Philenoptera katangensis (De Wild.) Schrire

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by J.M. Lock*

Morphology General Habit

Tree or shrub up to 10 m tall, crown rounded or spreading; bark rough, dark. Tree or shrub up to 10 m tall, crown rounded or spreading; bark rough, dark.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets pubescent, soon glabrescent; bark red-brown, becoming greyish and cracking. Branchlets pubescent, soon glabrescent; bark red-brown, becoming greyish and cracking.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–5-foliolate; petiole up to 5 cm long; rachis 4–7 cm long; leaflets pubescent on upper surface, soon glabrescent, whitish-pubescent beneath, especially on the nerves; lateral nerves in 4–6 pairs, brownish and prominent beneath; lateral leaflets 4.5–9 × 2.8–6 cm, elliptic, rounded to acute at the apex, cuneate at the base; terminal leaflet 7.5–14 × 4.5–9 cm, elliptic to obovate, retuse to abruptly acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base; stipules 3–6 mm long, subulate, early caducous; stipels c.5 mm long, subulate, subpersistent. Leaves 3–5-foliolate; petiole up to 5 cm long; rachis 4–7 cm long; leaflets pubescent on upper surface, soon glabrescent, whitish-pubescent beneath, especially on the nerves; lateral nerves in 4–6 pairs, brownish and prominent beneath; lateral leaflets 4.5–9 × 2.8–6 cm, elliptic, rounded to acute at the apex, cuneate at the base; terminal leaflet 7.5–14 × 4.5–9 cm, elliptic to obovate, retuse to abruptly acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base; stipules 3–6 mm long, subulate, early caducous; stipels c.5 mm long, subulate, subpersistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle up to 30 cm long, usually precocious in the axils of fallen leaves, or occasionally terminal on a leafy shoot, brown-grey-tomentose. Inflorescence a panicle up to 30 cm long, usually precocious in the axils of fallen leaves, or occasionally terminal on a leafy shoot, brown-grey-tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pink to blue, 10–13 mm long. Flowers pink to blue, 10–13 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–6 mm long, upper tooth-pair c.3 mm long, retuse, the lateral ones 1.5–3 mm long, obtuse to acute, the lower one 2.5–4 mm long, triangular-acute. Calyx 4–6 mm long, upper tooth-pair c.3 mm long, retuse, the lateral ones 1.5–3 mm long, obtuse to acute, the lower one 2.5–4 mm long, triangular-acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 5–7-ovulate, 6 mm long, shortly stipitate, densely pilose; style 3 mm long, glabrous.

Distribution

Also in Congo (Katanga), Burundi and Tanzania (Western Province).

Ecology

In miombo woodland; 1200–1400 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Only a few specimens known from the Flora Zambesiaca area, but fairly widespread outside. Probably Lower Risk, Least Concern.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard patent-reflexed, c.12 mm long, blade subcircular, 10–11 mm in diameter, with calluses at the base, glabrous on the back; wings obovate, 12.5–13.5 × 3.5–4 mm, auricle c.1 mm long, acute, claw 1.5 mm long; keel petals 12–13 × 5–7 mm, arcuate-cucullate, auricle acute, claw 1.5–3 mm long. Standard patent-reflexed, c.12 mm long, blade subcircular, 10–11 mm in diameter, with calluses at the base, glabrous on the back; wings obovate, 12.5–13.5 × 3.5–4 mm, auricle c.1 mm long, acute, claw 1.5 mm long; keel petals 12–13 × 5–7 mm, arcuate-cucullate, auricle acute, claw 1.5–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 5–7-ovulate, 6 mm long, shortly stipitate, densely pilose; style 3 mm long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 1–4-seeded, up to 10 × 2 cm, linear, rounded at the apex, cuneate at the base, chartaceous, thinly pubescent; stipe c.3 mm long. Pod 1–4-seeded, up to 10 × 2 cm, linear, rounded at the apex, cuneate at the base, chartaceous, thinly pubescent; stipe c.3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Mature seed not seen. Mature seed not seen.

Use

Miscellaneous, Wood