Two New Combinations in Acadella (Mimosoideae: Leguminosae)

Acaciella angustissima (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae), new for Cuba

“…Distribution and habitat -Acaciella angustissima has the widest native distributional range of all species in the genus and occurs from the southern USA through Mexico, Central America and the Andes to Argentina. Outside this range it has been introduced to a number of countries in the Americas, and in Asia and Australia; in the Greater Antilles it is known as an introduction in the Dominican Republic (Rico- Arce & Bachman 2006). In Cuba it has been observed so far in Camagüey province, in the city of Camagüey, near the airport and also near the pig-breeding centre "La Experiencia", in anthropic savanna and at the edge of a plantation of Eucalyptus, in acid soils.…”

“…Its identity could be established as Acaciella angustissima (Mill.) Britton & Rose, and this has been confirmed by L. Rico-Arce, co-monographer of that genus (Rico- Arce & Bachman 2006). Bässler (1998), in his Mimosaceae treatment of the "Flora de la República de Cuba", as other workers until recently, did not consider Acaciella Britton & Rose as a separate genus but included it in Acacia Mill.…”

“…Bässler (1998), in his Mimosaceae treatment of the "Flora de la República de Cuba", as other workers until recently, did not consider Acaciella Britton & Rose as a separate genus but included it in Acacia Mill. Later, Rico- Arce (2004) and Rico-Arce & Bachman (2006) reinstated Acaciella, pointing out that the genus is characterized by features exceptional in Acacia s.str. : the plants are unarmed, they lack extrafloral nectaries, they have pedicellate flowers, and they have pollen in 8-celled polyads.…”

“…According to Rico- Arce & Bachman (2006), the native distribution of Acaciella extends from the southern USA across Mexico, Central America and the Andes to Argentina. Most of the 15 species recognized by Rico- Arce & Bachman (2006) occur only in Mexico, where species occupy a wide range of habitats from near sealevel to 2500 m. The species are tolerant of a wide range of soil types and form an important natural browsing resource. A. angustissima and at least three other species are cultivated for this purpose outside their native range, including in Asia and Australia (Rico- Arce & Bachman 2006).…”

“…Most of the 15 species recognized by Rico- Arce & Bachman (2006) occur only in Mexico, where species occupy a wide range of habitats from near sealevel to 2500 m. The species are tolerant of a wide range of soil types and form an important natural browsing resource. A. angustissima and at least three other species are cultivated for this purpose outside their native range, including in Asia and Australia (Rico- Arce & Bachman 2006). Legume glabrescent with a beak to 5 mm; seeds oval in outline (Fig.…”