Craibia zimmermannii (Harms) Dunn

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

Morphology General Habit

Large or small tree; young twigs, leaf-rhachis, petiolules and underside of leaflet-midribs almost glabrous or sparsely brown pilose with hairs ± 1 mm. long, later glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Stipules very caducous; leaf-rhachis up to 9 cm. long; leaflets 3–5, ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, up to 10 by 5 cm.; principal nerves 5–6 on each side.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Raceme 5–10-flowered, shorter than subtending leaf, the rhachis sparsely brown pilose with long hairs; bracts very caducous; pedicels glabrous or nearly so, up to 13 mm. long; bracteoles caducous, linear or spathulate, under 0.5 mm. wide near the base, 2–3 mm. long, pubescent above the middle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous or nearly so; tube 3–4 mm.; lobes 0.5–1.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 15–17 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filament-sheath 10 mm., free parts 4–6 mm., anthers 0.7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary with a few hairs on the sutures only, 2–5-ovulate; style ± 7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 6–11 cm. long, 2–3.5 cm. wide, 2–3-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed up to 27 × 18 × 8 mm.

Habitat

Forest; 150–1550 m.; rainfall 1000–2000 mm.

Distribution

K7 T3 T6

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; forest, Tongaland-Pondoland regional transition zone: scrub forest, Tongaland-Pondoland regional transition zone; forest

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Tree

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/146448993/146448995

Conservation

LC - least concern

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by B. Verdcourt

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small to medium-sized tree 2–15 m tall, with white or pale grey scaly or slightly flaking bark. Shrub or small to medium-sized tree 2–15 m tall, with white or pale grey scaly or slightly flaking bark.

Morphology General Indumentum

Young twigs, leaf rachides, petiolules and leaflet midribs sparsely rusty pubescent with hairs c.1 mm long, or almost glabrous. Young twigs, leaf rachides, petiolules and leaflet midribs sparsely rusty pubescent with hairs c.1 mm long, or almost glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–5(6)-foliolate; petiole 2.5 cm long; rachis up to 6.5 cm long; leaflets ± subcoriaceous, 3–10 × 1.5–5 cm, ovate, elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate or sometimes round, acuminate at the apex, broadly cuneate to truncate at the base; lateral nerves 5–6 on each side; stipules falling very early; petiolules 3 mm long. Leaves 3–5(6)-foliolate; petiole 2.5 cm long; rachis up to 6.5 cm long; leaflets ± subcoriaceous, 3–10 × 1.5–5 cm, ovate, elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate or sometimes round, acuminate at the apex, broadly cuneate to truncate at the base; lateral nerves 5–6 on each side; stipules falling very early; petiolules 3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences scented, 15–20 cm long, 5–10-flowered, the rachis with rather long chestnut-brown hairs; bracts very deciduous; bracteoles 2–3 mm long, under 0.5 mm wide at base, linear to spathulate, deciduous; pedicels 10 mm long. Inflorescences scented, 15–20 cm long, 5–10-flowered, the rachis with rather long chestnut-brown hairs; bracts very deciduous; bracteoles 2–3 mm long, under 0.5 mm wide at base, linear to spathulate, deciduous; pedicels 10 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx reddish, glabrous or nearly so; tube 3–4 mm long; lobes 0.5–1.5 mm long. Calyx reddish, glabrous or nearly so; tube 3–4 mm long; lobes 0.5–1.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white; standard 1.3 × 1.1 cm, with claw 1.5 mm long; wing blades 12 × 4.5 mm, oblong, with claw 4 mm long; blades of keel petals 11.5 × 5 mm, with claw 4.5 mm long. Corolla white; standard 1.3 × 1.1 cm, with claw 1.5 mm long; wing blades 12 × 4.5 mm, oblong, with claw 4 mm long; blades of keel petals 11.5 × 5 mm, with claw 4.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filament sheath 10 mm long, with free parts of filaments 4–6 mm long; anthers 0.7 mm long. Filament sheath 10 mm long, with free parts of filaments 4–6 mm long; anthers 0.7 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous or with few hairs on the sutures, 2–5-ovuled; style c.7 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 5–9(11) × 1.7–3.5 cm, lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, venose when young. Pods 5–9(11) × 1.7–3.5 cm, lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, venose when young.

Distribution

Also in coastal Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal).

Ecology

In coastal evergreen forest and forest margins with Pterocarpus-Xylia-Newtonia, and Erythrophleum-Hirtella, in coastal bush on dunes with Mimusops, Bridelia, Aloe bainesii, Euphorbia, Vepris etc., and on margins of mangroves; also in dry Afzelia sand forest; 0–140 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Widely distributed in coastal areas; Lower Risk, Least Concern.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary glabrous or with few hairs on the sutures, 2–5-ovuled; style c.7 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ± blackish, 1.6–2.3(2.7) × 1.2(1.8) × 0.4–0.9 cm, oblong-ellipsoid, subrhomboid or compressed, obscurely striate and pitted. Seeds ± blackish, 1.6–2.3(2.7) × 1.2(1.8) × 0.4–0.9 cm, oblong-ellipsoid, subrhomboid or compressed, obscurely striate and pitted.