Alysicarpus zeyheri Harv.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Somalia-Masai grasslands, Zambezian grassland, Zambezian woodland, Somalia-Masai woodland, Zambezian anthropic landscapes., Somalia-Masai anthropic landscapes

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect or somewhat spreading perennial herb 0.1–1.2 m. tall from a tough woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous to pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves unifoliolate; leaflet linear to elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 1–10 cm. long, 0.2–1.8 cm. wide, acute or obtuse and mucronulate at the apex, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, rather thick, finely puberulous and with some longer hairs beneath, strongly reticulate on both surfaces; petiole 1.5–8 mm. long; petiolule 0.5–1 mm. long; stipules lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 0.6–1.7 (–2.7) cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal or sometimes axillary, very lax; rhachis 2.5–45 cm. long; peduncle 1–2 cm. long; pedicels 1–5 mm. long; primary bracts ovate-lanceolate, 5–7 mm. long, 2–3.5 mm. wide, acuminate, pubescent, ciliate, deciduous; secondary bracts linear, 2–4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx hairy with brown hairs or only pubescent or puberulous; tube 1–1.5 mm. long; teeth elliptic to lanceolate, 4–7 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, acuminate, very narrowly imbricate, ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard salmon or apricot tinged red or mauve, or sometimes cream or yellow, 6–7 mm. long, 4–4.5 mm. wide; wings crimson-purple; keel often greenish tinged salmon at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 0.7–1.5 cm. long, well exserted from the calyx, much constricted between the articles; articles 2–6, oblong-elliptic, 2.5–3 mm. long, 2–2.5 mm. wide, almost smooth, the transverse ridges very obscure, puberulous or rarely glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds pale yellow-brown, oblong, longest dimension 1.5–2 mm., shorter dimension 1.2–1.5 mm., 1 mm. thick.

Figures

Fig. 71/C, p. 492.

Habitat

Grassland, in the N. often on swampy or seasonally waterlogged grassland, in the S. also on seasonally burnt grassland, also in open Brachystegia woodland, lightly wooded grassland and in old cultivations; 900–2400 m.

Distribution

Sierra Leone, N. Nigeria, Cameroun, Congo, Sudan and Ethiopia to Angola and South Africa (Transvaal and Natal) K3 K4 T1 T4 T6 T7 T8 U1 U2 U3 U4

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

Morphology General Habit

A slightly woody herb, like the preceding species (Alysicarpus ovalifolius), 1–4 ft. high.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect or somewhat spreading perennial herb 0.1–1.2 m tall, from a tough woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous to pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1-foliolate; leaflet 1–10 × 0.2–1.8 cm, linear to elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, acute or obtuse and mucronulate at the apex, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, rather thick, finely puberulous and with some longer hairs on the lower surface, strongly reticulate on both surfaces; petiole 1.5–8 mm long; petiolule 0.5–1 mm long; stipules 6–17(27) mm long, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal or sometimes axillary, very lax; peduncle 1–2 cm long; rhachis 2.5–45 cm long; pedicels 1–5 mm long; primary bracts 5–7 × 2–3.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent, ciliate, deciduous; secondary bracts 2–4 mm long, linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx hairy with brown hairs, or only pubescent or puberulous; tube 1–1.5 mm long; teeth 4–7 × 1.5 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, acuminate, very narrowly imbricate, ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard salmon or apricot-coloured, tinged red or mauve, or sometimes cream or yellow, 6–7 × 4–4.5 mm; wings crimson-purple; keel often greenish tinged salmon at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 7–15 mm long, well exserted from the calyx, much constricted between the articles; articles 2–6, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, oblong-elliptic, almost smooth, the transverse ridges very obscure, puberulous or rarely glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds pale yellow-brown, 1.5–2 × 1.2–1.5 × 1 mm, oblong.