Fabaceae
Rhynchosia

Rhynchosia mannii Baker

First published in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 2: 217 (1871)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is W. Tropical Africa to Uganda and Angola. It is a climbing subshrub and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Climber or trailer 1·5–8 m. long.
Morphology Stem
Stems pubescent to glabrescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaflets 3, the terminal leaflet broadly ovate, 8–16 cm. long, 5–14 cm. wide, the lateral leaflets obliquely ovate, 8·5–10 cm. long, 4·5–6·5 cm. wide, all acuminate, rounded at the base, glabrous or with very sparse hairs on the nerves; petiole 6–12·5 cm. long; rhachis 2·5–4 cm. long; petiolules 3–6 mm. long; stipules triangular, 1 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences terminal or axillary, sometimes branched; rhachis 4–40 cm. long; peduncle 6–10 cm. long, pubescent; pedicels 3–8 cm. long; bracts ovate-lanceolate, 1·2–1·8 cm. long, 5–7 mm. wide, acuminate, pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx pubescent; tube 3–4 mm. long; lobes unequal, the lowest the longest, lanceolate, 1·2–1·8 cm. long, 3·5 mm. wide, the lateral lobes shorter, 8–10 mm. long, 3·5–4 mm. wide, the upper pair joined almost to their tips to form a truncate or bifid lobe.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla persistent, pale yellow with purple veining, orange-brown when dry; standard almost round save for claw, 1·5–1·6 cm. long, 0·9–1·1 cm. wide, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods oblong, 1·5 cm. long, 5–8 mm. wide, densely covered with white scales and sometimes slightly pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds blue when fresh, turning black later, almost globose, ± 3 mm. in diameter.
Habitat
Evergreen forest edges; 1140 m.
Distribution
U4 Nigeria to Angola, Central African Republic, Congo
[FTEA]

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
[AERP]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Lake Victoria regional mosaic; forest., Guineo-Congolian forest.
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

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

Morphology General Habit
Slender climber
Morphology Leaves
Glossy leaves
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals cream with red markings
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds dark blue
Ecology
In forest clearings.
[FWTA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0