Abrus fruticulosus Wall. ex Wight & Arn.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19891683/19995804

Conservation

DD - data deficient

International Legume Database and Information Service

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing, Shrub

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19892437/19996266

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Morphology General Habit

Woody shrub 0.9–3.6 m. tall, virgately branched.

Morphology Stem

Stems adpressed pubescent, later glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 14–32-foliolate; petioles mostly under 1 cm. long; leaflets oblong-elliptic, distinctly rounded at the sides or in one subspecies oblong with parallel sides, 0.65–3.3 cm. long, 0.45–1.35 cm. wide, rounded and mucronulate at the apex, rounded to subcuneate at the base, glabrous above, finely adpressed puberulous beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and in upper axils, 13–30 cm. long; peduncle very short; flowers subsessile in numerous fascicles on very short reduced branchlets; pedicels 2.5 mm. long; bracts and bracteoles very short.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx adpressed pubescent, obconic, 3 mm. long, truncate or undulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla cream, yellow or blue and mauve to purple, the wings usually darker than the standard, 1.1–1.4 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong to oblanceolate, 5.2–7.2 cm. long, 0.7–1.15 cm. wide, the valves rather thick and woody, adpressed pubescent and usually markedly tuberculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown with darker brown mottling, arranged in the pod with the longest dimension at right-angles to the long axis of the pod, rounded-oblong or rhombic, compressed, longest dimension 6–7.5 mm., shorter dimension 5–6 mm., 2.5 mm. thick, finely shagreened; hilum small; rim-aril only slightly developed but a cartilaginous funicle remnant is present.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Sudanian woodland, Zambezian woodland, Zambezian bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai woodland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by D.K. Harder

Morphology General Habit

Woody shrub 0.9–3.6 m tall, virgately branched. Woody shrub 0.9–3.6 m tall, virgately branched.

Morphology Stem

Stems appressed-pubescent, later glabrous; bark smooth, red to red-brown, lenticels light beige-grey. Stems appressed-pubescent, later glabrous; bark smooth, red to red-brown, lenticels light beige-grey.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 14–34-foliolate; petioles 0–1(2.8) cm long; leaflets 5–33 × 4.5–15 mm, oblong-elliptic, distinctly rounded at the sides, or oblong with parallel sides in one subspecies, dimensions increase distally, rounded or mucronulate at the apex, rounded to subcuneate at the base, glabrous on upper surface, finely appressed puberulous beneath; stipules 3–6 mm long, subulate. Leaves 14–34-foliolate; petioles 0–1(2.8) cm long; leaflets 5–33 × 4.5–15 mm, oblong-elliptic, distinctly rounded at the sides, or oblong with parallel sides in one subspecies, dimensions increase distally, rounded or mucronulate at the apex, rounded to subcuneate at the base, glabrous on upper surface, finely appressed puberulous beneath; stipules 3–6 mm long, subulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and in upper axils, 13–30 cm long; peduncle very short; flowers subsessile in numerous fascicles on short shoots; pedicels 2.5 mm long; bracts and bracteoles very short. Inflorescences terminal and in upper axils, 13–30 cm long; peduncle very short; flowers subsessile in numerous fascicles on short shoots; pedicels 2.5 mm long; bracts and bracteoles very short.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3 mm long, obconic, truncate or undulate, appressed-pubescent, with hairs ± oriented in one direction. Calyx 3 mm long, obconic, truncate or undulate, appressed-pubescent, with hairs ± oriented in one direction.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla cream, yellow, pale purple, mauve, blue to light violet, wings usually darker than the standard, 8–14 mm long. Corolla cream, yellow, pale purple, mauve, blue to light violet, wings usually darker than the standard, 8–14 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 5.4–7(7.9) × 0.7–1.3 cm, oblong to oblanceolate, the valves somewhat thick and woody, appressed-pubescent sometimes velutinous and usually markedly tuberculate. Pods 5.4–7(7.9) × 0.7–1.3 cm, oblong to oblanceolate, the valves somewhat thick and woody, appressed-pubescent sometimes velutinous and usually markedly tuberculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown with darker brown mottling especially near hilum, dull, arranged in the pod with the longest dimension at right angles to the pod's long axis, 5–7.5 × 5–6 × 2–3 mm, rounded-oblong or rhombic, compressed; hilum small; rim aril slightly developed with cartilaginous funicle remnant present. Seeds brown with darker brown mottling especially near hilum, dull, arranged in the pod with the longest dimension at right angles to the pod's long axis, 5–7.5 × 5–6 × 2–3 mm, rounded-oblong or rhombic, compressed; hilum small; rim aril slightly developed with cartilaginous funicle remnant present.