Rhynchosia torrei Verdc.

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

Morphology General Habit

Subshrub 1.5–2 m tall, with upper parts, inflorescences, pods, etc. densely covered with yellow probably sticky tubercular based setae c. 2 mm long; stems dark brown, the lower parts not setose but woolly-pubescent, the hairs tending to be in longitudinal lines.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets 2–5 × 0.8–2.2 cm, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, long-acuminate to a very narrow apex, rounded at the base, the laterals slightly oblique, all rather sparsely pubescent with ± tubercular based hairs, densest on the margins and venation beneath; petioles 10–20 mm long; rhachis 5–10 mm long; petiolules 2–2.5 mm long; stipules 6.5 × 3.5 mm, oblong-ovate, glabrous inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences up to 12 cm long including peduncle up to 6 cm long; bracts 10 × 4 mm, ovate-lanceolate, pubescent outside; pedicels 4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx bristly pubescent; tube 5 mm long, cupular; lobes linear-lanceolate, the lowest 17 × 2 mm, laterals 11 × 1.5–2 mm, the upper pair joined for c. 6 mm, forming a bifid lobe 1 mm wide at the base, with apical divisions 5 × 0.5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla greenish-yellow; standard 13 × 8 mm excluding the 4 mm long claw, narrowly elliptic, pubescent outside; wings 10 × 3.5 mm excluding the 4.5 mm long claw, narrowly oblong; keel petals 11 × 5.5 mm excluding 5 mm long claw, obovate-oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 20 × 8 mm, ± oblong, covered with long setiform tubercular based hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark reddish-brown, 5.2 × 3.5 × 2.8 mm, ± reniform, with white rim aril.