Ophrestia unifoliolata (Baker f.) Verdc.

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

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

Morphology General Habit

Trailing or ± climbing plant 60–90 cm tall from a rather fleshy narrow rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems thinly woody at the base, densely shortly ferruginous bristly-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1-foliolate; leaflets 3.5–12.2 × 0.4–2.4(3.7) cm, narrowly oblong-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, rounded but mucronulate at the apex, rounded at the base, with scattered hairs above and some bristly-pubescence beneath, mainly on the closely raised-reticulate venation; petiole and petiolules together 3–3.5 mm long; stipules 3–3.5 mm long, setaceous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary (occasionally up to 3 per axil), 3–15 cm long, often much exceeding the leaves; flowers 2–3 at each node of the rhachis; peduncles 2–5 cm long; pedicels 1–2 mm long; bracts and bracteoles 0.5–1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 1–1.5 mm long; lobes 1.5–2 mm long, the upper pair partly joined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard reddish-violet, purple or pink, 4.5–6 × 2.5 mm, panduriform, ferruginous or blackish strigose outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 1.2–1.8 × 0.5 cm, oblong, compressed, appressed pilose on faces, blackish setulose-pubescent at margins, with persistent hooked style.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds not seen.