Brachystegia gossweileri Hutch. & Burtt Davy

Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, A.C. Chikuni, J.M. Lock and R.M. Polhill. Flora Zambesiaca 3:2. 2007

Morphology General Habit

Tree up to 12 m tall; bark deeply or shallowly fissured longitudinally, flaking in thick irregular scales, grey to dark grey.

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets brown-pubescent, occasionally glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 7–18.5 cm long; petiole 2–8 mm long; pulvinus 1.5–3 mm long; rachis deeply canaliculate with raised and winged margins, glabrous or pubescent; leaflets in 10–22 pairs, widely spaced or overlapping, middle leaflets or those next to the proximal largest, proximal leaflet pair (0.7)1–2.5 × 0.3–0.6 cm, the middle ones 1.5–3 × 0.5–1 cm, the distal ones 1.5–2.5 x 0.5–0.8 cm, linear-lanceolate, oblong-elliptic or narrowly triangular, acute or obtuse at the apex, truncate or subcordate at the base, glabrous or pubescent, discolorous, glaucous-grey; midvein central or subcentral with 3–4 secondary veins diverging from the base.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules caducous, 10–25 × 1–6 mm, shortly connate at the base, linear, lanceolate-falcate to spathulate; auricles 5–10 × 3–5 mm, reniform, caducous independently of the stipules, pubescent.

Morphology General Buds

Dormant axillary buds much flattened.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences in terminal and/or axillary panicles, to 7 cm long; bracts 2–3 × 2–4 mm, ovate, acute at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4–5 × 3–4 mm; pedicels to 2 mm long; bracteoles 4–6.5 × 3–4.5 mm, obovate or orbicular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 5, 2–2.5 × 1–2 mm, ovate to oblong, imbricate, margins densely ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals up to 2, filiform to linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10, united to 0.5–1 mm at the base; filaments 6–10 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 3–5 × 1–2 mm, oblong, densely pubescent; stipe up to 3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 9–13 × 3–4 cm, oblong to obovate, rounded to obtuse at the apex, with a 4–8 mm long apical beak, with spreading or suberect ventral flanges.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds not seen.