Rhynchosia sublobata (Schumach.) Meikle

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

Morphology General Habit

Trailing or twining herb with perennial woody rootstock

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers yellow, lined deep red.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial prostrate or climbing herb up to c. 2 m long from a long stout woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrescent to densely pubescent.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, 1.8–8 × 1.8–8.5 cm, rhombic, elliptic to ovate, rounded at both ends, often slightly lobed at the base, the laterals only on the outer side, glabrescent to pubescent, rarely velvety, the venation often reddish-brown beneath; petiole 1.2–6 cm long; rhachis 3–22 mm long; petiolules 1–2 mm long; stipules 5–6 × 2 mm, lanceolate, hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences lax; rhachis 3.5–20 cm long; peduncle 2–14 cm long; pedicels 1.5–4 mm long; bracts deciduous, 2.5–5 × 0.5–2 mm, lanceolate, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers opening in the early evening.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent and glandular; tube 3 mm long; lobes 2.5–6 mm long, linear-lanceolate to oblong-triangular, the upper pair joined for two-thirds of to almost their entire length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard deep yellow or cream-coloured with reddish-brown or purplish veining outside, 9–22 × 7–12 mm, obovate, pubescent; wings yellow; keel greenish-yellow, usually purplish at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 2.1–3 × 0.8–1.3 cm, oblong-falcate, inflated very characteristically when ripe, narrowed to the base, very finely velvety puberulous at first then shortly pubescent or puberulous and glandular, but without long hairs or only very rarely with a few (to many in some Tanzanian specimens).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, mottled black or entirely black, 4.3–5 × 3.5–3.8 × 2.5–3.2 mm, rounded-reniform, microscopically roughened.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial prostrate or climbing herb up to ± 2 m. long from a long stout woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrescent to densely pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, rhomboid, elliptic or ovate, 1·8–8 cm. long, 1·8–8·5 cm. wide, rounded at both ends, often slightly lobed at the base, the laterals only on the outer side, glabrescent to pubescent, rarely velvety; petiole 1·2–6 cm. long; rhachis 0·3–2·2 cm. long; petiolules 1–2 mm. long; stipules lanceolate, 5–6 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences lax; rhachis 3·5–20 cm. long; peduncle 2–14 cm. long; pedicels 1·5–4 mm. long; bracts deciduous, lanceolate, 2·5–5 mm. long, 0·5–2 mm. wide, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers opening in the early evening.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent and glandular; tube 3 mm. long; lobes linear-lanceolate to oblong-triangular, 2·5–6 mm. long, the upper pair joined for two-thirds of to almost their entire length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard deep yellow or cream with reddish-brown or purplish veining outside, 0·9–2·2 cm. long, 0·7–1·2 cm. wide, pubescent; wings yellow; keel greenish-yellow, usually purplish at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong-falcate, inflated very characteristically when ripe, 2·1–3 cm. long, 0·8–1·3 cm. wide, narrowed to the base, shortly pubescent or puberulous and glandular, but without long hairs or only very rarely with a few to many (e.g. in Peter 41135).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, mottled black or entirely black, rounded-reniform, longest dimension 4·3–5 mm., shorter dimension 3·5–3·8 mm., 2·5–3·2 mm. thick, microscopically roughened.

Figures

Figs. 109/34, p. 716, & 111.

Habitat

Grassland, grassland with scattered trees, bushland, woodland, abandoned cultivations; 0–1800 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T8 U1 Arabia (Yemen), W. Africa from Senegal to South West Africa, Central African Republic, E. Congo, Sudan, Somali Republic. Central Africa, South Africa (Transvaal) and Swaziland, probably also in Comoro Is. and Madagascar

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland, Somalia-Masai grasslands, Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai woodland, Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands, Lake Victoria regional mosaic; bushland and thicket, Lake Victoria regional transition z

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb

Vernacular

Teloravina

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