Rhynchosia swynnertonii Baker f.

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

Morphology General Habit

Climbing herb or liane to 3 m long; stems with rather tangled appressed or pale brownish hairs.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, 1.5–7.3 × 1.1–5.8 cm, discolorous, the terminal ones ovate to narrowly ovate, the laterals asymmetrically ovate, acute at the apex, rounded to slightly subcordate at the base, darker and appressed pilose above, densely silvery velvety beneath with thick hairs, the venation mostly pale brown hairy; petiole 1.1–2.8 cm long; rhachis 5–10 mm long; stipules 9 × 2 mm, lanceolate, pubescent outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 9–24 cm long, including the 5–9 cm long peduncle, axillary, spreading, showy, with same indumentum as stems, usually unbranched but sometimes with a branch at top of peduncle; pedicels 3–6 mm long; bracts 5 × 1.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, soon deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx appressed pale brown pubescent; tube 3–5 mm long, cupular; lobes 1.2–3 mm long, triangular-ovate, the lowest the longest and more acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow with red-brown veins radiating from a basal blotch, darker purple when dry, 11–12 × 8–10 mm, obovate, glabrous; keel with darker apex, purplish when dry, mostly slightly longer than the standard.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary densely pilose; style strongly bent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 3.3 × 1 cm, oblanceolate-falcate, pilose and with shorter hairs and glands, tipped with bent style base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Ripe seeds not seen.