Rhynchosia holtzii Harms

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

Morphology General Habit

Climber to 6 m.

Morphology Stem

Stems subglabrescent, puberulous or hirsute, sometimes slightly glutinous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, the terminal one broadly rhomboid, sometimes broader than long, 2·5–5·5cm. long, 2·5–6 cm. wide, shortly acute to distinctly acutely or obtusely acuminate at the apex, obtuse, rounded or very slightly subcordate at the base, the lateral leaflets similar but more oblique, glabres-cent or shortly puberulous on main nerves of both surfaces and gland-dotted particularly beneath; petiole 3–5 cm. long; rhachis 1–2 cm. long; petiolules 2–4 mm. long; stipules ovate-lanceolate or broadly lanceolate, 3–5 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide, ribbed, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, rather lax, several- to many-flowered, often branched; rhachis (5–)10–15 cm. long, glandular pubescent; peduncle 3–5 mm. long (Harms states the lower part sometimes leaf-bearing); pedicels slender, 5–8 mm. long, glandular pubescent or covered in rather long spreading hairs; bracts elliptic-lanceolate or linear-oblong, 5–8 mm. long, 2–4 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx with short and long hairs, glandular and gland-dotted, somewhat saccate; tube 3–5 mm. long; lobes linear-lanceolate, the lowest the longest, 1·5–2·1 cm. long, 1·5–2 mm. wide, the laterals 1–1·2 cm. long, the upper pair joined to ± the middle, 1–1·2 cm. long, the free segments very narrow.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla violet or brownish; standard obovate, 1·4–1·6 cm. long, 1 cm. wide, puberulous or practically glabrous outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Very young pods with long hairs on the margins and the surfaces also gland-dotted.

Habitat

Lowland forest; up to 270 m.

Distribution

T6 not known elsewhere