Pericarp Anatomy in Sesbania (Fabaceae) of the Southeastern United States and Its Systematic Significance

Sesbania is circumscribed by some authors to include sections Daubentonia and Glottidium. Others consider these sections as distinct genera closely related to Sesbania. Most recently, Glottidium has been treated as a monotypic genus and Daubentonia retained as a section of Sesbania. Comparative anatomy of cotyledons, leaves, and pericarps of species of Glottidium, Daubentonia and Sesbania (sensu stricto) from the southeastern United States reveals numerous shared character states; however, pericarp anatomy distinguishes Glottidium from the other taxa. These results are consistent with the segregation of Glottidium and the retention of Daubentonia within Sesbania.