Argyrolobium tuberosum Eckl. & Zeyh.

Leguminosae, various authors. Flora Zambesiaca 3:7. 2003

Morphology General Habit

A slender herb from a small tuberous rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems few-branched, erect or ascending, up to 60 cm high and 0.4–1.5 mm in diameter, angular, subglabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves distant, lower ones often with leaflets narrowly elliptic, up to 16 × 4 mm, the upper ones with leaflets linear-lanceolate to linear, 11–80 times as long as broad, 20–40 × 0.5–2.3 mm, acute, sericeous to subglabrous; petiole 4–12 mm long, subglabrous; stipules 6–12 mm long, subulate or lanceolate-setaceous, slightly longer or shorter than the petiole, decurrent to the stem as a ridge.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal, pedunculate, racemose (1)2–9(12)-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 7–8 mm long, silky hairy; upper lip 5–6 mm long, 2-lobed to below the middle; lower lip 6–6.5 mm long, 3-toothed, the teeth 2–2.5 mm long, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pubescent outside, dark yellow or orange, usually marked with reddish or purple, dark brown or black when dried; standard shortly clawed, 8–9 mm long, ovate to subcircular; wings as long as the standard, narrowly obovate, with narrow claws, asymmetrical at the base and auriculate on one side, with rows of folds between the upper veins; keel 6–6.5 mm long, incurved, obtuse at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 5–6 mm long, united into a sheath split above; anthers glabrous, the long ones 0.8 mm long and the short ones 0.4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary densely silky hairy; style c. 3.5 mm long, arcuate, glabrous; stigma capitate and shortly penicillate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod not seen, but from Harvey's description c. 5 cm long and 2 mm wide, straight or slightly curved.