Macrotyloma fimbriatum (Harms) Verdc.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect perennial herb, 12–50 cm. tall, from a dark brown woody rootstock consisting of a carrot-like central stock ± 15 cm. long and 2·5 cm. in diameter with thinner horizontal roots.

Morphology Stem

Stems ? single, simple, sparsely hairy or glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves unifoliolate; leaflet oblong-elliptic to narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 3–17 cm. long, 0·8–4 cm. wide, acute to obtuse and mucronulate at the apex, narrowly rounded at the base, glabrous or sparsely pilose on the margins and main nerves; petiole 5–14 mm. long; petiolule 1·5–4 mm. long; stipules lanceolate, 0·5–2·8 cm. long, 3–4 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hyacinth-scented, 4-several in dense axillary fascicles, sometimes appearing falsely terminal; peduncles very short; pedicels 8–12 mm. long, pubescent; bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 6–10 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 5 mm. long, mostly glabrous or pubescent; lobes linear-lanceolate, 0·5–1·5 cm. long, pubescent or ciliolate, the upper pair joined almost to the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard creamy-green or milky white with mauve spot just above the appendages, rather thick, oblong-elliptic, 2·2–3·2 cm. long, 1·2–2 cm. wide, curved, emarginate; wings and keel pale yellow-green, very narrow.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod linear-lanceolate, 5·5–6 cm. long, 5·5 mm. wide, gradually tapering to the apex, margined, adpressed pubescent on the faces but with spreading hairs on the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds not seen.

Habitat

Grassland, Brachystegia woodland; 1020–1800 m.

Distribution

T8

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, 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 herb up to 60 cm tall, arising from a perennial woody tuberous rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems annual, sparsely spreading pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1-foliolate; leaflet 3–15.2 × 0.8–4 cm, oblong-elliptic to narrowly lanceolate, acute or rounded and apiculate at the apex, rounded at the base, glabrous on both surfaces apart from occasional hairs along the midvein; petiole 5–30 mm long; petiolules 2–3 mm long; stipules 5–22 × 3–4 mm, lanceolate, striate; stipels 2–4 mm long, filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers axillary, in 4–8-flowered compact fascicles; pedicels 1–2 mm long; bracts 6–12 × 2–3 mm, lanceolate; bracteoles 6 × 1 mm, linear-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 4–5 mm long, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; lobes 5–14 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, pubescent, the upper two fused along nearly all their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard off-white to creamy-green with a purple blotch at the base, 2.2–2.8 × 1.2–1.8 cm, oblong-elliptic, emarginate at the apex, with linear appendages 6–8 mm long; wings narrow, 1.8–2 cm long; keel 1–1.9 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 6–7 mm long, densely sericeous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 5.4–5.8 cm × 5–6 mm, narrowly oblong, compressed, with a beak up to 6 mm long, sparsely appressed pilose on the face of the valves but more spreading pilose along the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds not known.