Millettia makondensis Harms

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/179585/1583251

Conservation

VU - vulnerable

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by B. Verdcourt*

Morphology General Habit

Subshrub 0.16–1.2 m tall or long, from a woody rootstock. Subshrub 0.16–1.2 m tall or long, from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems ascending or ± prostrate, pubescent, green or drying straw-coloured. Stems ascending or ± prostrate, pubescent, green or drying straw-coloured.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves (5)7–9-foliolate; petiole 5–11 cm long; rachis pubescent, 6–10 cm long; leaflets 2–11 × 1.4–7.3 cm (to 10 × 9 cm in Gillett 1971), elliptic to oblong, occasionally almost round or obovate, rounded to shortly bluntly acuminate and often mucronate at the apex, rounded or slightly subcordate at the base, shortly sparsely pubescent on both surfaces; lateral nerves 6–8 on each side, not reaching the margin, ± prominent beneath; stipules 6–8 mm long, ligulate; stipels 1.2–3 mm long, filiform; petiolules 4–5 mm long, pubescent. Leaves (5)7–9-foliolate; petiole 5–11 cm long; rachis pubescent, 6–10 cm long; leaflets 2–11 × 1.4–7.3 cm (to 10 × 9 cm in Gillett 1971), elliptic to oblong, occasionally almost round or obovate, rounded to shortly bluntly acuminate and often mucronate at the apex, rounded or slightly subcordate at the base, shortly sparsely pubescent on both surfaces; lateral nerves 6–8 on each side, not reaching the margin, ± prominent beneath; stipules 6–8 mm long, ligulate; stipels 1.2–3 mm long, filiform; petiolules 4–5 mm long, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences (7)10–18 cm long including the 3–5(8.5) cm long peduncle; cymule-stalks c.1 mm long, 1–2-flowered; bracts 1–3 mm long, linear-triangular, pubescent; pedicels c.2 mm long, pubescent; bracteoles c.1 mm long, ± triangular, paired. Inflorescences (7)10–18 cm long including the 3–5(8.5) cm long peduncle; cymule-stalks c.1 mm long, 1–2-flowered; bracts 1–3 mm long, linear-triangular, pubescent; pedicels c.2 mm long, pubescent; bracteoles c.1 mm long, ± triangular, paired.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx reddish, pubescent; tube c.3 mm long; teeth acuminate, c.0.5 mm long, the upper pair triangular, shorter than the lower. Calyx reddish, pubescent; tube c.3 mm long; teeth acuminate, c.0.5 mm long, the upper pair triangular, shorter than the lower.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla mauve with white keel, glabrous; standard 8.5 × 8 mm, ovate-oblong, emarginate at apex, ± truncate at the base, unappendaged, with claw 2.5 mm long; wing blades 8 × 2 mm, oblong, with claw 3 mm long; keel petals similar. Corolla mauve with white keel, glabrous; standard 8.5 × 8 mm, ovate-oblong, emarginate at apex, ± truncate at the base, unappendaged, with claw 2.5 mm long; wing blades 8 × 2 mm, oblong, with claw 3 mm long; keel petals similar.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen sheath 7–8 mm long with free parts of filaments 2–3 mm long; upper stamen free at the base; anthers 0.6–1 mm long. Stamen sheath 7–8 mm long with free parts of filaments 2–3 mm long; upper stamen free at the base; anthers 0.6–1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk absent. Disk absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 6 mm long with stipe 1 mm long, 2–3-ovuled, pubescent; style curved, 3 mm long, glabrous except at base; stigma globose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, 9 × 7 × 4 mm, rounded-oblong; hilum 2.5 mm long. Seeds dark brown, 9 × 7 × 4 mm, rounded-oblong; hilum 2.5 mm long.

Distribution

Also in SE Tanzania.

Ecology

Sandy hills; c.200 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Restricted distribution and habitat; probably Vulnerable.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 6 mm long with stipe 1 mm long, 2–3-ovuled, pubescent; style curved, 3 mm long, glabrous except at base; stigma globose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Immature pod flat, 6–7 × 1.5 cm, oblanceolate, 2–3-seeded, sparsely puberulous, later glabrous. Immature pod flat, 6–7 × 1.5 cm, oblanceolate, 2–3-seeded, sparsely puberulous, later glabrous.

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: threatened. Confidence: low confidence