Eriosema (DC.) G.Don

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Herbs or subshrubs, erect or prostrate, rarely twining, occasionally pyrophytes

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnately or rarely digitately 3(–6)-foliolate or 1-foliolate; leaflets often with small glands beneath; stipules present but stipels often absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary or terminal, racemose or rarely paniculate, short and condensed or elongated

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 5-lobed; lobes equal or unequal, the upper pair free or sometimes partly fused particularly in subgen. Becquetia, often glandular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla small to medium-sized, usually basically yellow; standard auriculate or not, with or without appendages inside, glabrous to velvety and glandular outside

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Vexillary stamen free; anthers uniform

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 2-ovuled, covered with long or short hairs; style bent at or below the middle, glabrous above; stigma very small

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong or oval, compressed, velutinous (in subgen. Becquetia), covered with spaced long hairs or glabrescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2, ovoid or oblong, with a linear hilum to which the funicle is attached at one end; rim-aril ± developed.

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

Morphology General Habit

Herbs or subshrubs, erect or prostrate, rarely twining, occasionally pyrophytes.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnately or rarely digitately 3(6)-foliolate or 1-foliolate; leaflets often with small glands beneath; stipules present but stipels often absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary or terminal, racemose or rarely paniculate, short and condensed or elongated.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 5-lobed; lobes equal or unequal, the upper pair free or sometimes partly fused particularly in subgen. Becquetia, often glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla small to medium-sized, usually basically yellow; standard auriculate or not, with or without appendages inside, glabrous to velvety and glandular outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Vexillary stamen free; anthers uniform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 2-ovuled, covered with long or short hairs; style bent at or below the middle, glabrous above; stigma very small.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong or ovate, compressed, velutinous (in subgen. Becquetia), covered with spaced long hairs or glabrescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2, ovoid or oblong, with a linear hilum to which the funicle is attached at one end; rim aril ± developed.