Rhynchosia caribaea (Jacq.) DC.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial twiner with slender wiry sparsely to densely pubescent stems 2–4 m long.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, 1.2–7 × 1–6.7 cm, terminal broadly rhombic or triangular, gradually narrowed to an obtuse or subacute apex, laterals obliquely rhombic-ovate with lower margin distinctly gibbous, sparsely pubescent or glabrescent above, pubescent on the nerves and veins beneath and with numerous golden gland dots (densely velvety in a South African variety); petiole 1.2–4.2 cm long; rhachis 0.7–2.2 cm long; stipules 4–8 × 1.5–2.5 mm, ovate to lanceolate, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, slender, lax, 4–15.5 cm long, unbranched or often with a patent secondary branchlet a short distance below the base of the main rhachis, rarely with many branches; pedicels 3–8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx puberulous; tube 3–4 mm long; lobes unequal, ± obtuse to narrowly acuminate, the upper pair joined almost to the apex to form a lobe 1.5–4 mm long; lateral lobes 1.5–5 mm long, broadly triangular, lowest lobe 3–8 mm long, narrowly triangular to linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow with purple veining; standard 10–17 × 12–14 mm, obovate, glabrous; wings yellow; keel green often with a dark tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 2–4 × 0.8 cm, falcate, not inflated, finely pubescent and with sparse to dense long silky glandular-based hairs sometimes breaking off to leave small tubercles.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark reddish-brown with darker markings, 4.5 × 4 × 1.5 mm, rounded reniform, compressed.