Alysicarpus rugosus (Willd.) DC.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect, prostrate or ascending, robust annual or perennial somewhat suffruticose herb 0.3–1(2) m tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems pubescent, pilose or practically glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1-foliolate or less often pinnately 3-foliolate; leaflets 1.5–11 × 0.2–2.3 cm, oblong, ovate-lanceolate, linear-lanceolate or linear, acute and mucronulate at the apex, rounded or subcordate at the base, finely puberulous and with longer hairs beneath, slightly reticulate; petiole 2–17 mm long; petiolules 0.5–1.5 mm long; stipules 0.5–3 cm long, lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, terminal or leaf-opposed, dense to lax; peduncle 1–3 cm long; rhachis 3–20 cm long; pedicels 2–5 mm long; primary bracts 5–10 × 3 mm, elliptic, acuminate, glabrous or pubescent, ciliate, deciduous; secondary bracts 1–2.5 mm long, linear, or sometimes lacking.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous to densely pubescent; tube 1–1.5 mm long; teeth 5–8(9.5) × 1.5–2.5 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, imbricate, noticeably rounded or subcordate at the base, ciliate with white or brownish hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard whitish, pinkish-buff, reddish-purple or bluish, 6–7 × 3 mm, obovate; keel often greenish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 5–10 mm long, scarcely exserted from the calyx, much constricted between the articles; articles 3–6, 1–1.5 × 2–2.5 mm, transversely elliptic, with strong, close transverse ridges which join up here and there, or with a raised more regular reticulation, glabrous or pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds olive, compressed, 1.5 × 0.8 mm, squarish.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland, Zambezian wooded grassland, Zambezian anthropic landscapes., Sudanian grasslands, Sudanian wooded grassland, Sudanian anthropic landscapes, Somalia-Masai grasslands, Somalia-Masai wooded grasslands., Somalia-Masai anthropic la

Morphology General Habit

Annual/Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

Vernacular

Sheora

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect prostrate or ascending robust annual or perennial somewhat suffruticose herb 0.3–1 (–2) m. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems pubescent, pilose or practically glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves unifoliolate or less often pinnately 3-foliolate; leaflets oblong, ovate-lanceolate, linear-lanceolate or linear, 1.5–11 cm. long, 0.2– 2.3 cm. wide, acute and mucronulate at the apex, rounded or subcordate at the base, finely puberulous and with longer hairs beneath, slightly reticulate; petiole 0.2–1.7 cm. long; petiolules 0.5–1.5 mm. long; stipules lanceolate, 0.5–3 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, terminal or leaf-opposed, dense to lax; rhachis 3–20 cm. long; peduncle 1–3 cm. long; pedicels 2–5 mm. long; primary bracts elliptic, 5–10 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, acuminate, glabrous or pubescent, ciliate, deciduous; secondary bracts linear, 1–2.5 mm. long or sometimes lacking.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous to densely pubescent; tube 1–1.5 mm. long; teeth lanceolate, 5–8(–9.5) mm. long, 1.5–2.5 mm. wide, acuminate, imbricate, noticeably rounded or subcordate at the base, ciliate with white or brownish hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard whitish, pinkish-buff, reddish-purple or bluish, obovate, 6–7 mm. long, 3 mm. wide; keel often greenish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 5–10 mm. long, scarcely exserted from the calyx, much constricted between the articles; articles 3–6, transversely elliptic, 1–1.5 mm. long, 2–2.5 mm. wide, with strong close transverse ridges which join up here and there, or with a raised more regular reticulation, glabrous or pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds olive, squarish, compressed; longer dimensions 1.5 mm., 0.8 mm. thick.

Distribution

widespread in Africa, also in Madagascar and possibly in Asia K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 U1 U2

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

Morphology General Habit

A diffusely branched herb

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Small red flowers hidden in the glume-like calyx.