Pithecellobium keyense, commonly called Florida Keys blackbead', or Florida Key apes-earring, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family (Fabaceae).
Distribution and habitat
It is native to The Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Mexico (in the states of Quintana Roo and Yucatán), and the U.S. state of Florida.3 It typically grows over sand and limestone substrates, often near coastal areas.45 It is a common species throughout much of its range.67
Description
Pithecellobium keyense is a shrub or small tree. It has pinnately compound leaves, with 2-4 leaflets. The leaves are evergreen and leathery in texture. Flowers are produced in heads, and range in color from white to pink. Its fruits are a long coiled bean.8
References
NRCS. "Pithecellobium keyense". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 29 July 2018. /wiki/Natural_Resources_Conservation_Service ↩
"Pithecellobium keyense. NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 5 May 2023. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.147447/Pithecellobium_keyense ↩
Grandtner, M.M. (2005). Elsevier's Dictionary of Trees: Volume 1: North America. Elsevier Science. p. 671. ↩
Pithecellobium keyense Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve http://www.levypreserve.org/Plant-Listings/Pithecellobium-keyense ↩
Florida Keys blackbead The Institute for Regional Conservation https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Pithkeye ↩
Pithecellobium keyense Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve http://www.levypreserve.org/Plant-Listings/Pithecellobium-keyense ↩
Florida Keys blackbead The Institute for Regional Conservation https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Pithkeye ↩
Pithecellobium keyense Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve http://www.levypreserve.org/Plant-Listings/Pithecellobium-keyense ↩