Pseudovigna puerarioides Ern

Clark, R., van der Burgt, X., Banks, H. et al. Kew Bull (2011) 66: 589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-011-9314-8

Morphology General Habit

Herb, perennial, twining, 2 – 3 m

Morphology General Indumentum

Indumentum of erect, short and long, white to pale brown trichomes present on most parts of the plant (henceforth to be referred to simply as ‘trichomes’)

Morphology Stem

Stems moderately to densely covered with trichomes Internodes 8 – 18 cm

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules elliptic, acute, striate, c. 4 × 1.5 mm, moderately covered with trichomes; stipels filiform, 2 – 3 mm

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets mid-green above, slightly paler below, rhombic, laterals strongly asymmetrical, terminal 9.5 – 14.5 × 7.5 – 11.7 cm, laterals 8 – 12.5 × 6.5 – 9.5 cm; upper surface sparsely covered with appressed trichomes, lower surface moderately covered with long, slender, appressed, white trichomes; veins pale, raised on both surfaces, more prominent below Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; petioles 3.5 – 14 cm, rhachis 1.2 – 3 cm, both longitudinally ridged, petiolules 5 – 8 mm, all sparsely to moderately covered with trichomes, becoming dense on petiolules

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary pseudoracemes, 13 – 23 cm, including peduncle 2.5 – 7 cm, 10 – 18 (– 23)-flowered; flowers on fleshy nodes, the axis moderately covered with trichomes; flowers subsessile, pedicels 1 – 2 mm in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts persistent, elliptic, acute, striate, 5 – 9 × 1.5 – 4 mm, moderately covered with trichomes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles in pairs at base of calyx, lanceolate, striate, 5 × 1 mm, moderately covered with trichomes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white, pink, blue or pale mauve, all petals glabrous; calyx tube c. 4 mm, lobes c. 5 mm, the two upper lobes fused to c. \( {{2} \left/ {3} \right.} \) of their length, outer surface moderately to densely covered with trichomes, inner tube glabrous, inner lobes sparsely covered with short, fine, translucent trichomes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Keel petals fused along part of their length, blade with slight pocket, blade c. 7 × 4 mm, claw 5 mm Standard ovate, blade c. 10 × 10 mm, claw 3 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens diadelphous, 9 + 1; filaments 12 – 13 mm, glabrous, anthers 1 mm; ovary 4 – 5 mm, style 7 mm, moderately to densely hairy; stigma capitate, penicillate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 3.5 – 4 × 0.8 – 1 cm, slightly constricted between seeds, sparsely to densely covered with short and long, white to dark brown trichomes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 3 – 4 per fruit, 5 – 6 × 4 – 5 × 2.5 – 3 mm, ovate to oblong, surface reticulate (foveolate).

Distribution

Africa: Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria.

Ecology

Dry stream bed; cultivated land; damp and shady place; alt. up to 800 m.

Conservation

Pseudovigna puerarioides is known from c. seven localities. Additional research in herbaria not yet visited by the authors is likely to result in a higher number of localities. The extent of occurrence is c. 100,000 km2. The species has been collected in cultivated land, and is therefore able to persist in secondary habitats. Therefore, the conservation status is here assessed as Least Concern (LC) (IUCN 2001).

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: low confidence