Chamaecrista stricta E.Mey.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perhaps short-lived perennial herb or softly woody shrublet.

Morphology Stem

Stems terete, pubescent with crisped hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate, 3.5–10 × 1–2 cm; stipules 5.5–8.5 × 1.2–2 mm, narrowly triangular, apex long-acuminate, base asymmetrically auriculate, glabrous; petiolar gland single, 0.7–1.1 mm in diameter, circular, sessile, just below the first leaflet pair; rachis weakly channelled above, sparsely ciliate on the channel margins and crisped pubescent beneath; leaflets in 25–36 pairs, 7.3–10.2 × 1.4–2.3 mm, narrowly oblong, almost straight, asymmetric, base asymmetric, proximal side rounded, distal side rounded-cuneate, apex mucronate, margins shortly ciliate or glabrous, usually glabrous on both surfaces; midrib excentric; 4–5 lateral nerves from base on proximal side, 1–2 on distal side.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences markedly supra-axillary, 2–3-flowered; pedicels 6–7 mm long in flower, 1.2–1.3 cm long in fruit, pubescent with both crisped and spreading hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 6.5–7.2 × 1.2 mm, narrowly ovate, acuminate, pubescent with crisped hairs outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, 6–8 × 6–8 mm, broadly obovate to suborbicular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens (7)8–9, with 3–4 longer than the rest; a small staminode sometimes present.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 3.2–4 mm long, densely appressed-pubescent, distally glabrous; stigma terminal, ciliate-margined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 5–6.3 × 0.3–0.5 cm, sparsely appressed pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds pale yellow-brown with faint darker spots, 2.5–3.2 × 1.6–2 mm, rhomboid, flattened.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb with prostrate and ascending stems forming a low bushy plant about 1–1.5 m. in diameter and under 30 cm. high; sometimes stems erect, branched or subsimple, up to 90 cm. high.

Morphology Stem

Stems varying from puberulous with short curved hairs to subglabrous, without longer spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves narrowly or linear-oblong, mostly (3.5–)4.5–9 cm. long, 1–2.3 cm. wide; gland near top of petiole, sessile, ± circular or very broadly elliptic, concave or depressed on upper side, 0.5–0.8, rarely to 1.0 mm. long, 0.5–0.8 mm. wide, dark purplish-red; rhachis eglandular, channelled but not crenate-crested along upper side; leaflets sessile, usually in (17–)25–35 pairs, linear-oblong, 4.5–13 mm. long, 1.25–2.5 mm. wide, acuminate, glabrous on surfaces (except in basal leaflets of leaves); midrib somewhat excentric (towards anticous margin) but giving off ± prominulous lateral nerves towards both margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences mostly supra-axillary, 2–4-flowered; pedicels 0.6–1 (–1.2, rarely in fruit elongating to 1.5) cm. long, puberulous and with longer spreading hairs, sometimes subglabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, 7–8.5 mm. long, 3–7 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 3–6 cm. long, 3.5–5.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown, ± 3–4 mm. long, 1.5–3 mm. wide, not areolate.

Figures

Fig. 10/42, p. 57.

Habitat

“Roadsides in open bush country” (Tweedie 413); a weed of cultivated ground in Brachystegia woodland (Milne-Redhead & Taylor 9666); 880–2040 m.

Distribution

K3/K5 T8