Lotus namulensis Brand

Leguminosae, various authors. Flora Zambesiaca 3:7. 2003

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb with numerous annual stems from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems erect or ascending, up to 40 cm tall but usually shorter, 0.5–1.5 mm in diameter, rarely up to 2.5 mm, ± quadrangular and grooved, spreading hairy or sometimes sparsely so.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually well spaced but sometimes very distant on lower stem, mainly on more vigorous stems; rhachis 1.5–3 mm long (rarely up to 7 mm), broad, canaliculate, hairy to almost glabrous; basal leaflets 4.5–9 × 1.3–3.5 mm, usually 2.5–4.5 times longer than wide, asymmetrically ovate with a basal angle often 70–80º, rarely up to c. 100º, acute to subacute at the apex; apical leaflets 7–15 × (1.5)2–3.5 mm, oblanceolate, narrower than the basal ones, acute to acuminate; all leaflets sparsely hairy to glabrous on upper surface, glabrous beneath or with long hairs only on the midrib and margins, often with reddish markings above and beneath; stipular glands small, inconspicuous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels (4)5–8-flowered; peduncle 35–110 mm long, rarely longer, laterally compressed towards the apex, densely to sparsely covered with fulvous or yellowish spreading hairs, rarely almost glabrous; foliage leaf on the peduncle 1-foliolate or 3-foliolate, sometimes 2–3-lobed; pedicels 1.5–3.5 mm long, often densely spreading hairy, rarely subglabrous; glands (bracts) at the base of the pedicels small, oblong, purplish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx light green, often with reddish or purplish spots, with sparse long weak hairs, sometimes subglabrous save on the teeth margins; hypanthium c. 0.8 mm long, calyx tube 1.8–2.5 mm above the insertion of the stamens; calyx teeth 2–4 mm long, triangular-acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white with pink, mauve or cream spots, the keel with purplish tip; standard 9–11 × 4.5–5.5 mm, slightly violin-shaped, wedge-shaped at the base, retuse at the apex, the margins thickened and infolded over 3–4 mm from the base; wings 9–11 mm long with the claw 2.5–3 mm long, the blade 6.5–8 × 4–5 mm, laterally pouched, auriculate; keel 8–10 mm long, curved, rostrate, the claws c. 2.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filament sheath 5–6 mm long; free parts of the shorter filaments 2–2.5 mm long, those of the longer filaments 3.5–4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 6–7 mm long, glabrous, 29–30-ovulate; style c. 4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod up to 38 × 2.5 mm, usually shorter, terete, purplish or purplish-grey.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 24 or usually fewer, c. 1.8 mm long, ovoid to subglobular, dark brown, dull.