Millettia mossambicensis J.B.Gillett

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: confident

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/32150/136537801

Conservation

LC - least concern

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by B. Verdcourt*

Morphology General Habit

Tree 3–15 m tall; branches grey becoming black, lenticellate; bark longitudinally flaky; slash pale brown, very fibrous. Tree 3–15 m tall; branches grey becoming black, lenticellate; bark longitudinally flaky; slash pale brown, very fibrous.

Morphology General Indumentum

Young branchlets brown-pubescent; buds compressed conic, brown-pubescent; scales boat-shaped. Young branchlets brown-pubescent; buds compressed conic, brown-pubescent; scales boat-shaped.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves (5)7(9)-foliolate; petiole 3–6 cm long; rachis brown-pubescent, 6–10 cm long; leaflets 3.5–13 × 2.5–7.5(8.8) cm, smaller towards the base, basal leaflets ovate, upper leaflets elliptic, obovate or oblong-obovate, acuminate at the apex with a deciduous filiform mucro 1–2 mm long, cuneate to truncate at the base, minutely white appressed-pubescent on upper surface, later glabrescent, thinly to densely silky pubescent beneath with hairs c.0.5 mm long, lateral nerves 8–10 on each side ± reaching the margins, brown beneath; stipules very deciduous; petiolules 3–5 mm long, pubescent; stipels 2–4 mm long, filiform. Leaves (5)7(9)-foliolate; petiole 3–6 cm long; rachis brown-pubescent, 6–10 cm long; leaflets 3.5–13 × 2.5–7.5(8.8) cm, smaller towards the base, basal leaflets ovate, upper leaflets elliptic, obovate or oblong-obovate, acuminate at the apex with a deciduous filiform mucro 1–2 mm long, cuneate to truncate at the base, minutely white appressed-pubescent on upper surface, later glabrescent, thinly to densely silky pubescent beneath with hairs c.0.5 mm long, lateral nerves 8–10 on each side ± reaching the margins, brown beneath; stipules very deciduous; petiolules 3–5 mm long, pubescent; stipels 2–4 mm long, filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles showy, terminal, 4–13-flowered, 4–10 cm long with branches 1.5 cm long; pedicels 1–2 cm long; bracts and bracteoles very deciduous, not seen. Panicles showy, terminal, 4–13-flowered, 4–10 cm long with branches 1.5 cm long; pedicels 1–2 cm long; bracts and bracteoles very deciduous, not seen.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 5–6 mm long, silky pubescent, 4-ovuled; style 1–1.2 cm long, glabrous except at base, curved through 100° or more at the middle; stigma minute, erect.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dull black, transversely placed, c.15 × 10 × 4 mm, elliptic-oblong; hilum along the short side; rim aril annular, produced into a ligulate process; funicle not dilated. Seeds dull black, transversely placed, c.15 × 10 × 4 mm, elliptic-oblong; hilum along the short side; rim aril annular, produced into a ligulate process; funicle not dilated.

Distribution

Not known elsewhere.

Ecology

Mixed evergreen and dry forest with Pterocarpus, Xylia and Newtonia, woodland of Acacia, Sterculia, Adansonia on red sand; 40–200 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Only known from N and C Mozambique; limited distribution and habitat. Probably Vulnerable.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx dark brown silky; tube 3–4 mm long; lobes 4–5 mm long, oblong-triangular, the upper pair almost completely joined. Calyx dark brown silky; tube 3–4 mm long; lobes 4–5 mm long, oblong-triangular, the upper pair almost completely joined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard blue, purple or lilac, (1.3)1.5–1.7(1.9) × 1.4–1.75 cm overall, ± round or oblate, without auricles or appendages, white-silky outside; claw 1.5–2.5 mm long; wing blades 13–14 × 6–7 mm, obovate-oblong, slightly hairy at apex, with spur 1.5 mm long and claw 2–4 mm long; blades of keel petals 12–13 × 6–7 mm, rhombic, with spur 2 mm long and claw 4 mm long. Standard blue, purple or lilac, (1.3)1.5–1.7(1.9) × 1.4–1.75 cm overall, ± round or oblate, without auricles or appendages, white-silky outside; claw 1.5–2.5 mm long; wing blades 13–14 × 6–7 mm, obovate-oblong, slightly hairy at apex, with spur 1.5 mm long and claw 2–4 mm long; blades of keel petals 12–13 × 6–7 mm, rhombic, with spur 2 mm long and claw 4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen sheath 1–1.2 cm long with free parts 3–5 mm long; upper stamen free at the base and apex; anthers 0.8–1 mm long. Stamen sheath 1–1.2 cm long with free parts 3–5 mm long; upper stamen free at the base and apex; anthers 0.8–1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk minute, angular, crenate. Disk minute, angular, crenate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 5–6 mm long, silky pubescent, 4-ovuled; style 1–1.2 cm long, glabrous except at base, curved through 100° or more at the middle; stigma minute, erect.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod yellow-brown, (6)7.5–14 × 2.3–4 cm, oblanceolate to linear-oblong, flat, 1–3-seeded, densely velvety, margined when young. Pod yellow-brown, (6)7.5–14 × 2.3–4 cm, oblanceolate to linear-oblong, flat, 1–3-seeded, densely velvety, margined when young.