mm long. Inflorescence a densely flowered cylindrical spike nearly the same thickness throughout, 20-50 x 4-7 mm, in short, leafy racemose clusters with 1 to 3(4-8) spikes at each node in the axil of a reduced leaf. Peduncles 10-20 x 0.6-1.1 mm, glabrous to lightly puberulent. Involucre 4- lobed, located near the base to lower third of the peduncle, glabrous to lightly puberulent, persistent. Floral bracts peltate, 0.4-0.7 mm long, apex circular and ciliate, deciduous. Flowers sessile, yellowish; calyx 5-lobed, 0.5-1.1 mm long,lightly puberulent; corolla 5-lobed, 1.6-2.0 mm long, about twice as long as the calyx, lightly puberulent; stamen filaments 2.1-3.1 mm long, distinct; ovary glabrous, on a stalk 0.1 mm long. Legumes black to dark brown, curved, elliptical in cross section, not constricted between the seeds, oblong, 40-100 x 8-12 mm, coriaceous, not striate, glabrous to lightly puberulent, eglandular, dehiscent along one sutures; stipe less than 5 mm long; apex acute, narrowing to a beak 10-15 mm long. Seeds uniseriate, imbedded in a white pulp, dark brown, ellipsoid to rhomboid, slightly flattened, 4.5-7.8 x 3.3-5.0 mm, smooth; pleurogram oval to U-shaped, 2.1-3.4 mm across. Flowers in January to July. Chromosome number: Not determined.
Distribution
Disturbed, usually wet sites of the pacific lowlands and foothills, usually below an altitude of 1300 m, from extreme southern Sinaloa, Mexico, south to Nicaragua (Seigler and Ebinger 1995).
Additional info
Vachellia hindsii is easily separated from all other ant-acacias by its stipular spines that are flattened at the base and nearly flat to broadly U-shaped across the top. It is morphologically very similar to V. collinsii and V. gentlei, both of which have relatively small leaves and cylindrical spikes, but differs in leaflets that lack obvious secondary venation.
Like Vachellia collinsii and V. cornigera, V. hindsii has an extensive geographic range. Unlike these species, however, A. hindsii is restricted to the Pacific lowlands and foothills in Mexico and Central America. Before the existence of extensive agriculture in the region it was probably common along rivers, in deciduous and semideciduous forests, and in mangrove swamps (Janzen 1974). Presently it is a common element of shrubby regeneration, particularly in wetter habitats such as river banks, where it commonly forms dense thickets by means of root-sprouts. As is typical of most ant-acacias that inhabit more open sites, Beltian body production in V. hindsii is relatively extensive. In this species, the small, elongated Beltian bodies are found commonly on more than 60% of the leaflets of developing leaves.
Vachellia hindsii is polymorphic with respect to HCN production (Seigler and Ebinger 1987), being reported acyanogenic by Rehr et al. (1973), whereas Seigler et al. (1978) found individuals that were strongly cyanogenic. More recently Seigler and Ebinger (1995) found about 40% of 300 individuals tested positive for HCN production. The cyanogenic glycoside in this species is proacacipetalin (Seigler et al. 1978).
Vachellia hindsii probably hybridizes with the ant-acacia V. collinsii. It also has been reported to hybridize with non-ant-acacias of the V. macracantha complex, particularly V. pennatula (Vachellia x standleyi Safford), and V. campechiana (syn. Acacia cochliacantha) (Vachellia x gladiata Safford).
Flowering time
January-July.
Representative specimens
EL SALVADOR:
Ahuachapán:
- 25.5 miles S of the Guatemala-El Salvador border (Pijije) on the lowland road, 14 Jan 1965, D.H.Janzen 1051 (US);
- Municipio San Fco. Menéndez, 15 Jan 1992, Sandoval 197 (MO);
- San Benito, 16 Feb 1990, A.Sermeno 1010 (MO);
La Unión:
- base of low coastal hills, alt. 5 m, 23 Mar 1939, A.A.Beetle 26256 (US);
- vicinity of La Unión, alt. 150 m, 13-21 Feb 1922, P.C.Standley 20663 (NY, UC, US);
Morazán:
- about 2 km NW of Montecristo, alt. 150 m, 7 Dec 1941, J.M.Tucker 486 (US);
San Miguel:
- Laguna de Olomega, alt. 75 m, 20 Feb 1922, P.C.Standley 21027 (US);
- vicinity of San Miguel, alt. 110 m, 24-27 Feb 1932, P.C.Standley 21063 (US);
San Salvador:
- along the road from San Martín to Laguna de Ilopango, 1 Apr 1922, P.C.Standley 22622 (US);
San Vincente:
- vicinity of Apastepeque, 4 Mar 1922, P.C.Standley 21333 (NY, US);
- vicinity of San Vicente, alt. 350-500 m, 2-11 Mar 1922, P.C.Standley 21291 (US);
- vicinity of San Vicente, alt. 350-500 m, 2-11 Mar 1922, P.C.Standley 21686 (NY, US);
Sonsonate:
- vicinity of Sonsonata, alt. 220-300 m, 18-27 Mar 1922, P.C.Standley 21764 (US);
- vicinity of Acajutla, alt. 30 m, 20 Mar 1922, P.C.Standley 21942 (US);
- vicinity of San Antonio del Monte, alt. 250 m, 23 Mar 1922, P.C.Standley 22162 (US);
- vicinity of Armenia, 18 Apr 1922, P.C.Standley 23449 (NY, US).
GUATEMALA:
Alta Verapaz:
- near Pancajche, alt. 360 m, 5 Apr 1939, P.C.Standley 70648 (F);
Amatitlan:
- Moran, 8 Feb 1905, W.A.Kellerman 4531 (US);
- Laguna (Lake Amatitlan), alt. 1200 m, 18 Jan 1906, W.A.Kellerman 5042 (RSA, US);
- S shore of Lake Amatitlan, 19 Apr 1905, H.Pittier 97 (US);
- Laguna Amatitlan, alt. 3900 ft., Feb 1890, J.D.Smith 2304 (US);
Escuintla:
- 2.1 miles SW of Palin on hwy. 3, 12 Jan 1965, D.H.Janzen 1050 (US);
- S of Rio Burrion, NE of Escuintla, alt. 700 m, 16 Mar 1941, P.C.Standley 89619 (F);
Guatemala:
- 19 km S of Guatemala City on C.A. 8, 1 Sep 1965, D.H.Janzen 774 (EIU);
- 10 km S of Guatemala toward Villa Canales, 22 Aug 1961, C.H.Muller 11093 (UCSB);
Quezaltenango:
- about 4 miles W of Coatepeque on hwy. 6, 12 Jan 1965, D.H.Janzen 1049 (US);
El Petén:
- Tikal, alt. 100-500 m, 2 Apr 1922, O.F.Cook & R.D.Martin 170 (US);
Retalhuleu:
- Puente Samala, 3.8 miles NE of San Felipe on hwy. 9, 18 Jul 1966, D.H.Janzen 400 (US);
- about 5 miles W of Retalhuleu on hwy. 2, 16 Jul 1966, D.H.Janzen 404 (US);
- vicinity of Retalhuleu, alt. 240 m, 17 Feb-1 Mar 1941, P.C.Standley 88846 (F);
San Marcos:
- Ocos, alt. 1-2 m, 15 Mar 1940, J.A.Steyermark 37779 (F);
Santa Rosa:
- Río de Las Cañas, Apr 1892, J.D.Smith 3299 (US);
- along road SE of Barberena, alt. 1100-1180 m, 21 Nov 1940, P.C.Standley 7783 (F).
HONDURAS:
Capan:
- Finca Vincente Cardona, alt. 416 m, 17 Apr 1965, J.D.Dickerson 1451 (US);
Choluteca:
- El Corpus, Bosque de hoja ancha, alt. 500 m, 28 Feb 1980, E.Izaguirre 89 (ILL);
Comayagua:
- La Lima, alt. 3000 ft., 2 Jul 1932, J.B.Edwards 380 (US);
- Encinales del Valle de El Espino cerca de San Jerónimo, alt. 350 m, 14 Apr 1957, A.Molina R. 8059 (F, MO, US);
- Ojos de Agua, alt. 350 m, 8 Jan 1981, C.Nelson, A.Diaz, R.Rodríguez, A.Andino, H.Martínez & E.Romero 6844 (EIU, UNAH);
- vicinity of Sequatepeque, alt. 1080-1400 m, 14-27 Feb 1928, P.C.Standley 56333 (US);
Isla Tigra:
- vicinity of Amapala, alt. 250 m, 14 Feb 1922, P.C.Standley 20729 (US);
- vicinity of Amapala, alt. 250 m, 14 Feb 1922, P.C.Standley 20783 (US);
Morazán:
- along road and thickets of Reitoco village, alt. 325 m, 21 Feb 1971, A.Molina R. 2596 (F, NY, US).
MEXICO:
Chiapas:
- 10-20 km SW of Colonia Agronomas Mexicanos along a logging road to the ridge of Cerro Tres Picos, alt. 100 m, 8 Feb 1972, D.E.Breedlove 23927 (MO, TEX);
- steep wooded canyon N and S of Ixhuatan, 4 Aug 1967, O.Clarke 45 (ILL);
- 1.4 miles N of Ixhuatan, alt. 1800 ft., 4 Aug 1967, O.Clarke 515 (ILL);
- Providencia, 13 Dec 1906, G.N.Collins & C.B.Doyle 74 (US);
- 2 miles E of the village of Tres Picos, alt 100 ft., 20 Mar 1954, L.I.Davis s.n. (TEX);
- Tonala, Oct 1913, C.A.Purpus 6838 (US);
- 13 miles NE of the border of Chiapas & Oaxaca on hwy. 190, 31 May 1980, D.S.Seigler, P.M.Richardson & S.Thompson 11583 (ILL);
- a 5 km al SW de Chicomucelo, alt. 710 m, 18 Nov 1984, M.Sousa, G.Davidse, S.Davidse, O.Téllez & E.Martínez S. 12905 (MO);
- along the Río Cuztepeques near Finca Cuztepeques, 26 Mar 1968, A.S.Ton 3903 (F);
- Rio Chamulapa, Municipio de Huehuetán, alt. 50 m, 7 Feb 1985, E.Ventura & López 1077 (MO);
Colima:
- 12 km S of Colima, alt. 500 m, 4 Aug 1960, H.Iltis, R.Koeppam & F.Iltis 680 (WIS);
- Manzanillo, 25 Jun 1892, M.E.Jones s.n. (MICH, US);
- Manzanillo, 1-31 Dec 1890, E.Palmer 1395 (MO, NY, US);
- along road between El Ciruelo and Cuyutlán, 11 Mar 1943, C.L.Gilly, Sr., W.J.Bonisteel & D.Dodds 23 (MICH);
- 2 miles E of Armeria on hwy. 110, 23 May 1980, D.S.Seigler, P.M.Richardson & S.Thompson 11531 (ILL);
- on Bay of Manzanillo, 20 May 1939, H.E.Stork, W.J.Eyerdam, J.L.Morrison & O.B.Horton 25196 (G, US);
Guerrero:
- sandy river bank, Tecpan-El Verde, alt. 20 m, G.B.Hinton 14120 (MO, TEX, US);
- El Ocotito on hwy. 95, 7 Jan 1965, D.H.Janzen 1031 (US);
- 10 miles NE of Las Cruces on hwy. 95, 8 Jan 1965, D.H.Janzen 1035 (US);
- along route 200, ca. 29 miles E of Acapulco, 18 Mar 1961, R.M.King 4184 (F, TEX, UC, US);
- Xochistlahuaca, Mar 1985, B.López C. 85-3-2 (MO);
- a 1.5 km al S de Agua Zarca, alt. 200 m, 6 Mar 1983, E.M.Martínez 3376 (MO);
- Acapulco-Tres Palos, 23 Mar 1982, E.Martínez S. & O.Téllez 83 (ILL);
- a 4 km al SE de Tlahuizapa, en la orillo del Río Potrero, camino El Ocotito-Jaleaca, 25 March 1982, E.Martínez S. & O.Téllez 171 (ILL);
- Acapulco and vicinity, Oct 1894-Mar 1895, E.Palmer 390 (F, MO, NY, US);
- a 15 km al SE de Tierra Colorado, camino Tierra Colorado-Ayutla de los libres, alt. 320 m, 12 May 1982, D.Rodríguez B. & E.Martínez S. 139 (ILL);
- 11 miles N of El Rincón, 27 May 1980, D.S.Seigler, P.M.Richardson & S.Thompson 11550 (ILL);
- near airport at Acapulco, 28 May 1980, D.S.Seigler, P.M.Richardson & S.Thompson 11556 (ILL);
Jalisco:
- 300 m al NE of Durazno, Mpio. Cuautitlán, alt. 890 m, 10 May 1990, J.Cevallos, A.L.Cárdenas, D.DeNiz & L.Robles 16 (WIS);
- slopes of Sierra Perote, 19 km by road E of Cuautitlán, alt. 870 m, 28 Mar 1989, T.S.Cochrane, M.A.Wetter & M.Rosales C. 11803 (CM, WIS);
- 2-4 km al NE de C. Castillo, alt. 400-600 m, 4 Mar 1988, R.Cuevaz & L.Guzmán 2370 (WIS);
- 1 km al N de Cuzalpa, Mpio. de Cuautitlán, alt. 800 m, 8 Apr 1987, R.Cuevas & M.Rosales 1974 (WIS);
- vicinity of La Palomita, ca 25 km ESE of Tomatlán, alt. 250 m, 14 Jan 1979, H.H.Itlis & M.Nee 1601 (WIS);
- 21.7 miles SW of Autlán on hwy. 80, 5 Jan 1965, D.H.Janzen 1027 (US);
- 2 miles NW of Barra de Navidad on hwy. 80, 5 Jan 1965, D.H.Janzen 1028 (US);
- 48 miles S of Puerto Vallarta, 9 Mar 1973, C.D.Johnson 456-73 (US);
- entrada al centro vacacional azucarero "los Angeles Locos" de Teuacalitla, 24 Mar 1980, J.A.S.Magallánes 2267 (ILL, MO);
- just E of Barra de Navidad in sandy soil near sea level, in thickets about margin of palm forest, 7 Apr 1951, R.McVaugh 11847 (US);
- entre Ayotitlán y Chancol, Mpio. Cuautitlán, alt. 900 m, 23 Feb 1989, F.Santana, M.Anaya & L.Robles 4337 (WIS);
- 2 miles E of intersection of Mexico 80 and 200, near Barra de Navidad, 23 Jul 1975, D.S.Seigler & G.Holstein 9575 (ILL);
- Barra de Navidad, 23 May 1980, D.S.Seigler, P.M.Richardson & S.Thompson 11531 (ILL);
Michoacán:
- environs de La Orilla, alt. 25 m, 10 May 1898, E.Langlassé 156 (F);
- a 10 km al N de Playa Azul, carr. a Nueva Italia, J.C.Soto N. & B.Boom 2115 (MO, US);
- 8 km al NW de Lázaro Cárdenas, carr. a La Mira, alt. 120 m, 23 Mar 1981, J.C.Soto N. & R.Torres C. 2703 (WIS);
Nayarit:
- 16 miles NW of Tepic along hwy. to Acaponeta, alt. 1000-2000 ft., 22 Jun 1951, H.S.Gentry & C.L.Gilly 10645 (LL);
- 4 miles NE of San Blas, 5 Jan 1965, D.H.Janzen 1019 (US);
- hwy. 46, 7 km E of San Blas, NW of Topic, 23 Dec 1966, J.M.Keefe 1401 (UCSB);
- La Palma, alt. 20 m, 1923, J.G.Ortega 91 (US);
- 4 miles S of intersection to Acaponeta on hwy. 15, 25 Jun 1981, D.S.Seigler & P.M.Richardson 11797 (ILL);
- 4 miles S of intersection to Acaponeta on hwy. 15, 25 Jun 1981, D.S.Seigler & P.M.Richardson 11798 (ILL);
- en el entronque de la carr. Tepic-Mazatlán a Tuxpán, 1 Feb 1990 O.Téllez V. 12673 (MO);
- 15 miles E of San Blas, 30 May 1966, J.S.Wilson 11126 (TEX);
Oaxaca:
- Putla, alt. 620 m, 28 Mar 1988, E.S.Camacho 181 (MO);
- San Gerónimo, 9 Dec 1906, G.N.Collins & C.B.Doyle 29 (US);
- Tinohysa, May 1849, H.Galeotti 3472 (US);
- 2.7 miles E of Tehuantepec on hwy. 190, 10 Jun 1965, D.H.Janzen 1041 (F, US);
- Pinotepa Nacional, Jul 1845, C.Jurgensen 169 (G);
- sand dunes behind the beach at Salina Cruz, 30 Jun 1960, R.M.King 2461 (TEX, US);
- Río Cascabel, 14 Mar 1934, C.D.Mell 2234 (US);
- vicinity of Cafetal, Concordis, alt. 400-650 m, 1-15 Apr 1933, C.V.Morton & E.Makrinius 2427 (US);
- road from Jamiltepec to Río Verde, alt. 400-1000 ft., 24 Feb 1985, E.W.Nelson 2360 (US);
- 17 miles E of Tehuantepec on hwy. 190, 3 Aug 1975, D.S.Seigler & G.Holstein 9767 (ILL);
- Pinotepa Nacional, 28 May 1980, D.S.Seigler, P.M.Richardson & S.Thompson 11564 (ILL);
- 3 miles N of Puerto Escondido, 29 May 1980, D.S.Seigler, P.M.Richardson & S.Thompson 11569 (ILL);
- 6 miles S of La Ventosa Jct. on Mexico 190, 31 May 1980, D.S.Seigler, P.M.Richardson & S.Thompson 11583 (ILL);
- 23 km W of Pinotepa Nacional on hwy. 200, 17 Jul 1993, D.S.Seigler, D.Clarke & K.Potgieter 13920 (EIU, ILL);
- a 5 km al E de Río Grande, Distr. de Juguila, alt. 20 m, 5 Feb 1977, M.Sousa, O.Téllez, M.Ladd & J.C.Soto 7080 (TEX);
- San Isidor, 23 km al NE de Putla, alt. 1270 m, 4 Apr 1982, P.Tenorio & R.Torres G. 193 (MO, US);
- Río Concordia, 18 Mar 1983, P.Tenorio L., R.Torres G. & C.Romera de T. 3518 (MO);
- 6 km al N de Nejapa, alt. 280 m, 21 Mar 1983, P.Tenorio L., R.Torres G. & C.Romera de T. 3587 (MO);
Sinaloa:
- Balboa, 1923, J.G.Ortega 5110 (US);
- El Habal, 1923, J.G.Ortega 5200 (US);
- near Colomas, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, 17 Jul 1897, J.N.Rose 1766 (NY, US);
- 20 km S of Villa Unión on hwy. 15, 24 Jun 1981, D.S.Seigler & P.M.Richardson 11789 (ILL).
NICARAGUA:
Chinandega:
- Ameya, sea level, 19-21 Jun 1923, W.R.Maxon, A.D.Harvey & A.T.Valentine 7176 (US);
- Potosí, alt. 30-40 m, 27 Oct 1983, W.Robeto & B.Quezada 97 (CM, MO).