Eriosema bauchiense Hutch. & Dalziel

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect pyrophytic herb with several to many ± unbranched stems 7–42 cm. tall from a large woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems of 3–6 internodes, dark purplish-brown, glabrescent or sparsely pilose and with sparse glands.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves yellow-green, frequently developing after flowering has commenced; leaflets 1–3, oblong-elliptic to broadly elliptic, 1·8–6 cm. long, 0·7–2·5 cm. wide, rounded or emarginate at the apex, rounded or cuneate at the base, both surfaces densely glandular but otherwise glabrous save that the margins and sometimes the veins and midrib beneath are ciliate; petiole ± 2 mm. long; rhachis 4–9 mm. long; petiolules 1–1·5 mm. long; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 5–9 mm. long, ± 2 mm. wide, margins ciliate, veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes axillary, the flowering part 3–5 cm. long, ± 1·5 cm. wide; peduncle 2·5–14 cm. long, sparingly pilose and glandular; pedicels 2 mm. long, strongly deflexed; bracts falling very early, small, 3 mm. long, 1·2 mm. wide, ciliate at the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers sweetly scented (fide Hepper 1781).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrescent and glandular, 3·5–4 mm. long; lobes triangular, one-third to one-half as long as the tube, margins ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow, elliptic-oblong, 6–8(–10) mm. long, 3–4 mm. wide, with a few very short hairs and glands outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods obliquely oblong, 1·1–1·6 cm. long, 7–10 mm. wide, very shortly stipitate, with sparse long hairs and glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (immature) purple, oblong, longest dimension 4·5–5·5 mm., shorter dimension 2·5–3·5 mm., 1·3 mm. thick; rim-aril yellow-brown.

Habitat

Upland grassland, seasonally burnt with numerous other pyrophytes and often some forest remnants; 1350–2100 m.

Distribution

T1 T4 T7

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Afromontane grassland, Sudanian grasslands, Zambezian grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect pyrophytic herb with several to many ± unbranched stems 7–42 cm tall from a large woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems of 3–6 internodes, dark purplish-brown, glabrescent or sparsely pilose and with sparse glands.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves yellow-green, frequently developing after flowering has commenced; leaflets 1–3, 1.8–6 × 0.7–2.5 cm, oblong-elliptic to broadly elliptic, rounded or emarginate at the apex, rounded or cuneate at the base; both surfaces densely glandular but otherwise glabrous save that the margins and sometimes the veins and midrib beneath are ciliate; petiole c. 2 mm long; rhachis 4–9 mm long; petiolules 1–1.5 mm long; stipules 5–9 × c. 2 mm, ovate-lanceolate, margins ciliate, veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes axillary, the flowering part 3–5 × c. 1.5 cm; peduncle 2.5–14 cm long, sparingly pilose and glandular; pedicels 2 mm long, strongly deflexed; bracts falling very early, 3 × 1.2 mm, small, ciliate at the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers sweetly scented.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrescent and glandular, 3.5–4 mm long; lobes triangular, one-third to one-half as long as the tube, margins ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow, 6–8(10) × 3–4 mm, elliptic-oblong, with a very few short hairs and glands outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 11–16 × 7–10 mm, obliquely oblong, very shortly stipitate, with sparse long hairs and glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (immature) purple, 4.5–5.5 × 2.5–3.5 × 1.3 mm, oblong; rim aril yellow-brown.

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Diagnostic

Similar in habit to E. parviflorum, 6–12 in high, from a woody base.