Aeschynomene elaphroxylon (Guill. & Perr.) Taub.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, 2–9(–12) m. tall, with a swollen pithy often almost conical stem acting as a float.

Morphology Stem

Stems with short and long sticky hairs and nearly always with short sharp spines 0.2–1.5 cm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 20–40-foliolate; leaflets oblong, 0.8–2.65 cm. long, 4–10 mm. wide, truncate or slightly emarginate at the apex, obliquely rounded at the base, entire, somewhat glaucous beneath, glabrescent above, pubescent with slightly tubercular-based short hairs and often minutely asperulous on the margins and midnerve beneath; venation dark beneath; petiole and rhachis together 4–16 cm. long, densely covered with stiff bristly hairs and shorter pubescence and also often with short spinelets; petiolules 0.5–1 mm. long; stipules broadly ovate, 1–1.3 cm. long, 6–9 mm. wide, auriculate on one side only, velvety, eventually deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, 1–4-flowered; rhachis 1–4.5 cm. long; peduncle 1.3 cm. long; pedicels 1.2–1.6 cm. long; bracts 6–7 mm. long, 3–5 mm. wide; bracteoles ovate or elliptic, asymmetrical, 1–1.6 cm. long, 5–10 mm. wide, velvety.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx densely pubescent and with longer sticky bristly hairs, 2-lipped, the lips entire or 2–3-toothed at the apex, one ovate-lanceolate, 1.9–2.5 cm. long, 0.6–1.2 cm. wide, the other ovate-oblong, 1.5–2 cm. long, 0.6–1.1 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow to orange, rounded, 3–4.7 cm. long and wide, emarginate, puberulous above on outer surface; wings and keel yellow, the petals of the latter laciniate along their lower margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods spirally contorted, 10–14 cm. long when unrolled, 6–17-jointed, densely covered with glandular bristly tubercular-based hairs and with short pubescence as well; articles ± oblong or trapeziform, 6–8 mm. long, 7–9 mm. wide, venulose beneath the dense indumentum.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark purplish-brown, reniform, with a slightly eccentric hilum, slightly beaked resembling the front of a canoe, longest dimension 6 mm., shorter dimension 3.8 mm., 2 mm. thick.

Figures

Fig. 54/1, p. 366.

Habitat

Lake-sides and pools and swamps bordering lakes, usually actually standing in several feet of water; 520–1350 m.

Distribution

throughout tropical Africa from Senegal, Sudan and Ethiopia to Angola, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambiquealso in Madagascar and cultivated in Egypt K5 K6 T1 T4 T6 T7 T8 U2 U3 U4

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian freshwater swamp and aquatic vegetation, Sudanian freshwater swamp and aquatic vegetation, Somalia-Masai freshwater swamp and aquatic vegetation, Lake Victoria regional mosaic; freshwater swamp and aquatic vegetation

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree

Vernacular

Ambach, Ambatch, Bemaivara, Dofonga, Nile Pith Tree, Odifonga, Roiantanety, Vodifomba, Vodifonga

Leguminosae, B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:6. 2000

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, 2–9(12) m tall, with a swollen pithy often almost conical stem acting as a float.

Morphology Stem

Stems with short and long sticky hairs and nearly always with short sharp spines 2–15 mm long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 20–40-foliolate; leaflets 8–26.5 × 4–10 mm, oblong, truncate or slightly emarginate at the apex, obliquely rounded at the base, entire, somewhat glaucous beneath, glabrescent above, pubescent with slightly tubercular-based short hairs and often minutely asperulous on the margins and midnerve beneath; venation dark beneath; petiole and rhachis together 4–16 cm long, densely covered with stiff bristly hairs and shorter pubescence and also often with short spinelets; petiolules 0.5–1 mm long; stipules 10–13 × 6–9 mm, broadly ovate, auriculate on one side only, velvety, eventually deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, 1–4-flowered; peduncle 1.3 cm long; rhachis 1–4.5 cm long; pedicels 12–16 mm long; bracts 6–7 × 3–5 mm; bracteoles asymmetrical, 10–16 × 5–10 mm, ovate or elliptic, velvety.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx densely pubescent and with longer sticky bristly hairs, 2-lipped; lips entire or 2–3-toothed at the apex, one 19–25 × 6–12 mm, ovate-lanceolate, the other, 15–20 × 6–11 mm, ovate-oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow to orange, 3–4.7 cm long and wide, rounded, emarginate, puberulous above on outer surface; wings and keel yellow, the petals of the latter laciniate along their lower margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit spirally contorted, 10–14 cm long when unrolled, 6–17-jointed, densely covered with glandular bristly tubercular-based hairs and with short pubescence as well; articles 6–8 × 7–9 mm, ± oblong or trapeziform, venulose beneath the dense indumentum.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark purplish-brown, 6 × 3.8 × 2 mm, reniform, with a slightly eccentric hilum, slightly beaked resembling the front of a canoe.

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

A shrub, 8–20 ft. high

Ecology

Of rivers and swamps

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers large, orange-yellow.