The genus Erythrina (Leguminosae) in Argentina

Abstract

The genus Erythrina in Argentina is composed of three native species: E. crista-galli var. cristagalli, E. falcata and E. dominguezi, the first two taxa are morphologically very similar and it is difficult to identify them based on herbarium material. The aim of this contribution is to review the Argentinean taxa of Erythrina, to study their morphological intraspecific variation and to propose new characters to delimit them clearly. Three hundred samples from herbaria and new collections from Salta,
Jujuy and Tucumán (Argentina) were analyzed. Most E. crista-galli populations from northwestern Argentina are characterized, and differ from those of the rest of the country, by the elliptical leaflets, larger flowers, long pedicels, tubular-campanulate to urceolate calyx and the falcate and acute keel.
Based on those populations a new variety, E. crista-galli var. longiflora, is proposed. The descriptions of two exotic species E. similis and E. poeppigiana, cultivated as ornamentals, are included.