Rhynchosia velutina Wight & Arn.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone ; woodland., Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; bushland and thicket.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climbing or trailing herb, up to several m long; stem pubescent or velvety

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, usually much paler beneath, rounded or rhombic, 0.8–3.5(–6) x 0.7–4.5(–6) cm, rounded at both ends, pubescent on both surfaces, usually silvery-grey beneath; stipules c. 2.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences shorter than subtending leaves, few-flowered with a ± zigzag rhachis or flowers ± clustered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent; tube 2.5–3.5 mm long; lobes 1.5–6 mm long, the lowest the longest

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow, 8–15 mm long, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 16–33 x 7–10 mm, finely pubescent and sometimes (not in Somalia) with long hairs as well.

Distribution

C1, 2; S1–3; Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoro Is., India

Ecology

Altitude range 5–340 m.

Vernacular

Gabal, geesoriyood, xarigxarig, xarkaxarkood (Somali).

Note

The plants on coastal dunes often have smaller leaves, flowers and pods than those from further inland. Also the inflorescences are longer and often branched.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climbing or prostrate herb ± 60 cm. long, less often somewhat shrubby.

Morphology Stem

Stems pubescent or velvety.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, usually paler beneath, rounded or rhomboid, 0·8–3·5(–6) cm. long, 0·7–4·5(–6) cm. wide, rounded at both ends, softly pubescent on both surfaces, usually velvety and silvery-grey beneath; venation raised beneath; petiole 0·6–5·5 cm. long; rhachis 0·2–1·3 cm. long; petiolules 1·5 mm. long; stipules lanceolate, 2·5 mm. long, 0·5 mm. wide, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 2–4-flowered, axillary, sometimes fascicled; rhachis 1–3·5 cm. long, somewhat zigzag; peduncle 0·6–2·5 cm. long; pedicels 4–7 mm. long; bracts minute, ±1·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent; tube 2·5–3·5 mm. long; lobes oblong or triangular, sometimes narrowed at the apex, 1·5–6 mm. long, the lowest the longest or all subequal, the upper pair joined for two-thirds of their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard bright yellow (rarely pink, fide Peter 39315), obovate, 0·8–1·5 cm. long, 0·4–1 cm. wide, finely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong-falcate, 2·4–3·3 cm. long, 0·7–1 cm. wide, subacute at the apex, narrowed and curved at the base, finely pubescent and sometimes sparsely to rather densely covered with long white hairs as well (single-seeded pods are 1·9 cm. long, 8 mm. wide).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds mottled grey-black and buff or black and red-brown or entirely black, oblong-reniform, longest dimension 5–6·3 mm., shorter dimension 3·5–4·5 mm., 2·5–3 mm. thick.

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