Shrubs or trees, to 4 m. Stems glabrous in age; pith spongy, soon becoming obsolete. Leaves 4.5–30+ cm; stipules 0.4–0.5 cm, with inconspicuous inner fold 2/3 its length, inner fold and base often with stipitate, multicellular glands and long, simple hairs; pulvinus less than 1/2 as long as petiole; rachis ± appressed-pilose, with or without stipitate glands in canal, stipitate gland present at petiolule base; stipels narrow, gland tipped; leaflets 14–40, blades elliptic to oblong-obovate, base acute-obtuse, apex truncate to obtuse, surfaces glabrous or sparsely pubescent abax­ially, usually glabrous adaxially. Peduncles (1.1–)2.1–2.4(–3.3) cm. Inflorescences 5–15+-flowered, racemes. Flowers (1.8–)2–2.2(–2.5) cm; calyx ± zygomorphic, usu­ally absent at fruit maturity, lobes 5, short and broad, sinuses shallow, rim of tube glabrous, stalked glands absent; corolla orange-grenadine-red; banner ovate, base truncate, apex emarginate, calluses as relatively small, acute teeth at claw base; wings without basal tooth; keel ± same color throughout, apex rounded-obtuse, curved upward, without basal tooth; stamens curved upward within keel; style curved upward with stamens; ovules 6 or 7(–10). Legumes red-brown, with or without horizontal mottling, 4-angled, square in cross section, ± straight, with pronounced, spreading wings, torulose or not, (5.2–)8.8–9.5(–10.7) × (0.7–)0.8(–9) cm, seed compartments slightly pronounced externally in age, beak long-pyramidal to triangular, (0.5–)0.9–1(–1.4) cm, tardily dehiscent; stipe (0.8–)1.1–1.2(–1.6) cm. Seeds (1–)6 or 7(–10), red-brown to gray, without mottling, globose to reniform-orbicular. 2n = 12.

Phenology: Flowering early summer–fall.
Habitat: Wet areas, riparian, wetlands, coastal, disturbed sites.
Elevation: 0–500 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Ala., Ark., Calif., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex., Va., South America, introduced also in e Mexico, West Indies, Central America, Africa (South Africa).

Discussion

Sesbania punicea is used as an ornamental and is commonly sold under the name Scarlet Sesban. This native of central South America can survive short freezes and has escaped and become a noxious weed in some wetland locations.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.