Julbernardia globiflora (Benth.) Troupin

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

Morphology General Habit

Usually a tree 5–15 m. high, with flat or rounded spreading crown, but sometimes shrubby or flowering from coppice shoots 0.3–2 m. high; bark rough or smooth when young, grey; young branchlets puberulous to pubescent or tomentose, soon glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves:stipules intrapetiolar, about 3–5 mm. long, connate below, bicuspidate above, non-foliaceous, very caducous; petiole with rhachis (3–)5–20 cm. long; leaflets in (2–)4–6(–8) pairs, narrowly oblong-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, or sometimes narrowly obovate-oblong, (1–)2–8.5(–11.5) cm. long, (0.6–)1–3.3(–5.6) cm. wide, obtuse or rounded and sometimes slightly emarginate at apex; margins fringed with whitish pubescence.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles up to ± 30 cm. long and wide, brown-tomentellous or shortly tomentose; bracts 2–10 mm. long, usually half as long to more than as long as the bracteoles (occasionally only one-third as long); pedicels of open flowers 2–6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles 7–10 mm. long, 6–9 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals oblong, not or only slightly wider above than below, non-contiguous, 2.5–4.5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals white; larger one ovate, shortly clawed, 6.5–9 mm. long, 4–5 mm. wide; others oblanceolate to oblanceolate-spathulate or linear, 3–8 mm. long, 0.5–3 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods obovate-oblong or oblong, 4–9 cm. long, 2–3.2 cm. wide, brown-tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, 1.3–1.6 × 1–1.5 cm.

Figures

Fig. 30/1–11.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland; ecologically a very important species in the Flora area, ranging throughout the Brachystegia areas in Tanganyika, probably the commonest species, and often dominant; usually growing with Brachystegia spiciformis and forming tsetse-fly (Glossina morsitans) habitat (T.T.C.L.: 104); 490–1830 m.

Distribution

T1 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/62026268/146198147

Conservation

LC - least concern

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 Leaves

Leaves: stipules intrapetiolar, 3–5 mm long, connate at base, bicuspidate, caducous; petiole with rachis (3)5–20 cm long; leaflets in (2)4–6(8) pairs, (1)2–8.5(11.5) × (0.6)1–3.3(5.6) cm, oblong-elliptic, ovate-oblong or obovate-oblong, asymmetrically cuneate at base, obtuse to emarginate at apex, margins white pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles up to 30 cm long and wide, brown pubescent; bracts 2–10 mm long, usually at least half as long as the bracteoles; bracteoles 7–10 × 6–9 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 2.5–4.5 × 1.5 mm, oblong, non-contiguous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals white, the larger one 6.5–9 × 4–5 mm, ovate, shortly clawed, others 3–8 × 0.5–3 mm, narrowly obovate to spathulate or linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 4–9 × 2–3.2 cm, obovate-oblong to oblong, brown tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, 1.3–1.6 × 1–1.5 cm.

Morphology General Habit

Tree 5–15 m tall, with flat or rounded spreading crown, but sometimes shrubby or flowering from coppice shoots 0.3–2 m high; bark rough, grey.

Morphology Branches

Young branches pubescent, glabrescent.