Aeschynomene trigonocarpa Taub. ex Baker f.

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

Morphology General Habit

Small shrub 0.8–3 m tall or sometimes an ascending woody herb.

Morphology Stem

Stems slender, at first glandular pubescent with tubercular-based hairs, later glabrous; bark on older stems at length peeling to reveal a powdery rusty-red surface.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 16–40-foliolate; leaflets 3–8 × 1–2.5 mm, linear to linear-oblong or oblanceolate, rounded and mucronulate at the apex, obliquely truncate at the base, glabrous; main nerve central; other venation rather obscure; petiole and rhachis together 1.5–3.5 cm long, with a line of bristly hairs beneath; petiolules 0.3 mm long; stipules 7–12 × 1–2.3 mm, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, conspicuously appendaged on one side at the base, soon falling or sometimes ± persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, lax, several-flowered; peduncle 1–2 cm long; rhachis 3–13 cm long; pedicels 3–5.5 mm long, with tubercular-based hairs; bracts 2–3-fid, 4 × 1.6 mm, elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous, soon falling; bracteoles 2.5 × 0.6 mm, narrowly oblong-lanceolate, soon falling.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous, 2-lipped; lips 5–7 × 2–3 mm, elliptic, one slightly emarginate, the other shortly 3-toothed or almost entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard dark yellow, tinged brown outside, 7.5–10 × 3.5–4.5 mm, oblong but slightly narrowed at the middle, ± truncate; wings yellow; keel petals pale yellow, not laciniate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit of 1 or less often 2 articles joined by a narrow neck; articles 7–11 × 6–8 mm, triangular with acute angles or rarely rounded, compressed, glabrous or puberulous on the thickened margins, reticulate but smooth or at length very finely rugulose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds chestnut-brown, 5 × 4 × 1.5 mm, irregularly compressed-reniform, slightly beaked beyond the small round eccentric hilum.

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

Morphology General Habit

Small shrub 0.8–3 m. tall or sometimes an ascending woody herb.

Morphology Stem

Stems slender, at first glandular pubescent with tubercular-based hairs, later glabrous; bark on older stems at length peeling to reveal a powdery rusty-red surface.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 16–40-foliolate; leaflets linear to linear-oblong or oblanceolate, 3–8 mm. long, 1–2.5 mm. wide, rounded and mucronulate at the apex, obliquely truncate at the base, glabrous; main nerve central, other venation rather obscure; petiole and rhachis together 1.5–3.5 cm. long, with a line of bristly hairs beneath; petiolules 0.3 mm. long; stipules narrowly lanceolate, 0.7–1.2 cm. long, 1–2.3 mm. wide, acuminate, conspicuously appendaged on one side at the base, soon falling or sometimes ± persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, lax, several-flowered; rhachis 3–13 cm. long; peduncle 1–2 cm. long; pedicels 3–5.5 mm. long, with tubercular-based hairs; bracts elliptic-lanceolate, 4 mm. long, 1.6 mm. wide, 2–3-fid, glabrous, soon falling; bracteoles narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 2.5 mm. long, 0.6 mm. wide, soon falling.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous, 2-lipped; lips elliptic, 5–7 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide, one slightly emarginate, the other shortly 3-toothed or almost entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard dark yellow, tinged brown outside, oblong but slightly narrowed at the middle, 7.5–10 mm. long, 3.5–4.5 mm. wide, ± truncate; wings yellow; keel-petals pale yellow, not laciniate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod of 1 or less often 2 articles joined by a narrow neck; articles triangular with acute angles or rarely rounded, 0.7–1.1 cm. long, 6–8 mm. wide, compressed, glabrous or puberulous on the thickened margins, reticulate but smooth or at length very finely rugulose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds chestnut, irregularly compressed-reniform, slightly beaked beyond the small round eccentric hilum, longest dimension 5 mm., shorter dimension 4 mm., 1.5 mm. thick.

Figures

Fig. 54/8, p. 366.

Habitat

Open Brachystegia woodland and derived bushland; 1250–1530 m.

Distribution

T4 T5 T7

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Zambezian bushland and thicket

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub