Ophrestia radicosa (A.Rich.) Verdc.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climber to c. 1 m long from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems slender or somewhat thick, covered with very sparse appressed brownish or whitish hairs or with dense spreading dark brown hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; leaflets 1–7(8) × 0.4–2.4(6) cm, oblong-elliptic, oblong-lanceolate to broadly elliptic, acute or rounded and mucronulate at the apex, rounded to very slightly emarginate at the base, glabrescent to finely pubescent above, pubescent beneath especially on the slightly raised venation; petiole 2–3.8(6) cm long; rhachis 0.5–1(1.8) cm long; petiolules 1.5–4 mm long; stipules 3 mm long, filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, lax, 1.5–18 cm long above a peduncle 1.5–12 cm long; flowers paired; pedicels 1.5–2 mm long; bracts and bracteoles minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent to densely brown bristly; tube c. 1.5 mm long; lobes 1.3 mm long, triangular, the upper pair joined for c. two-thirds of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard whitish, tinged purple to reddish-purple, 4–5 × 1.5 mm, oblong, slightly constricted in the middle, appressed brownish silky outside; wings pinkish-mauve; keel pale green at the base, pinkish-mauve at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 1.7–3.5 cm × 4.5–6.5 mm, oblong-lanceolate, flat, often tipped with the small curved style, sparsely covered with very short black completely appressed bristly hairs, 3–4-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark reddish-brown, 3–4 × 2.5 × 1.5 mm, oblong-ellipsoid or ovoid; aril well developed.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climber to ± 1 m. long from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems slender or somewhat thick, covered with very sparse adpressed brownish or whitish hairs or with dense spreading dark-brown hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; leaflets elliptic, 1–7(–8) cm. long, 0·4–2·4(–6) cm. wide, acute or rounded and mucronulate at the apex, rounded to very slightly emarginate at the base, glabrescent to finely pubescent above, pubescent beneath especially on the slightly raised venation; petiole 2–3·8(–6) cm. long; rhachis 0·5–1(–1·8) cm. long; petiolules 1·5–4 mm. long; stipules filiform, 3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, lax, 1·5–9 cm. long above a peduncle 1·5–8 cm. long; flowers paired; pedicels 1·5–2 mm. long; bracts and bracteoles minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent to densely brown bristly; tube ± 1·5 mm. long; lobes triangular, 1·3 mm. long, the upper pair joined for ± two-thirds of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard whitish, tinged purple to reddish-purple, oblong, slightly constricted in the middle, 4–5 mm. long, 1·5 mm. wide, adpressed brownish silky outside; wings pinkish-mauve; keel pale green at the base, pinkish-mauve at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong-lanceolate, flat, 1·7–3·5 cm. long, 4·5–6·5 mm. wide, often tipped with the small curved style, sparsely covered with very short black completely adpressed bristly hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 3–4, dark reddish-brown, oblong-ellipsoid or ovoid, longest dimension 3–4 mm., shorter dimension 2·5 mm., 1·5 mm. thick; aril well developed.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland, Somalia-Masai grasslands, Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing, Herb