Fabaceae
Rhynchosia

Rhynchosia congensis Baker

First published in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 2: 217 (1871)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Africa. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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
[AERP]

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit
A stout twiner
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Elongate racemes of cream coloured flowers
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Grey velvety fruits
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Conspicuous blue seeds.
[FWTA]

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

Morphology General Habit
Robust climber or trailer 1·8–6 m. long, the foliage sometimes unpleasantly aromatically scented when crushed.
Morphology Stem
Stems obscurely ribbed, finely silky pubescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaflets 3, usually somewhat paler beneath, the terminal one rounded to broadly ovate, 3·5–12·5 cm. long, 2·5–10·5 cm. wide, the laterals obliquely ovate, 3·8–10·5 cm. long, 2–7 cm. wide, all acute to acuminate, rounded to slightly subcordate at the base, pubescent to glabrescent above, glabrous to softly shortly pubescent and densely glandular beneath; petiole 1·7–11 cm. long; rhachis 1–3 cm. long; petiolules 2–4 mm. long; stipules deciduous, triangular-lanceolate, up to ± 1 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary, sometimes branched; rhachis 10–36 cm. long; peduncle 0–4 cm. long; pedicels 2–6 mm. long; bracts deciduous, broadly ovate, 0·7–1·4 cm. long, 6–7 mm. wide, acute, adpressed creamy velvety pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-tube with indumentum like the bracts, ± 3–5 mm. long; lobes lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, 0·45–1·5(–2) cm. long, 1·2–4 mm. wide, obtuse or acute, the upper pair joined for two-thirds to three-quarters of their length to form an acutely bifid lip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla persistent, pale yellow marked with crimson, later brownish-orange when dry; standard very broadly ovate or almost round, 1·5–2 cm. long, 1·2–1·4 cm. wide, emarginate, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods usually twisted, narrowly oblong, ± 2–2·5 cm. long, 5·5–7 mm. wide, shortly creamy velvety pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds deep blue when fresh, later brownish, compressed-ellipsoidal or almost globose, longest dimension ± 5·5 mm., shorter dimensions 3·5–4·5 mm.
[FTEA]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; grassland., Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; bushland and thicket., Guineo-Congolian forest., Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; forest., Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transitio
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • 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/

  • 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