Philenoptera nelsii (Schinz) Schrire

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard patent-reflexed, c.12 mm long, blade subcircular, 10–11 mm in diameter, with prominent calluses at the base, glabrous on the back; wings 12.5–13.5 × 3.5–4 mm, obovate, auricle c.0.8 mm long, acute, claw 1.5 mm long; keel petals 12–12.5 × 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 prominent calluses at the base, glabrous on the back; wings 12.5–13.5 × 3.5–4 mm, obovate, auricle c.0.8 mm long, acute, claw 1.5 mm long; keel petals 12–12.5 × 5–7 mm, arcuate-cucullate, auricle acute, claw 1.5–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed 12 × 9 × 2 mm, testa brown, smooth. Seed 12 × 9 × 2 mm, testa brown, smooth.

Distribution

Also in Namibia and SW Angola.

Ecology

In dry open woodland and bushland, generally on Kalahari sands; 800–1200 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: A widespread species, often common where it occurs. Lower Risk, Least Concern.

Morphology General Habit

Tree or shrub up to 12 m tall; crown rounded or irregular; bark rough, grey to dark brown. Tree or shrub up to 12 m tall; crown rounded or irregular; bark rough, grey to dark brown.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets pubescent, glabrescent or tomentose with bark red-brown, becoming blackish. Branchlets pubescent, glabrescent or tomentose with bark red-brown, becoming blackish.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves unifoliolate or occasionally 3-foliolate; lamina leathery or stiff, glabrous on upper surface, ± densely grey-pubescent beneath; lateral nerves in 4–6 pairs, these and the dense reticulation prominent beneath; lamina of unifoliolate leaves up to 16 × 9 cm, broadly ovate to elliptic, petiole 0.8–2 cm long; laminae of leaflets of 3-foliolate leaves smaller, pubescent-glabrescent, apex rounded or obtuse to subacute, base rounded or obtuse; petiole up to 5 cm long; stipules 3–6 mm long, subulate, near-persistent; stipels c.5 mm long, subulate, near-persistent. Leaves unifoliolate or occasionally 3-foliolate; lamina leathery or stiff, glabrous on upper surface, ± densely grey-pubescent beneath; lateral nerves in 4–6 pairs, these and the dense reticulation prominent beneath; lamina of unifoliolate leaves up to 16 × 9 cm, broadly ovate to elliptic, petiole 0.8–2 cm long; laminae of leaflets of 3-foliolate leaves smaller, pubescent-glabrescent, apex rounded or obtuse to subacute, base rounded or obtuse; petiole up to 5 cm long; stipules 3–6 mm long, subulate, near-persistent; stipels c.5 mm long, subulate, near-persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence up to 30 cm long, borne precociously in axils of fallen leaves, or terminal, yellowish-grey-tomentose. Inflorescence up to 30 cm long, borne precociously in axils of fallen leaves, or terminal, yellowish-grey-tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers mauve to pinkish, 10–12 mm long. Flowers mauve to pinkish, 10–12 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–6 mm long, upper tooth-pair c.2.5 mm long, retuse, the lateral ones 1–2 mm long, obtuse, the lower one 2.5–3 mm long, triangular-acute. Calyx 4–6 mm long, upper tooth-pair c.2.5 mm long, retuse, the lateral ones 1–2 mm long, obtuse, the lower one 2.5–3 mm long, triangular-acute.

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