Millettia lasiantha Dunn

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by B. Verdcourt*

Morphology General Habit

Liane 4.5 to 40 m tall, reaching the forest canopy layer, becoming massive with lower main stems like vast cables, much-fluted, 7.5–10 cm in diameter. Liane 4.5 to 40 m tall, reaching the forest canopy layer, becoming massive with lower main stems like vast cables, much-fluted, 7.5–10 cm in diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 6–8 mm long, densely silky pubescent with white and brown hairs, 4–6-ovuled; style glabrous, 4–6 mm long, curved through 90°; stigma small, erect.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods flat, 5–10.5 × 2–3 cm, ± oblong, rounded at the apex with a sharply deflexed beak, (1)2–5-seeded, densely yellow-brown or brown appressed silky. Pods flat, 5–10.5 × 2–3 cm, ± oblong, rounded at the apex with a sharply deflexed beak, (1)2–5-seeded, densely yellow-brown or brown appressed silky.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, transversely placed, 14 × 10 × 3.5 mm, flattened ellipsoid or oblong; hilum with an incomplete rim aril produced into a ligulate process appressed to the non-dilated funicle. Seeds dark brown, transversely placed, 14 × 10 × 3.5 mm, flattened ellipsoid or oblong; hilum with an incomplete rim aril produced into a ligulate process appressed to the non-dilated funicle.

Distribution

Also in E Kenya and E Tanzania.

Ecology

Newtonia and other montane forest, usually riverine, dense undergrowth at forest edges, also secondary scrub; 770–1500 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Fairly widely distributed; probably Lower Risk, Near Threatened.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets velvety with appressed green-brown to chocolate-coloured hairs; stems later glabrescent and white-lenticellate. Branchlets velvety with appressed green-brown to chocolate-coloured hairs; stems later glabrescent and white-lenticellate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 7–9-foliolate; petiole 3.5–6 cm long; rachis 2–10 cm long; leaflets 2.5–10 × 1.7–5 cm, oblong to elliptic or obovate, acute to acuminate at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base, ± glabrous on upper surface save for the midrib, velvety appressed silky beneath; stipules 8 × 3 mm, oblong-lanceolate, appendaged at the base, hairy like the stems, falling almost at once; stipels 3–5 mm long, subulate; petiolules 2–4 mm long. Leaves 7–9-foliolate; petiole 3.5–6 cm long; rachis 2–10 cm long; leaflets 2.5–10 × 1.7–5 cm, oblong to elliptic or obovate, acute to acuminate at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base, ± glabrous on upper surface save for the midrib, velvety appressed silky beneath; stipules 8 × 3 mm, oblong-lanceolate, appendaged at the base, hairy like the stems, falling almost at once; stipels 3–5 mm long, subulate; petiolules 2–4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences branched or unbranched, (2)10–30 cm long, appressed brown pubescent; peduncle (0)4 cm long; cymule-stalks nodular, c.1 mm long, 3–5-flowered; bracts 5 mm long, lanceolate, very deciduous; bracteoles 1.2–1.5 mm long, oblong; pedicels 2–4 mm long. Inflorescences branched or unbranched, (2)10–30 cm long, appressed brown pubescent; peduncle (0)4 cm long; cymule-stalks nodular, c.1 mm long, 3–5-flowered; bracts 5 mm long, lanceolate, very deciduous; bracteoles 1.2–1.5 mm long, oblong; pedicels 2–4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx silvery-brown velvety; tube 2.5 mm long; lateral lobes 1.5–2 mm long, lower lobe 2.5–3 mm long. Calyx silvery-brown velvety; tube 2.5 mm long; lateral lobes 1.5–2 mm long, lower lobe 2.5–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla mauve-blue or violet; standard sometimes with white spots at the base, 10–15 × 7–12 mm overall, rounded oblong, emarginate at the apex, densely silvery brown silky outside; without appendages but with slight folds at the base; auricles 2 mm long; claw 3–4 mm long, broadly obtriangular; wing blades 9 × 3–4 mm, oblong, with claw 3 mm long; blades of keel petals 9–11.5 × 4.5–6 mm, oblong-elliptic, with claws 2.5 mm long. Corolla mauve-blue or violet; standard sometimes with white spots at the base, 10–15 × 7–12 mm overall, rounded oblong, emarginate at the apex, densely silvery brown silky outside; without appendages but with slight folds at the base; auricles 2 mm long; claw 3–4 mm long, broadly obtriangular; wing blades 9 × 3–4 mm, oblong, with claw 3 mm long; blades of keel petals 9–11.5 × 4.5–6 mm, oblong-elliptic, with claws 2.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen sheath 8.5 mm long with free parts (2)3–4 mm long; anthers 0.8 mm long; upper filament free at the base. Stamen sheath 8.5 mm long with free parts (2)3–4 mm long; anthers 0.8 mm long; upper filament free at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 6–8 mm long, densely silky pubescent with white and brown hairs, 4–6-ovuled; style glabrous, 4–6 mm long, curved through 90°; stigma small, erect.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; forest, Zambezian forest

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing, Shrub