Neonotonia wightii (Wight & Arn.) J.A.Lackey

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial trailing or climbing herb often with a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems sparsely to densely hairy.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 1.2–15 × 0.5–13 cm, ovate to elliptic, mucronate, glabrous to densely hairy on both surfaces; petiole 2.5–12 cm long; rhachis 2–18 mm long; petiolules 1–3 mm long; stipules 1–10 × 1–3 mm, ovate or oblong-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence many-flowered, lax or dense; inflorescence axis 2–55 cm long; peduncles 2–10 cm long; pedicels 0.5–3.5 mm long; bracts and bracteoles 1–5 mm long, lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely to densely hairy; tube 1–2 mm long; lobes 1–6 mm long, linear-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard white, mauve, blue or white with mauve blotch inside, 3–12 × 4–8 mm, obovate, rounded or rhombic; wings and keel white or tinged mauve; wings sometimes with tooth or lobe at junction of blade and claw.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 1.5–3.5 cm × 2–4 mm, linear, glabrous to densely hairy, somewhat constricted between the seeds.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds reddish to orange-brown, minutely granular, somewhat compressed, 2–4 × 1–3 × 1–2 mm, with a white funicle remnant.

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

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19892457/180940342

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climber or trailer, often woody at the base, 0·6–4·5 m. long; rootstock often thick and woody.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrescent to densely velvety with usually ferruginous hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets ovate or elliptic, the laterals some-what oblique, 1·3–15 cm. long, 0·8–12·5 cm. wide, obtuse to acute or acuminate and mucronulate at the apex, cuneate, rounded or truncate at the base, glabrous to densely velvety on both sides; petioles 2–12 cm. long; rhachis 0·1–2 cm. long; petiolules 1–2·5 mm. long; stipules ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 1·2–10 mm. long, 1–3 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences dense or lax, 20–150-flowered; rhachis 2–60 cm. long; peduncles 2–10 cm. long; pedicels 0·5–3·5 mm. long; bracts of fascicles linear to ovate-lanceolate, 1·25–9 mm. long, up to 3–5 mm. wide; secondary bracts and bracteoles linear, 1·25–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely to densely hairy; tube 1·5–2 mm. long; lobes linear-lanceolate, 2–6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard white, mauve-blue or white with mauve blotch inside, often turning orange-red with age; lamina oblate, rounded or rhomboid, 3·5–11 mm. long, 3·5–8 mm. wide; wings and keel white or tinged mauve.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods linear-oblong, 1·5–3–6 cm. long, 2·5–5 mm. wide, glabrous to densely hairy with either adpressed or spreading ferruginous hairs, ± constricted between the seeds.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds reddish- or orange-brown, oblong, somewhat compressed, longest dimension 2·25–4 mm., shorter dimension 1·5–2·8 mm., 0·7–1·5 mm. thick, minutely shagreened or granular, rarely minutely tuberculate; aril white.

Distribution

Throughout tropical Africa from Ethiopia to Angola and South Africa, India, Ceylon, Malaya and Java