Rhynchosia hirta (Andrews) Meikle & Verdc.

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

Morphology General Habit

Robust creeper or climber 2–8 m. long, the main stems attaining 8 mm. in diameter.

Morphology Stem

Stems covered with dense short ferruginous hairs, later glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, often pale beneath, the terminal one elliptic, circular, ovate or rhomboid, 4·8–18(–20) cm. long, 3·8–14(–17·5) cm. wide, the laterals obliquely ovate, 4–13 cm. long, 2·5–9 cm. wide, all acuminate, rounded to slightly subcordate at the base, sparsely pubescent to glabrescent above, pubescent to thickly grey, more rarely rusty, velvety beneath with the veins accentuated with ferruginous hairs; petiole 7–10(–14) cm. long; rhachis 2–4cm. long; petiolules 3–6mm. long; stipules elliptic-lanceolate, 1·2–1·4cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences sometimes branched; rhachis 7–35 cm. long; peduncles 2–9 cm. long, ferruginous pubescent to velvety hairy; pedicels 0·7–1·8 cm. long; bracts broadly elliptic or rarely lanceolate, (1–) 1·2–1·8 cm. long, (0·6–) 1–1·6 cm. wide, acuminate, velvety ferruginous pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx adpressed greyish pubescent with some ferruginous hairs at the base or entirely rusty-hairy; tube 5–6 mm. long; lobes usually unequal, oblong-elliptic, the lowest 1·4–2·3 cm. long, the laterals 0·9–1·7 cm. long, the upper pair joined almost to the apex to form a prominently bifid lip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla persistent, mostly shorter than the calyx, greenish-cream to orange or pink with red or purple veining and flush, later brick-red; standard almost circular save for claw, 1·8–2·2 cm. long, 1·25–1·8 cm. wide, slightly emarginate, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods twisted, narrowly oblong, 1·5–3 cm. long, 3·5–7 mm. wide, velvety pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds blue when fresh, later black, remaining attached to the pod, depressed-globular, longest dimension 5–6·5 mm., shorter dimensions 3·5–4·5 mm.

Figures

Fig. 109/1, p. 716.

Habitat

Forest edges, grassland with scattered trees, hillside bushland and cultivations; 0–1800 m.

Distribution

K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 P T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 widespread in tropical Africa from N. Nigeria and Sudan to Central Africa and NE. South Africa

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

Morphology General Habit

Robust creeper or climber 2–8 m long, the main stems attaining 8 mm in diameter.

Morphology Stem

Stems covered with dense short ferruginous hairs, later glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, often pale beneath, the terminal one 4.8–18(20) × 3.8–14(17.5) cm, elliptic, circular, ovate or rhombic, the laterals 4–13 × 2.5–9 cm, obliquely ovate, all acuminate, rounded to slightly subcordate at the base, sparsely pubescent to glabrescent above, pubescent to thickly grey-velvety, more rarely rusty-velvety beneath with the veins accentuated with ferruginous hairs; petiole 7–10(14) cm long; rhachis 2–4 cm long; petiolules 3–6 mm long; stipules 1.2–1.4 cm long, elliptic-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences sometimes branched; rhachis 7–35 cm long; peduncles 2–9 cm long, ferruginous pubescent to velvety hairy; pedicels 0.7–1.8 cm long; bracts (1)1.2–1.8 × (0.6)1–1.6 cm, broadly elliptic or rarely lanceolate, acuminate, velvety ferruginous pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx appressed greyish pubescent with some ferruginous hairs at the base or entirely rusty-hairy; tube 5–6 mm long; lobes usually unequal, oblong-elliptic, the lowest 1.4–2.3 cm long, the laterals 0.9–1.7 cm long, the upper pair joined almost to the apex to form a prominently bifid lip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla persistent, mostly shorter than the calyx, greenish-cream to orange or pink with red or purple veining and flush, later brick-red; standard 1.8–2.2 × 1.25–1.8 cm, almost circular save for the claw, slightly emarginate, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods twisted, 1.5–3 cm × 3.5–7 mm, narrowly oblong, velvety pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds blue when fresh, later black, remaining attached to the pod, 5–6.5 × 3.5–4.5 mm, depressed-globular.

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

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

Morphology General Habit

A robust twiner

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Pale yellow, purple streaked petals

Morphology Leaves

Soft tomentose leaves.