Aeschynomene sparsiflora Baker

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Montane woodland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub

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

Morphology General Habit

Probably a straggling subshrub, 10–30 cm tall, with many suberect or spreading slender stems from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems mostly glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 6–10-foliolate; leaflets 5–10 × 2.5–5.5 mm, elliptic-oblong or obovate-oblong, rounded and mucronulate at the apex, cuneate to obliquely rounded at the base, glabrous; main nerve eccentric and curved, there being 2–3 basal nerves in the wider side of the leaflet; petiole and rhachis together 10–25 mm long; petiolules 0.5 mm long; stipules 8–12 × 3–5 mm, elliptic, acute, subcordate and mostly unilaterally appendaged at the base, glabrous or pubescent, at length deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, few- to 10-flowered, often branched; rhachis 7 cm long, densely pubescent with tubercular-based hairs; peduncle 5 mm long; pedicels 5–6 mm long; bracts 4–6 × 1.5–2.8 mm, ovate-elliptic or elliptic, acute, pubescent with tubercular-based hairs and appearing glandular-serrulate, persistent; bracteoles similar, 4–5 × 1.2–1.6 mm, lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent with glandular-based hairs, 2-lipped; lips c. 6–7 × 3–5 mm, oblong or ovate, one emarginate, the other slightly 3-fid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit of 1 article, 6.5 × 6 mm, almost round, compressed, sparsely covered with tubercular-based hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds not seen.

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

Morphology General Habit

Probably a straggling subshrub, 15–30 cm. tall, with many suberect or spreading slender stems from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems mostly glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 6–10-foliolate; leaflets elliptic-oblong or obovate-oblong, 0.5–1 cm. long, 2.5–5.5 mm. wide, rounded and mucronulate at the apex, cuneate to obliquely rounded at the base, glabrous; main nerve eccentric and curved, there being 2–3 basal nerves in the wider side of the leaflet; petiole and rhachis together 1–2.5 cm. long; petiolules 0.5 mm. long; stipules elliptic, 0.8–1.2 cm. long, 3–5 mm. wide, acute, subcordate and mostly unilaterally appendaged at the base, glabrous or pubescent, at length deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, few–10-flowered, often branched; rhachis 7 cm. long, densely pubescent with tubercular-based hairs; peduncle 5 mm. long; pedicels 5–6 mm. long; bracts ovate-elliptic or elliptic, 4–6 mm. long, 1.5–2.8 mm. wide, acute, pubescent with tubercular-based hairs and appearing glandular-serrulate, persistent; bracteoles similar, lanceolate, 4–5 mm. long, 1.2–1.6 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent with glandular-based hairs, 2-lipped, the lips oblong or ovate, ± 6–7 mm. long, 3–5 mm. wide, one emarginate, the other slightly 3-fid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods of 1 article, almost round, 6.5 mm. long, 6 mm. wide, compressed, sparsely covered with tubercular-based hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds not seen.

Habitat

Not known; 2000 m.

Distribution

T7

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/179280/1573678

Conservation

EN - endangered