Schotia brachypetala Sond.

Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, A.C. Chikuni, J.M. Lock and R.M. Polhill. Flora Zambesiaca 3:2. 2007

Morphology General Habit

Tree, (5)10–15 m tall; bark dark grey-brown, furrowed.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets dark brown, smooth, puberulous, glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate (occasionally imparipinnate); stipules narrowly triangular, 5 × 1.5 mm, early caducous; petiole 1.2–2 cm long, sparsely pubescent at first, glabrescent; rachis 3.5–17.5 cm long, sparsely pubescent at first, glabrescent, terete, furrowed, at most very narrowly winged; leaflets opposite to subopposite, in (3)4–6(7) pairs, 2.5–6.5 × 1.0–3.2 cm, elliptic to rhombic-elliptic or rhombic-ovate, often asymmetric, apex rounded or retuse (mucronate in very young developing leaves), base cuneate, pubescent to glabrous, glabrescent; venation slightly prominent on both surfaces.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences often cauliflorous on the older wood, paniculate, congested; axis puberulous; flowers deep red or scarlet; bracts c.2.5 × 2 mm, broadly ovate-elliptic, concave, puberulous; bracteoles paired, c.3 × 2 mm, broadly elliptic, puberulous; bracts and bracteoles early caducous leaving prominent raised scars; pedicel 3–5 mm long, glabrous or puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium

Hypanthium 3–5 mm long, glabrous or pubescent especially on the ridges.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes 4, ovate, 8–11 × 4–6 mm, gland-dotted and glabrous to sparsely pubescent outside, mainly towards the base, glabrous inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals absent or reduced to one or more strap-shaped rudiments 2–3 mm long, or 1–4 normal, narrowly obovate, clawed, up to 1.8 × 0.6 cm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10; filaments c.17–19 mm long, expanded and fused in the basal 2–3 mm, glabrous; anthers dorsifixed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary c.10 × 3 mm, narrowly elliptic, flattened, glabrous but verrucose near the margins; stipe c.3 mm long; style c.9 mm long, glabrous, stigma capitate, papillose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 10–17 × 3.5–4.5 cm, oblong, flattened, glabrous, with numerous small resin-filled vesicles in the pod wall, several-seeded, tardily dehiscent leaving the dorsal and ventral sutures attached to the pedicel.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds pale brown, 15–20 × 10–15 mm, broadly elliptic to rhomboid, flattened, smooth; aril 0.9–1.2 cm long, cup-shaped, basal, yellow.

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

Morphology General Habit

Tree.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 4–7 pairs, rounded to emarginate at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers deep red, in congested panicles.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblong, containing seeds with a large yellow aril.

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Protein Content

10.50% Entire seed/nut. Moisture content not stated (Barclay & Earle, 1974)

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/146443340/146443342

Conservation

LC - least concern