Rhynchosia insignis (O.Hoffm.) R.E.Fr.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Afromontane grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub

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

Morphology General Habit

Sticky erect pyrophytic herb or subshrub 14–90 cm tall; rootstock 7.5–35 × 1.5–1.6 cm, tough and woody, often horizontal.

Morphology Stem

Stems several, branched near the base, sparsely to velvety pubescent and with yellowish glandular hairs as well; tips of shoots with densely silvery velvety young leaves.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 1–3, 1.2–9 × 0.8–4.6 cm, round, ovate or elliptic to lanceolate, rounded or subacute at the apex, rounded or subcordate at the base, pubescent to velvety on both surfaces with grey or ferruginous hairs; venation reticulate beneath; petiole 1.2–4.1 cm long; rhachis 4–22 mm long; petiolules 2–3 mm long; stipules 6–12 × 2.5–6 mm, lanceolate to oblong-ovate, veined, velvety.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers usually appearing when the plant is quite or almost leafless; inflorescences lax; rhachis 7–20 cm long, glandular-hairy; peduncle 4–8 cm long; pedicels 1.5–2 mm long; bracts deciduous, 3–7 mm long, usually 1–4 mm wide, lanceolate or ovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent and with conspicuous golden glands; tube 2–3 mm long; lobes 1.5–2 mm long, deltate, the lowest scarcely longer, the upper pair slightly joined at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow, veined with purple and often drying entirely purple outside, 12–18 × 8–12 mm, obovate, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 20–26 × 5.5–7.5 mm, falcate, veined with green or purplish, pubescent and with longer yellow glandular-based hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark reddish-brown, 4 × 3 mm, oblong-reniform.