Rhynchosia malacophylla (Spreng.) Bojer

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial trailing or climbing herb 0.3–3 m long from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems woody at the base, ridged, glabrous or pubescent.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, 0.6–4.6(6.5) × 0.6–5.5 cm, ovate, rhombic or rounded, the laterals oblique, rounded to mostly acuminate at the apex, cuneate, rounded or truncate at the base, glabrous to finely puberulous on both surfaces, the margins often densely silky, densely gland-dotted beneath; petiole 0.7–6.5 cm long; rhachis 2–12 mm long; petiolules 1–2.5 mm long; stipules 4–5 × 1 mm, lanceolate, puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, lax or rather dense; rhachis 4–16 cm long; peduncle 1.5–7 cm long; pedicels 1.5–2.5 mm long; bracts subpersistent, 1.5–2 × 0.5 mm, lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx puberulous and gland-dotted; tube 1.5–3 mm long; lobes 2–5 mm long, triangular, the lowest the longest, the upper pair joined for ± three-quarters of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard mostly clear yellow but sometimes with crimson veins, 8–14 × 5–9.5 mm, obovate or almost round, puberulous and glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods (12)15–20 × 4.5–5.5 mm, oblong-falcate, narrowed at the base, finely to densely puberulous and glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds greyish with dark and light mottling, 4.5 × 3 × 2 mm, rounded-reniform, slightly keeled.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial trailing or climbing herb 0·3–3 m. long from a probably woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems woody at the base, ridged, glabrous or pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, ovate, rhomboid or rounded, the laterals oblique, 0·6–4·6 (–6·5) cm. long, 0·6–5·5 cm. wide, rounded to mostly acuminate at the apex, cuneate, rounded or truncate at the base, glabrous to finely puberulous on both surfaces, the margins often densely silky, densely gland-dotted beneath; petiole 0·7–6·5 cm. long; rhachis 0·2–1·2 cm. long; petiolules 1–2·5 mm. long; stipules lanceolate, 4–5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, lax or rather dense; rhachis 4–16 cm. long; peduncle 1·5–7 cm. long; pedicels 1·5–2·5 mm. long; bracts subpersistent, lanceolate, 1·5–2 mm. long, 0·5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx puberulous and gland-dotted; tube 1·5–3 mm. long; lobes triangular, 2–5 mm. long, the lowest the longest, the upper pair joined for ± three-quarters of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard mostly clear yellow in the Flora area but sometimes with crimson veins, obovate or almost round, 0·8–1·4 cm. long, 5–9·5 mm. wide, puberulous and glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong-falcate, (1–2–)1·5–2 cm. long, 4·5–5·5 mm. wide, narrowed at the base, finely to densely puberulous and glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds rounded-reniform, greyish with dark and light mottling, slightly keeled, longest dimension 4·5 mm., shorter dimension 3 mm., 2 mm. thick.

Figures

Fig. 109/38, p. 716.

Habitat

Deciduous bushland, Acacia scrub, sometimes in plantations; 0–1500 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T2 T3 T5 U1 Z

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