Rhynchosia usambarensis Taub.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climbing or ascending herb; stems with ± long spreading usually yellowish hairs

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, usually paler green along the midrib above, 1–7.5 x 1–4 cm, pubescent on both sides; stipules 2.5–11 x 1–3 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent; tube 2–3 mm long; lobes 2–6 mm long, the lowest the longest

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow veined purplish, 8–12 mm long, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod oblong, 18–24 x 5.5–7 mm, covered with long yellow hairs, short white hairs and glands.

Distribution

N2; Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania

Ecology

Altitude range 1800–1900 m.

Note

The cited collection is from the “Geldora Pass” above “Las Korei”, but the plant (sterile) has also been seen by the author N of “Erigavo” further to the west in N2. Fruits are lacking in the Somali material and the determination is preliminary. The pale area along the midrib of the leaflets, so characteristic of R. usambarensis, is present, but the stems are more shortly hairy, the leaves are smaller and more obtuse, and the flowers are smaller than in the normal form. However, this is a very variable species (see Verdcourt in Kew Bull. 25: 96, 1971). The relationship between R. usambarensis and R. variegata (Deflers) J.R.I. Wood (based on Vigna variegata Deflers, 1889), described from Yemen, needs further study.

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

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climbing herb 0·3–1·8 m. long from a woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems with spreading ferruginous or yellow hairs and shorter adpressed white pubescence.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, nearly always variegated above with paler green along the midrib, typically elliptic or elliptic-ovate, less often ovate-rounded or rhomboid, the laterals slightly oblique, 0·8–7·5 cm. long, 0·9–4 cm. wide, acute or less often obtuse or rounded at the apex, rounded at the base, pubescent on both surfaces, minutely gland-dotted beneath; venation slightly raised and reticulate above; petiole 0·5–5 cm. long; rhachis 0·1–1·1 cm. long; petiolules 1–2·5 mm. long; stipules lanceolate to ovate, 0·4–1·1 cm. long, 1–3 mm. wide, veined, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences with a rhachis 1·4–11 cm. long; peduncle 2–8 cm. long; pedicels 1·5–2 mm. long; bracts ovate-lanceolate, ± 2–6 mm. long, 1–2 mm. wide, often deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent and with some tubercular-based hairs; tube 1·5–3 mm. long; lobes linear-triangular, 2–6 mm. long, the lowest the longest, the upper pair joined for ± half their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow inside, veined purplish-crimson or reddish-brown or rose flushed outside, obovate, 0·9–1·1 cm. long, 7–8 mm. wide, finely pubescent or covered with spaced tubercular-based hairs; wings and keel yellow or greenish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod oblong, 1·8–2·4(–2·8) cm. long, 5·5–7 mm. wide, acute at the apex, narrowed to the base, covered with yellow tubercular-based hairs, short white hairs and glands or sometimes only puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark reddish-brown, oblong, longest dimension 3·5 mm., shorter dimensions 1·5 mm.