Aeschynomene minutiflora 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, B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:6. 2000

Morphology General Habit

Erect annual herb, 15–60 cm tall, rather sparsely branched with some of the lower lateral branches spreading.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 6–12-foliolate; leaflets 5–13 × 2–2.7(4) mm, obcuneate to narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, rounded to emarginate and mucronulate at the apex, cuneate, glabrous, with dense very minute translucent dots; main nerve central save near base of leaflet; petiole and rhachis together 5–25 mm long, glabrous, produced as a bristle at apex; petiolules 0.5 mm long; stipules leaf-like, 4–18 × 0.5–3(5) mm, lanceolate, apiculate, mostly with a slender subulate appendage on one side at the base, persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminating the lateral branches, 4–8-flowered; peduncle 0–25 mm long; rhachis 2.5–7 cm long; pedicels very slender, 5–15 mm long, with sparse tubercular-based hairs; bracts paired, 2–4.5 × 0.5 mm, linear-lanceolate, tapering-acute, persistent, sometimes in threes, 2 being stipules and the third probably representing the reduced leaf, thus indicating that the flowers are strictly solitary in the axils of reduced leaves; bracteoles 1.5–2 × 0.3–0.5 mm, linear-lanceolate, usually with 2–3 tubercular-based hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous, 2-lipped, one 3.5 × 2 mm, ovate, 3-toothed, the other 3 × 1.4 mm, oblong, emarginate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard creamy-white, tinged dull orange-yellow inside and often veined green below, (3)5.5(9 in one variety) × 3 mm at apex, 1 mm wide below, spathulate; wings creamy-white with upper margins or tips orange-yellow; keel petals creamy-white, not laciniate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit with a tenuous stipe 3–4 mm long, of 1–2 articles joined by a very narrow neck, each article kettledrum-shaped in outline, straight above, very curved below, 2–2.5(3.5) × (1.5)2–2.2(3) mm, compressed or slightly inflated, at first glabrous, later densely minutely tuberculate, sometimes with a raised or even spinous ridge bisecting the article at right-angles to the upper suture.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds greenish, 2 × 1.5 × 0.9 mm, irregularly lentil-shaped, ± straight or emarginate near the minute round central hilum, margins compressed.