Philenoptera wankieensis (Mendonça & E.P.Sousa) Lock

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

Morphology General Habit

Small deciduous tree or bush 3–10 m tall; bark grey, flaking. Small deciduous tree or bush 3–10 m tall; bark grey, flaking.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 10–12 mm long, pale purple or blue; pedicels 1–2 mm long. Flowers 10–12 mm long, pale purple or blue; pedicels 1–2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 5–7 mm long, the upper pair of teeth c.1.5 mm long, acute, slightly bilobed at apex, the other teeth 2.5–3 mm long, narrowly triangular, acute or acuminate. Calyx 5–7 mm long, the upper pair of teeth c.1.5 mm long, acute, slightly bilobed at apex, the other teeth 2.5–3 mm long, narrowly triangular, acute or acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard strongly reflexed, 11–12 mm long, blade subcircular, 9–11 mm in diameter, with calluses at the base; wings 8–11 × 3–3.5 mm, rounded at apex, auricle acute, claw c.2 mm long; keel petals 10.5–15 × 3.5–4 mm, dorsally slightly connate, apex beaked, auricle rounded. Standard strongly reflexed, 11–12 mm long, blade subcircular, 9–11 mm in diameter, with calluses at the base; wings 8–11 × 3–3.5 mm, rounded at apex, auricle acute, claw c.2 mm long; keel petals 10.5–15 × 3.5–4 mm, dorsally slightly connate, apex beaked, auricle rounded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal tube 7 mm long, split dorsally for 1.5 mm at the base, free portion of longer stamens 2 mm long. Staminal tube 7 mm long, split dorsally for 1.5 mm at the base, free portion of longer stamens 2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 9 mm long, densely appressed-pilose; style c.2 mm long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 1(2)-seeded, broadly elliptic, 5–6 × 3 cm, densely velutinous. Pod 1(2)-seeded, broadly elliptic, 5–6 × 3 cm, densely velutinous.

Ecology

Confined to the mid-Zambezi Valley, on escarpments and rocky hill slopes, usually in mixed woodlands with Colophospermum mopane dominant; 700–900 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Endemic to the Flora Zambesiaca area; apparently not uncommon in dry woodlands of the Zambezi Valley. Lower Risk, Least Concern.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets fulvous to white-tomentellous; bark grey, later becoming rough and corky. Branchlets fulvous to white-tomentellous; bark grey, later becoming rough and corky.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves imparipinnate with 9–13 leaflets; petiole 3.5–6 cm long, rachis 6–14 cm long, both densely appressed to spreading-pubescent; leaflets 2.5–8 × 2–4 cm, ovate to elliptic, the terminal leaflet often obovate, thin and stiff, reticulation not very prominent beneath, the veins beneath appressed-pubescent with straight hairs. Leaves imparipinnate with 9–13 leaflets; petiole 3.5–6 cm long, rachis 6–14 cm long, both densely appressed to spreading-pubescent; leaflets 2.5–8 × 2–4 cm, ovate to elliptic, the terminal leaflet often obovate, thin and stiff, reticulation not very prominent beneath, the veins beneath appressed-pubescent with straight hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a terminal panicle 13–16 cm long, the axis and branches grey-pubescent; bracts and bracteoles 5–8 mm long, linear, falling early. Inflorescence a terminal panicle 13–16 cm long, the axis and branches grey-pubescent; bracts and bracteoles 5–8 mm long, linear, falling early.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 9 mm long, densely appressed-pilose; style c.2 mm long, glabrous.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/146430691/146819245

Conservation

LC - least concern