Dolichos subcapitatus R.Wilczek

Leguminosae, B. Mackinder, R. Pasquet, R. Polhill and B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:5. 2001

Morphology General Habit

Prostrate, creeping or erect herb, from a perennial woody rootstock; rootstock to 50 cm long.

Morphology Stem

Stems annual, slightly angled, sparsely spreading pubescent or glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; leaflets 2.5–11.6 × 0.3–2.2 cm, narrowly ovate, narrowly or very narrowly elliptic, acute mucronate at the apex, subacute at the base, upper surface sparsely pubescent or glabrescent, lower surface sparsely pubescent; petiole 9–30 mm long, glabrescent; rhachis 4–14 mm long; petiolules 1–2 mm long; stipules 7–20 × 2–5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, striate; stipels 2–3 mm long, oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers axillary, in 4–10-flowered fascicles or inflorescence subcapitate or a very compact pseudoraceme; peduncle 2.2–10.5 cm long; rhachis 10–13 mm long; pedicels 1–2 mm long; bracts 2–4 mm long, lanceolate, caducous; bracts absent; bracteoles 3–4 mm long, lanceolate, usually persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely spreading pubescent; tube 2–3 mm long; lobes 1–2 mm long, upper pair fused along almost all of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard deep blue or purple, 8–10 × 8–13 mm, almost round; wings and keel purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 4–5 mm long, linear-oblong, compressed, glabrous; style 5–8 mm long; stigma minute, terminal, capitate, penicillate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 2.8–4.5 cm × 4–7 mm, narrowly oblong, glabrous; margins thickened, 3–4-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 3–5 × 3 × 2 mm, ovoid; aril yellow, 2 mm long; hilum 2–3 mm long, linear.