Fabaceae
Macrotyloma

Macrotyloma oliganthum (Brenan) Verdc.

First published in Kew Bull. 24: 403 (1970)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Tanzania to S. Tropical Africa. It is a climbing perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Trailing or twining herb up to 45 cm long, arising from a perennial woody rootstock.
Morphology Stem
Stems annual, spreading pubescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets 2.6–9 × 0.7–2.6 cm, oblong-elliptic, the lateral leaflets slightly oblique, all leaflets with midvein not central, subacute or obtuse at the apex, apiculate, rounded at the base, appressed pubescent on both surfaces; petiole 2.2–6 cm long; rhachis 1–4 mm long; petiolules 2 mm long; stipules 4–8 × 2–3 mm, ovate, striate; stipels 2 mm long, filiform.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers axillary, solitary, in pairs or in 3-flowered fascicles; pedicels 3–5 mm long, bracts 3–5 mm long, lanceolate, striate; bracteoles 2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tube 2–4 mm long, sparsely spreading pubescent; lobes 2–4 mm long, triangular, spreading pubescent, the upper pair completely fused.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard greenish-cream tinged purple inside or greenish-yellow with purple-red blotch, 12–20 × 12–17 mm, broadly elliptic, emarginate at the apex, with 4–6 mm long linear appendages; wings 11–14 × 1–2 mm; keel 12–15 × 2–4 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 5–6 mm long, linear, appressed pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods 5.8–8 cm × 5–6 mm, compressed, linear, glabrous, pale green; beak 1–3 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds reddish-brown, up to 5 × 3 × 1 mm, compressed; aril poorly developed.
[FZ]

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
[AERP]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Zambezian woodland
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

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

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb, some shoots erect at first, others trailing or twining, up to 45 cm. long; rootstock thick and woody.
Morphology Stem
Stems covered with spreading hairs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaflets 3, oblong or elliptic, the laterals slightly oblique, 1–8 cm. long, 0·4–3 cm. wide, obtuse or subacute at the apex, narrowed to a ± rounded base, adpressed pubescent on both surfaces; petiole 1·5–6 cm. long; rhachis 0–2 mm. long; petiolules 2 mm. long; stipules ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 4–10 mm. long, 2–4 mm. wide, ribbed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 1–3 in axillary fascicles; pedicels 3–5 mm. long; bracts ±1·5 mm. long; bracteoles lanceolate, 2–3·5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx spreading pubescent; tube 2·5–4 mm. long; lobes triangular, 2·5–4 mm. long, the upper pair completely joined.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard greenish-cream outside, tinged reddish-purple inside, or greenish-yellow with purple-red patch inside, rounded-obovate, 1·2–1·7 cm. long, 0·9–1·5 cm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods linear, slightly curved, 5–8 cm. long, 5–6 mm. wide, margined, beaked, glabrous or almost so.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds not seen.
Habitat
Brachystegia, Uapaca woodland; 970–1500 m.
Distribution
T8
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0