Rhynchosia nyikensis Baker

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian bushland and thicket, Afromontane forest, Zambezian forest

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climber 1.5–4.5 m long.

Morphology Stem

Stems ± densely ferruginous pubescent, eventually becoming ± glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, somewhat paler beneath, 2.8–8 × 1.7–6.5 cm, ovate, the laterals slightly oblique, acuminate, rounded or slightly subcordate at the base, pubescent to glabrescent on both surfaces, densely but obscurely gland-dotted beneath; petiole 1.4–5 cm long; rhachis 5–18 mm long; petiolules 2–3 mm long; stipules 7 × 3 mm, narrowly ovate, veined, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and axillary; rhachis 2.5–19 cm long, densely ferruginous hairy and glandular; peduncle 0.5–7 cm long; pedicels 6–8 mm long; bracts deciduous, 1–18 × 7–14 mm, ovate, hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx densely covered with long yellow tubercular based hairs; tube 5–6 mm long; the lowest lobes the longest, 8–14 mm long, lanceolate, the laterals 6–11 mm long, the upper pair joined for two-thirds to three-quarters of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow inside, reddish-brown outside, 12–18 × 9–13 mm, suborbicular, pubescent and glandular, the claw long; wings yellow, often reddish near the apex; keel white, often reddish below or near the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 2.8–3 × 0.8–1 cm, oblong, aristate, densely covered with long, yellow, glandular tubercular based hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds chestnut-brown with blackish streaks, 6–7 × 4–4.5 × 2.5 mm, oblong-reniform, compressed.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climber ± 3 m. long.

Morphology Stem

Stems ferruginous pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, somewhat paler beneath, ovate, the laterals slightly oblique, 2·8–8 cm. long, 1·7–5·8 cm. wide, acuminate, rounded or slightly subcordate at the base, pubescent on both surfaces, densely but obscurely gland-dotted beneath; petiole 1·4–5 cm. long; rhachis 0·5–1·8 cm. long; petiolules 2–3 mm. long; stipules narrowly ovate, 7 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, veined, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and axillary; rhachis 2·5–19 cm. long, densely ferruginous hairy and glandular; peduncle 0·5–7 cm. long; pedicels 6–8 mm. long; bracts deciduous, ovate, 1–1·8 cm. long, 0·7–1·4 cm. wide, hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx densely covered with long yellow tubercular-based hairs; tube 5–6 mm. long; lobes lanceolate, the lowest the longest, 0·8–1·4 cm. long, the laterals 0·6–1·1 cm. long, the upper pair joined for two-thirds to three-quarters of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow inside, reddish-brown outside, suborbicular, 1·2–1·8 cm. long, 0·9–1·3 cm. wide, pubescent and glandular, the claw long; wings yellow, often reddish near the apex; keel white, often reddish below or near the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong, 2·3 cm. long, 7–8 mm. wide (immature), aristate, densely covered with long, yellow, glandular tubercular-based hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds chestnut-brown streaked with blackish, oblong-reniform, compressed, longest dimension 6–6·5 mm., shorter dimension 4–4·5 mm., 2·5 mm. thick.

Habitat

Forest edges, rain-forest and derived secondary bushland; 1570–2450 m.

Distribution

T4 T7 T8