Rhynchosia elegans A.Rich.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Sudanian bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climbing herb 1–2·5 m. long from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrescent to mostly rather densely covered with adpressed white hairs, particularly on the ridges, and with numerous reddish gland-dots.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, ovate or rhomboid, the laterals oblique, 1·2–8 cm. long, 0·9–6·5 cm. wide, subacute to acuminate, rounded, truncate, cuneate or slightly subcordate at the base, pubescent or glabrescent and gland-dotted above, pubescent to densely velvety (particularly on the venation) and with dense yellow to red gland-dots beneath; venation rather prominent and reticulate beneath; petiole 0·9–6·5 cm. long; rhachis 0·9–1·7 cm. long; petiolules 0·5–3 mm. long; stipules oblong to ovate-lanceolate, sometimes conspicuous, 0·35–1·3 cm. long, 2·5–6 mm. wide, acuminate, subcordate or truncate, veined, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, lax, the flowers mostly paired along the rhachis, which is glandular hairy, 3–14 cm. long; peduncle ± 6–5 cm. long; pedicels 0·4–1·9 cm. long, glandular hairy; bracts deciduous, ovate to lanceolate, 0·6–1·5 cm. long, 2–8 mm. wide, acuminate, pubescent, the young inflorescences sometimes appearing comose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent and glandular; tube 3–4 mm. long; lobes mostly linear, 0·55–1·7 cm. long, the lowest longest and widest, the upper pair joined for ± one-quarter to one-third of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow, densely veined with dark purple or crimson outside, elliptic, 1·3–2·1 cm. long, 0·8–1·2 cm. wide; wings yellow; keel white or yellowish, with purple veins inside at the tip which coalesce to form a purple flush.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods yellowish-green when young with distinctive darker green reticulation, later brown, narrowly elliptic-oblong, 3–3·8 cm. long, 6–8 mm. wide, apiculate, densely covered with viscid glandular hairs and also with shorter hairs and gland-dots.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds chestnut with darker mottling, elliptic-reniform, longest dimension 5·5 mm., shorter dimension 4 mm.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climbing herb 1–2.5 m long from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrescent to mostly rather densely covered with appressed white hairs, particularly on the ridges and with numerous reddish gland dots.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, 1.2–8 × 0.9–6.5 cm, ovate or rhombic, the laterals oblique, subacute to acuminate, rounded, truncate, cuneate or slightly subcordate at the base, pubescent or glabrescent and gland-dotted above, pubescent to densely velvety (particularly on the venation) and with dense yellow to red gland dots beneath, rarely almost glabrous; venation rather prominent and reticulate beneath; petiole 0.9–6.5 cm long; rhachis 0.9–1.7 cm long; petiolules 0.5–3 mm long; stipules 3.5–13 × 2.5–6 mm, oblong to ovate-lanceolate, sometimes conspicuous, acuminate, subcordate or truncate, veined, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, lax, the flowers mostly paired along the rhachis, which is glandular-hairy, 3–14 cm long; peduncle c. 6.5 cm long; pedicels 4–19 mm long, glandular-hairy; bracts deciduous, 6–15 × 2–8 mm, ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent, the young inflorescences sometimes appearing comose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent and glandular; tube 3–4 mm long; lobes 5.5–17 mm long, mostly linear, the lowest longest and widest, the upper pair joined for ± one-quarter to one-third of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow, densely veined with dark purple or crimson outside, 13–21 × 8–12 mm, elliptic, glabrous; wings yellow; keel white or yellowish, with purple veins inside at the tip which coalesce to form a purple flush.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods yellowish-green when young with distinctive darker green reticulation, later brown, 30–38 × 6–8 mm, narrowly elliptic-oblong, apiculate, densely covered with viscid glandular hairs and also with shorter hairs and gland dots.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds chestnut-brown with darker mottling, 5.5 × 4 mm, elliptic-reniform.