Millettia impressa Harms

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by B. Verdcourt*

Morphology General Habit

Climber to several metres high; stems dark brown pubescent but becoming glabrous. Climber to several metres high; stems dark brown pubescent but becoming glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves (5)7(9)-foliolate; petiole to 7 cm long; rachis up to 8 cm long; leaflets 3.5–9.5 × 1.5–5 cm, elliptic-oblong to oblong-obovate, rounded to shortly broadly obscurely acuminate at the apex with a deciduous mucro 0.5–1 mm long, cuneate to rounded at the base, glabrous on upper surface, sparsely brown pubescent or glabrous beneath; main lateral nerves 6–7 on each side, impressed above, not reaching the margin; stipules 4–6 mm long, narrowly triangular; stipels 2–4 mm long, filiform; petiolules 3–6 mm long. Leaves (5)7(9)-foliolate; petiole to 7 cm long; rachis up to 8 cm long; leaflets 3.5–9.5 × 1.5–5 cm, elliptic-oblong to oblong-obovate, rounded to shortly broadly obscurely acuminate at the apex with a deciduous mucro 0.5–1 mm long, cuneate to rounded at the base, glabrous on upper surface, sparsely brown pubescent or glabrous beneath; main lateral nerves 6–7 on each side, impressed above, not reaching the margin; stipules 4–6 mm long, narrowly triangular; stipels 2–4 mm long, filiform; petiolules 3–6 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and axillary, pseudoracemose, 25–30 cm long, brown pubescent; cymule rachides up to 5 mm long; pedicels 1–2 mm long; bracteoles up to 3.5 mm long, oblong. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, pseudoracemose, 25–30 cm long, brown pubescent; cymule rachides up to 5 mm long; pedicels 1–2 mm long; bracteoles up to 3.5 mm long, oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla mauve or greenish, striped with purplish-chestnut; standard 7–11 × 8–12 mm, ± round, emarginate at the apex, slightly cordate at the base and with 2 vertical folds, silky brown pubescent outside, the claw 2–4 mm long, glabrous; wing-blades 6–9 × 2–4 mm, slightly auriculate at the base, silky near tip, with glabrous claw 3–5 mm long; blades of keel petals 6–10 × 3.5–4.5 mm, silky pubescent outside with auricle 1–1.5 mm long and glabrous claw 4 mm long. Corolla mauve or greenish, striped with purplish-chestnut; standard 7–11 × 8–12 mm, ± round, emarginate at the apex, slightly cordate at the base and with 2 vertical folds, silky brown pubescent outside, the claw 2–4 mm long, glabrous; wing-blades 6–9 × 2–4 mm, slightly auriculate at the base, silky near tip, with glabrous claw 3–5 mm long; blades of keel petals 6–10 × 3.5–4.5 mm, silky pubescent outside with auricle 1–1.5 mm long and glabrous claw 4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 7 mm long, 4–6-ovuled, silky pubescent, with stipe 1 mm long; style curved through 90° near the base, glabrous save at the base; stigma capitate; pod 5–10 × 1–1.9 cm, ± oblong-linear, silky pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown, 11–13 × 9–10 × 4.5 mm, oblong or subrhombic in outline. Seeds brown, 11–13 × 9–10 × 4.5 mm, oblong or subrhombic in outline.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx appressed brown pubescent; tube 3–4 mm long, the 3 lower teeth 1.5 mm long, triangular; upper pair shorter, almost completely united. Calyx appressed brown pubescent; tube 3–4 mm long, the 3 lower teeth 1.5 mm long, triangular; upper pair shorter, almost completely united.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen sheath 7–10 mm long with free parts of filaments 2–3 mm long; upper stamen free at the base, curved; anthers 0.5–0.8 mm long. Stamen sheath 7–10 mm long with free parts of filaments 2–3 mm long; upper stamen free at the base, curved; anthers 0.5–0.8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk absent. Disk absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 7 mm long, 4–6-ovuled, silky pubescent, with stipe 1 mm long; style curved through 90° near the base, glabrous save at the base; stigma capitate; pod 5–10 × 1–1.9 cm, ± oblong-linear, silky pubescent.

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