Aeschynomene oligophylla Harms

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect subshrub 6–45 cm tall, with many stems from a woody rootstock, flowering after burns.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous or pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves erect, pressed to the stem, 2–4-foliolate; leaflets 4–13 × 2–6 mm, obovate to oblanceolate-oblong, somewhat falcate, mostly rounded at the apex, narrowed to the base; rather thick, glabrous, 3–6-nerved from the base; venation reticulate; petiole and rhachis together 2–4(10) mm long, with a line of hairs beneath; petiolules obsolete; stipules 6–18 × 3–6 mm, obovate-oblong or oblong-elliptic, leaf-like, obliquely appendaged at the base on one side, persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, several-flowered; peduncle 1–1.5 cm long; rhachis 2–6 cm long, sparsely pubescent or glabrous; pedicels 2–4(10) mm long; bracts 2-lobed, persistent, the lobes 2–6.5 × 0.7–1.5 mm, lanceolate, some of the lowest 3-partite, corresponding to 2 stipules and a reduced leaf; bracteoles 3–5.5 × 1–2 mm, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate; both bracts and bracteoles appendaged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2-lipped; lips 5.5–7 × 3.54 mm, ovate, the one 2-toothed, the other 3-toothed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow or orange, 10–13 × 7–8 mm, violin-shaped; keel petals not laciniate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit reflexed, of 1 or 2 articles joined by a very narrow neck, each article ± semicircular, lower margin rounded, upper margin straight, both somewhat thickened, 6–8 × 5–7 mm, compressed, glabrous, reticulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds chestnut-brown, 4.5 × 3 × 2 mm, ellipsoid-reniform; hilum elliptic, with a distinct flange-like rim-aril present.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect subshrub 6–45 cm. tall, with many stems from a woody rootstock, flowering after burns.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous or pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves erect, pressed to the stem, 2–4-foliolate; leaflets obovate to oblanceolate-oblong, somewhat falcate, 0.4–1.3 cm. long, 2–6 mm. wide, mostly rounded at the apex, narrowed to the base, rather thick, glabrous, 3–6-nerved from the base; venation reticulate; petiole and rhachis together 2–4(–10) mm. long, with a line of hairs beneath; petiolules obsolete; stipules obovate-oblong or oblong-elliptic, 0.6–1.8 cm. long, 3–6 mm. wide, leafy, obliquely appendaged at the base on one side, persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, several-flowered; rhachis 2–6 cm. long, sparsely pubescent or glabrous; peduncle 1–1.5 cm. long; pedicels 2–4(–10) mm. long; bracts 2-lobed, persistent, the lobes lanceolate, 2–6.5 mm. long, 0.7–1.5 mm. wide, some of the lowest 3-partite, corresponding to 2 stipules and a reduced leaf; bracteoles ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, 3–5.5 mm. long, 1–2 mm. wide; both bracts and bracteoles appendaged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2-lipped, the lips ovate, 5.5–7 mm. long, 3.5–4 mm. wide, the one 2-toothed, the other 3-toothed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow or orange, violin-shaped, 1–1.3 cm. long, 7–8 mm. wide; keel-petals not laciniate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods reflexed, of 1 or 2 articles joined by a very narrow neck, each ± semicircular, lower margin rounded, upper margin straight, both somewhat thickened, 6–8 mm. long, 5–7 mm. wide, compressed, glabrous, reticulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds chestnut-brown, ellipsoid-reniform, longest dimension 4.5 mm., shorter dimension 3 mm., 2 mm. thick; hilum elliptic, with a distinct flange-like rim-aril present.

Habitat

Grassland, Brachystegia woodland, particularly in rocky places; 1500–2100 m.

Distribution

T4 T7

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