Rhynchosia stipitata Verdc.

Leguminosae, B. Mackinder, R. Pasquet, R. Polhill and B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:5. 2001

Morphology General Habit

Climber 1.4–2 m tall; stems pale to dark, wiry with short whitish deflexed pubescence.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, 2.3–7 × 1.6–6 cm, terminal triangular-rhombic with strongly rounded sides and broadly acuminate apex with concave sides, laterals asymmetrical, finely shortly pubescent on venation and with dense orange gland dots beneath; petiole 1.7–7 cm long; rhachis 0.6–2.2 cm long; stipules 2–3 × 1–2 mm, ovate to ovate-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, 11–15 cm long including 5–6.5 cm long peduncles; pedicels 9 mm long; bracts 4 × 2 mm, ovate to elliptic, acuminate, deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx finely pubescent and glandular; tube 2.5 mm long; upper lobes 3–4 × 1 mm, lanceolate-acuminate, joined for ± half their length; laterals 3 × 1.2 mm, triangular; lowest lobe triangular-lanceolate, 5 × 1.2 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard greenish-white to golden-yellow with purple nerves or purple-brown outside, 13 × 12 mm, obovate, slightly pubescent outside; wings bright golden to pale yellow; keel similarly coloured but often dark at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods pale yellow-brown with greenish reticulation, 2.3 × 0.8 cm, oblong, with two marked circular raised areas on faces above the seeds 6 mm in diameter, margins of pods distinctly raised, shortly puberulous particularly along the margins; stipe 5–9 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds at first hanging from valves, black, 5 mm in diameter or 4.1 × 5.5 mm, subglobose to very broadly ellipsoid.