Name
Vachellia pringlei (Rose) Seigler & Ebinger, Phytologia 87: 165. 2005.syn. Acacia pringlei Rose, contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 3: 316. 1895.
Synonymy and types
Basionym: Acacia pringlei Rose, Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 3: 316. 1895. Acaciopsis pringlei (Rose) Britton & Rose N. Amer. Fl. 23: 95. 1928. - TYPE: MEXICO. OAXACA: Tomellín Canyon, alt. 3000 ft. a tree 20-30 ft. high, 22 Dec 1894, C. G. Pringle 6113 (holotype: US; isotypes: CM, F, MO, UC).
Acacia unijuga Rose, Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 8: 32. 1903. Acaciopsis unijuga (Rose) Britton & Rose, N. Amer. Fl. 28: 95. 1928. - TYPE: MEXICO. SAN LUIS POTOSÍ: Las Palmas, lowlands, 9 Mar 1899, C. G. Pringle 6989 (holotype: US; isotypes: CM, F, LL, MO, UC).
Acacia conzattii Standl., Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 20: 186. 1919. Acaciopsis conzattii (Standl.) Britton & Rose, N. Amer. Fl. 28: 95. 1928. - TYPE: MEXICO. OAXACA: Estación Almaloyas, alt. 700 m, Mar 1907, C. Conzatti 1756 (holotype: US).
Acaciopsis sesquijuga Britton & Rose, N. Amer. Fl. 28: 95. 1928. Acacia sesquijuga (Britton & Rose) Standl., Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Bot. Ser. 3: 277. 1930. - TYPE: MEXICO. YUCATÁN: Silam, G. F. Gaumer 1307 (holotype: MO).
Formal description
Tree to 15 m tall. Bark dark gray to brown, shallowly furrowed. Twigs dark purplish brown to dark gray, slightly flexuous, glabrous to lightly puberulent. Short shoots commonly present above the stipular spines, to 8 mm long, covered with acuminate stipules and old leaf bases. Leaves alternate, also commonly clustered on the short shoots, 4-30 mm long. Stipular spines light to dark purplish brown, usually becoming light gray with age, symmetrical, terete, straight, thin, to 35 (50) x 1.5 (3.0) mm near the base, glabrous to lightly pubescent at the base. Petiole adaxially grooved, 11-30 mm long, glabrous to pubescent; petiolar gland solitary, mostly located medially on the petiole, sessile, circular to elliptic, 0.8-1.8 mm long, apex depressed, glabrous to occasionally puberulent, sometimes absent. Rachis absent. Pinnae 1 pair per leaf, 15-35 mm long. Petiolules 3-18 mm long. Leaflets 2 (very rarely 3) pairs per pinna, subopposite to alternate, 5-18 mm between leaflets, ovate to obovate, terminal leaflets 10-40 x 9-30 mm, the lateral leaflets mostly smaller, glabrous to rarely lightly pabescent beneath, lateral veins obvious, 2 to 4 vein from the base, base oblique, margins usually ciliate, apex obtuse and usually mucronate. Inflorescence a loosely flowered elongated spike, 30-130 mm long, solitary or in clusters of 2 to 8 on the short shoots. Peduncles 0-6 x 0.6-0.9 mm, glabrous to densely puberulent. Involucre usually 4-lobed, at the base of the peduncle, the lobe apex ciliate the remainder glabrous, persistent. Floral bracts spatulate, 0.7-1.2 mm long, puberulent, deciduous. Flowers sessile, white to cream-colored; calyx 4-lobed, 0.7-1.4 mm long, glabrous and striated; corolla 4-lobed, 1.5-2.0 mm long, glabrous or nearly so; stamen filaments 2.5-4.0 mm long, distinct; ovary glabrous, on a stipe to 0.4 mm long. Legumes dark reddish brown, straight to slightly curved, flattened, sometimes slightly constricted between the seeds, linear, 60-200 x 5-8 mm, coriaceous, reticulately striate, glabrous, eglandular, dehiscent; a chartaceous pericarpicstrip lining each valve; stipe to 12 mm long; apexa cuminate and sometimes beaked. Seeds uniseriate, no pulp, dark gray to dark brown, oblong, strongly flattened, 6.3-10.0 x 3.5-4.5 mm, smooth; pleurogram oblong to U-shaped, 1.1-2.0 mm across. Flowers in January to April. Chromosome number: Not determined.
Distribution
From Yucatán through Oaxaca and Veracruz and north to San Luís Potosí and Tamaulipas.
Additional info
Vachellia pringlei is extremely variable morphologically. As a result, Britton and Rose (1928), Standley (1922) and others have divided this taxon into three or four species. These segregated taxa show some regional variation, but no significant differences exist when examined throughout its entire geographic range. Most of the synonomy can probably be attributed to the small number of specimens available to the authors of these names.
The characteristics used to separate the synonyms as separate species (spine length, inflorescence length, and pubescence) varies extensive. Typically specimens have short or no stipular spines, but sometimes spines are to 50 mm long. Also, most plants are nearly glabrous to lightly pubescent, but spines and twigs are rarely strongly pubescent, while the petioles are very rarely densely pilose, and the leaflets are rarely lightly pubescent beneath. Leaflet size and shape and petiole length also varies widely, most of this variation being related to the difference in size of the primary leaves and the mostly smaller leaves that develop from the short shoots.
Vachellia pringlei is easily separate from V. californica by the presence of dense pubescence on both leaflets surfaces of V. californica. Also, V. pringlei usually has much larger leaves with the terminal leaflets on the primary leaves consistently exceeding 25 mm. On the short shoots, the leaves are generally smaller, but the terminal leaflets still commonly exceed 25 mm in length.
The authors have found many sterile specimens of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. labeled Vachellia (Acacia) pringlei. Superficially these taxa are similar, but can be consistently separate since P. dulce has a single pair of leaflets per pinna, and has a stalked petiolar gland between the pinna pair. Vachellia pringlei, in contrast, has most leaves with 2 pairs of leaflets per pinna, and the petiolar gland is sessile and commonly near the middle of the petiole.
Of the 68 specimens of this species tested for cyanide production, six gave a weakly positive test (Lee et al. 1898). Emulsin was added before a positive test was obtained, suggesting that the cyanogenic glycoside is sometimes present, but that the enzyme is not usually produced by the plant.
Flowering time
January-July.
Vachellia pringlei:
January-April.
Representative specimens
MEXICO:
Chiapas:
- Chorreadero de Tuxtla, 5.6 miles E of Chiapa de Corzo, hwy. 190, alt. 2500 ft., 20 Feb 1965, D.E.Breedlove 9085 (MO);
- a 4.5 km al E de la desviación a Pichucalco, 1 Apr 1985, E.Cabrera & H.de Cabrera 8012 (MO);
- along hwy. 190 between Guatemalan border at Cuauhtemoc (El Ocotal) and San Cristóbal de las Casas, 34.2 miles N of border, alt. 1125 m, 14 Feb 1987, T.B.Croat & D.P.Hannon 64847 (ILL);
- Mun. Comitan en Laguna Coila, alt. 1140 m, 7 Jul 1990, A.R.García, R.Hampshire & L.Hernández 1845a (MO);
- 6 km al SE del entronque Tzimol-Uninajab, alt. 1170 m, 24 Feb 1988, A.R.García, M.Sousa & E.Martínez 387 (MO);
- El Chorreadero, 5.6 miles E of Chiapa de Corzo, along hwy. 190, 24 Feb 1966, R.M.Laughlin 190 (LL, US);
- a 15 km al W de Tzimol, camino a Pujiltic, alt. 850 m, 14 Feb 1987, E.Martínez S. 20067 (MO);
- a 36 km al S de Tuxtla Guttiérez, alt. 480 m, 21 Apr 1987, E.Martínez & A.Reyes 20184 (MO);
- Crucero en carr. de Chapa de Corzo a Cala, Mpio Ixtapa, 5 Feb 1986, A.Méndez Ton 8787 (MO);
- cerca de Nido de Aquila, E of Tuxtla, 12 Jun 1950, F.Miranda 5899 (US);
- 2 km al E de Uninajah, alt. 1140 m, 7 Jul 1990, A.Reyes G., R.Hampshire & L.Hernández 1845a (MO);
- a 11 kms al SW de Tzimol, alt. 850 m, 4 Dec 1980, M.Sousa, P.Basurto & T.P.Ramamorthy 11321 (ILL, MO);
- a 8 km al SW de Tzimol, alt. 930, 23 Feb 1988, M.Sousa, E.Martínez & A.Reyes G. 13160 (MO);
- a 8 km al SW de Tzimol, alt. 930, 23 Feb 1988, M.Sousa, E.Martínez & A.Reyes G. 13161 (MO);
- a 4 km al NW de Tzimol, alt. 1050 m, 15 Mar 1981, M.Sousa, T.P.Ramamorthy, G.Andrade & L.Cortes 11893 (MO);
Jalisco:
- road between Bolanos and Guadalajara, 20 Sep 1897, J.N.Rose 3081 (US);
Michoacán:
- 8 km W of Apatzingan, road to Buena Vista, alt. 300 m, 9 Mar 1965, R.McVaugh 22882 (MO, NY);
Oaxaca:
- W of Tehuantepec on hwy. 190, Kw 786, 23 Jan 1964. R.J.Barr & C.T.Mason, Jr. 2376 (TEX, UC);
- about 10 km from Teotitlán, 20 Feb 1992, C.E.Hughes, S.A.Harris & R.Atkinson 1647 (MO);
- San Pedro Alto, Dec 1842, Liebmann 4457 (F);
- Tehuantepec, alt. 200 ft., 17 Feb 1970, T.MacDougall s.n. (NY);
- Tomellín Canyon, alt. 3000 ft., 22 Dec 1894, C.G.Pringle 6113 (CM, F, HBG, MO, UC);
- Tomellín Canyon, 23 Jun 1899, J.N.Rose & W.Hough 4667 (NY);
- Dominquillo, alt. 3000 ft., 22 Feb 1895, L.C.Smith 432 (GH);
- Xiquila, 2 km SW of Teotitlán del Camino, 26 Apr 1978, M.Sousa, J.Adán, J.C.Soto & S.Zarate 9321 (MO, UC);
- a 7 km al N-NW de Tehuantepec, alt. 60 m, 17 Mar 1981, M.Sousa, G.Andrada, L.Cortés & T.P.Ramamorthy 11940 (MO);
- a 2 km al E de Totolapán, alt. 800 m, 13 Dec 1978, M.Sousa, L.Rico & P.Bassurto 10070 (MO);
- Calipán, NW of Coxcatlán, alt. 1050 m, 16 Feb 1978, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9033 (UC);
- Los Reyes, 2 km SE of Teotitlán del Camino, alt. 930 m, 16 Feb 1978, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9040 (MO, UC);
- Santa Rosa, 3 km E of Totolapán, 18 Feb 1978, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9071 (MO, UC);
- El Chacal, 5 km SE of Las Margaritas, 18 Feb 1978, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9073 (MO);
- Las Flautas, 5 km W of Marilú, alt. 350 m, 19 Feb 1978, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9087 (UC);
- 7 km SW of Magdalena Tequisixtlán, road to Tlacolulita, alt. 250 m, 19 Feb 1978, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9094a (MO, UC);
- La Pajima, 9 km SW of Magdalena Tequisixtlani, alt. 250 m, 19 Feb 1978, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9096 (MO);
- Guelaguichi, 13 km WSW of Salina Cruz, alt. 20 m, 20 Feb 1978, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9129 (MO, UC);
- 5 km W of Niltepec, alt. 10 m, 21 Feb 1978, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9159 (UC);
- 5 km al NW de Tehuantepec, alt. 50 m, 18 Feb 1984, P.Tenorio L. & R.Torres C. 5479 (LL, MO);
- 8 Piedra de Cal, al NW de Tehuantepec, 11 Feb 1984, R.Torres C. 4648 (MO, WIS);
- 32 km al SO de Salina Cruz, 20 Feb 1987, R.Torres C. & L.Cortés 9251 (MO);
- Las Minas, 2 km al SE de El Coyul, alt. 850 m, 12 Mar 1983, R.Torres C., P.Tenorio L. & C.Romero de T. 2448 (MO);
Puebla:
- Venta Salada, Valle de Tehuacán, May 1842, Liebmann 4455 (F);
- 1 km al N de Axusco, alt. 1100 m, 9 Apr 1986, A.Salinas T. & O.Dorado R. F-3213 (TEX);
- near Chila, 5 Feb 1942, G.B.Saunders s.n. (US);
- above Calipán along the Barranca de los Mangos, alt. 1000-1800 m, 13 Jul 1961, C.E.Smith, Jr., F.A.Peterson & N.Tejeda 3700 (GH);
- Calipán, NW of Coxcatlán, alt. 1050 m, 16 Feb 1975, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9033 (MO, UC);
- San Jose Tilapa, 16 km SE of Coxcatlán, alt. 900 m, 16 Feb 1975, M.Sousa, O.Téllez & L.Rico 9037 (UC);
- El Paraje, Río Hondo, 10 Feb 1984, P.Tenorio L. 5435 (TEX);
- Barranca de Coatepec, 19 Apr 1985, P.Tenorio L. 8829 (TEX);
- portezuelo de Santa Lucia, Coatepec, alt. 1280 m, 19 Oct 1984, P.Tenorio L. & Tenorio 7843 (MO);
Quintana Roo:
- a 8 km S de la desvación a Puerto Morelos sobre la carretera a Tulum, 12 Mar 1985, E.Cabrera & H.de Cabrera 7812 (MO);
- 3 km al S de la zona urbana, 5 Mar 1986, E.Cabrera & H.de Cabrera 11028 (MO);
- 500 m al N de Playa Lancheros, 6 Jan 1988, E.Cabrera & H.de Cabrera 15392 (MO);
- a 16 km al S de Puerto Morelos, carr. Cancún-Tulum, 15 Feb 1981, E.Cabrera & G.Ibarra 1206 (MO);
- a 7 km al E del Aeropuerto de Cancún en la carr. Punta Nizuc, 2 May 1982, M.Sousa & E.Cabrera 12318 (MO);
- a las afueras de Cancún, 10 Feb 1980, O.Téllez & E.Cabrera 1553 (MO);
- en las afueras de Cancun, hacia el Sur, en camino a Pto. Morelos, 12 Sep 1980, O.Téllez, E.Cabrera & L.Rico 3578 (MO);
San Luís Potosí:
- near Tamuín junction, 9 miles E of Valles, alt. 300 ft., 14 Feb 1960, M.C.Johnston & J.Crutchfield 5131 (TEX);
- 12 miles E of Tamuín, alt. 140 ft., 14 Feb 1960, M.C.Johnston & J.Crutchfield 5139 (TEX);
- 2 miles S of Valles, alt. 600 ft., 6 Mar 1960, M.C.Johnston & J.Crutchfield 5204 (TEX);
- 4 km W of Tamuin on hwy. 70, 21 Dec 1990, D.Seigler, J.Ebinger, H.Clarke & C.Gratton 13219 (EIU, ILL);
- 17 km W of Tamuín near hwy. 70, 21 Dec 1990, D.Seigler, J.Ebinger, H.Clarke & C.Gratton 13227 (ILL);
- E of Ciudad Valles on hwy. 70, 18 May 1991, D.Seigler, J.Ebinger, H.Clarke & K.Readel 13469a (EIU, ILL);
- 13 miles E of Ciudad Valles on hwy. 70, 18 May 1991, D.Seigler, J.Ebinger, H.Clarke & K.Readel 13475 (EIU, ILL);
- 59 miles E of Ciudad Mante, just off hwy. 70, 18 May 1991, D.Seigler, J.Ebinger, H.Clarke & K.Readel 13484 (EIU, ILL);
- 8 miles E of Tamuín on hwy. 70, 6 Jun 1983, D.Seigler, J.Kramer & E.Carreira 12096 (ILL);
- 6 miles S of Ciudad Valles on hwy. 85, 9 Jun 1980, D.S.Seigler, P.M.Richardson & S.Thompson 11624 (ILL);
Tamaulipas:
- 17 miles NW of Altamira on road to Manuel, alt. 100 ft., 11 Mar 1960, M.C.Johnston & J.Crutchfield 5232 (TEX);
Veracruz:
- El Higo, 10 Apr 1979, J.B.Alcorn 2706 (TEX);
- Ejido González Ortega, Pueblo Viejo, alt. 125 m, 2 Mar 1980, S.Avendano R. & L.López 613 (WIS);
- Barranca de Monte Rey, Mpio. Axocuapán, alt. 500 m, 25 Jun 1983, L.Dobles 236 (WIS);
- Dos Rios, Emiliano Zapata, alt. 400 m, 28 Jan 1972, J.Dorantes 487 (F);
- 1 mile S of Tantoyuca, alt. 800 ft., 10 Mar 1960, M.C.Johnston & J.Crutchfield 5225 (TEX);
- Panuco River near Ebano, 28 Feb 1939, H.LeSueur 165 (TEX, US);
- road from Tempoal to Panuco, alt. 100 m, 26 May 1968, T.D.Pennington & J.Sarukhan K. 9600 (A, NY);
- Cerca de Ebano, alt. 80 m, 26 Oct 1967, T.D.Pennington & J.Sarukhan K. 9305 (NY);
- Tempoal, orillo de la carretera a Tampico, alt. 150 m, 20 May 1968, T.D.Pennington & J.Sarukhan K. 9647 (A, NY);
- Canoas junction, 6 Jun 1983, D.Seigler, J.Kramer & E.Carreira 12098 (ILL);
- Plan de Río, Mpio. de Dos Rios, alt. 250 m, 21 Jan 1971, F.Ventura A. 3010 (NY);
- Plan de Río, Mpio. de Dos Rios, alt. 350 m, 21 Jan 1971, F.Ventura A. 8019 (ILL);
- Plan del Río, Mpio. Emiliano Zapata, alt. 300 m, 16 Mar 1982, R.Villanueva G. 100 (WIS);
Yucatán:
- a 4 km al S de Telchak Puerto, 18 Apr 1986, E.Cabrera & H.de Cabrera 11283 (TEX);
- 4-6 km al W de Las Coloradas, 22 Mar 1988, E.Cabrera & H.de Cabrera 15735 (MO);
- 1 km al E de km 8.5 carr. Sinanche-Sn. Crisanto, 15 Feb 1994, R.Duran, J.C.Trejo & M.Way 2078 (F);
- ESE of Dzilam de Bravo, 17 Mar 1956, O.G.Enríquez 502 (US);
- Port Silam, 1895, G.F.Gaumer 656 (MO);
- Silam, G.F.Gaumer 1307 (MO);
- Progreso, G.F.Gaumer 2297 (A, F, GH, MO, NY).