Craibia affinis (De Wild.) De Wild.

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

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by B. Verdcourt

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or tree, 1.8–9(15) m tall; bark pale grey, thin, smooth; wood yellowish, hard.

Morphology General Indumentum

Branchlets, leaf rachides and petiolules dark brown pilose, glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 5–11-foliolate; petiole 2.5–4 cm long; rachis 14.5–26 cm long; petiolules 3.5 mm long; leaflets 3.8–16 × 1.3–5.2 cm, oblong, oblong-elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, rounded to cuneate at the base, nearly always at least 3 times as long as wide, glabrous or with sparse rust-coloured hairs; lateral nerves 6–11 on each side; venation raised and reticulate; stipules up to 10 mm long, ligulate, brown pilose, glabrescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences showy, fragrant, 4.5–9 cm long, the rachis sometimes once- or twice-branched at the base; peduncle 0.5–4 cm long; pedicels 0.6–1.3 cm long; bracts up to 1 cm long, elliptic-oblong, deciduous; bracteoles up to 5.5 × 2 mm, elliptic-obovate or elliptic-oblong, all parts rusty-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pinkish, brown-pubescent; tube 4–6 mm long; lobes 1–4 mm long, ovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard white or yellow with a median mark but corolla also described as white or pale purplish or white tipped with pink, 1.7–2.2 × 1.3–1.4 cm, ± round; wing blades 13 × 4 mm, with claw 7–8 mm long; blades of keel petals 14 × 6 mm, with claw 7 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filament sheath 13–15 mm long; free parts of filaments 4–6 mm long; anthers 0.9 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 11–13 mm long, glabrous at sides but brown pubescent near the base and on the margins, 3-ovuled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 6–9.5 × 2.5–3 cm, oblanceolate or elliptic-oblanceolate in outline, 1–2-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark violet, 2 × 1.2 × 0.4 cm.

Distribution

Also in S Congo and W Tanzania.

Ecology

Riverine and evergreen fringing forest, Newtonia rainforest, gully forest; also in mushitu; 900–1400 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Limited distribution in the Flora area; probably Lower Risk, Near Threatened.