Fabaceae
Ophrestia

Ophrestia unicostata (F.J.Herm.) Verdc.

First published in Kew Bull. 24: 258 (1970)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Zambia. It grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Erect, ascending or partly twining herb 15–40 cm tall from a woody base.
Morphology Stem
Stems with dense ferruginous stiff pubescence.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves digitately 3-foliolate; leaflets 2–10 × 0.2–1 cm, narrowly elliptic-oblong to linear-oblong, obtuse but apiculate at the apex, cuneate at the base, subcoriaceous, the margin ± revolute, sparsely pubescent or glabrescent above, hairy or glabrous beneath; midrib strongly impressed above and very prominent beneath, the other venation finely raised-reticulate above; petiole 0.6–1.7 cm long; petiolules 1–2 mm long, pubescent; stipules 3–5 mm long, linear-subulate, 1-nerved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences 2–20 cm long (apparently branched inflorescences up to 70 cm long or more are actually branches with very reduced leaves supporting normal axillary inflorescences, this is mainly at the base of the stems); peduncles 2–3 cm long; pedicels 1–2 mm long; bracts 2–3 mm long, linear, persistent; secondary bracts 1–1.5 mm long, lanceolate; bracteoles 1–2 mm long, linear-lanceolate; all inflorescence parts ferruginous setulose-pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 3–5 at the nodes of the rhachis; calyx tube 2.5 mm long; lobes 2 mm long, the upper pair joined for over half their length.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard lilac or mauve, 8.5 × 4 mm, panduriform, emarginate, densely white strigose outside; claw 3 mm long; wings narrow, 8.5 mm long with distinct spur, together with keel, white strigose outside.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods (immature) 2–2.5 × 0.6 cm, elliptic-oblong, densely ferruginous hairy.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds not seen.
[FZ]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19892620/20115953

Conservation
EN - endangered
[IUCN]

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
[AERP]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Insufficiently known
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Not climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0