Sesbania brevipeduncula J.B.Gillett

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian freshwater swamp and aquatic vegetation

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by G.P. Lewis

Morphology General Habit

A much-branched annual herb, 1–2.5 m tall. A much-branched annual herb, 1–2.5 m tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous, usually sparsely aculeate. Stems glabrous, usually sparsely aculeate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3.5–20 cm long; rachis glabrous, occasionally aculeate; petioles 0.3–1.7 cm long; leaflets in 8–41 pairs, 4–16 × 1.75–4.5 mm, oblong, apiculate, slightly broader and asymmetrical at the base, glabrous; stipules 3–7 mm long, narrowly triangular to lanceolate, caducous to ± persistent. Leaves 3.5–20 cm long; rachis glabrous, occasionally aculeate; petioles 0.3–1.7 cm long; leaflets in 8–41 pairs, 4–16 × 1.75–4.5 mm, oblong, apiculate, slightly broader and asymmetrical at the base, glabrous; stipules 3–7 mm long, narrowly triangular to lanceolate, caducous to ± persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 0.3–3.5(9) cm long, (1)2–8(17)-flowered; peduncle 0.1–0.9(1.8) cm long, glabrous; pedicels 0.3–1.5 cm long, glabrous; bracts 2–3 mm long, linear-lanceolate, caducous; bracteoles 1–2 mm long, linear, located slightly below the hypanthium, caducous. Racemes 0.3–3.5(9) cm long, (1)2–8(17)-flowered; peduncle 0.1–0.9(1.8) cm long, glabrous; pedicels 0.3–1.5 cm long, glabrous; bracts 2–3 mm long, linear-lanceolate, caducous; bracteoles 1–2 mm long, linear, located slightly below the hypanthium, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3–4.5 × 3–4 mm, the tube glabrous with 5 vertical dark brown bands each running into a tooth; teeth 0.5–0.75 mm long and well-spaced often giving the calyx a ± truncate appearance, acuminate, woolly at the margins. Calyx 3–4.5 × 3–4 mm, the tube glabrous with 5 vertical dark brown bands each running into a tooth; teeth 0.5–0.75 mm long and well-spaced often giving the calyx a ± truncate appearance, acuminate, woolly at the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow finely speckled brown or purplish, 1.1–1.4 × 1–1.3 cm, the blade wider than long, suborbicular, apically emarginate, basally rounded, truncate or slightly cordate, the appendages small, triangular, divergent and without free tips; wings 1.1–1.4 cm × 3–5.5 mm, with a 1 mm long upper basal, finely acuminate ± upward-pointing tooth and with open lamellate sculpturing in the upper basal section; keel 1–1.3 cm × 5–7 mm, the limb with an erect basal tooth 0.3–0.5 mm long and a secondary widely triangular tooth above it. Standard yellow finely speckled brown or purplish, 1.1–1.4 × 1–1.3 cm, the blade wider than long, suborbicular, apically emarginate, basally rounded, truncate or slightly cordate, the appendages small, triangular, divergent and without free tips; wings 1.1–1.4 cm × 3–5.5 mm, with a 1 mm long upper basal, finely acuminate ± upward-pointing tooth and with open lamellate sculpturing in the upper basal section; keel 1–1.3 cm × 5–7 mm, the limb with an erect basal tooth 0.3–0.5 mm long and a secondary widely triangular tooth above it.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 15–26(32)-ovulate, glabrous; style glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod (2.4)7.2–11.5 (rarely 13.5) cm × (2)2.5–3(5.5) mm, erect, moniliform, shortly stipitate and beaked, (2)8–18(rarely 26)-seeded; septa 5–6 mm apart; sutures 1.5 mm wide, purplish-green, distinctly darker than the valves which, particularly when immature, have a secondary sutural ridge. Pod (2.4)7.2–11.5 (rarely 13.5) cm × (2)2.5–3(5.5) mm, erect, moniliform, shortly stipitate and beaked, (2)8–18(rarely 26)-seeded; septa 5–6 mm apart; sutures 1.5 mm wide, purplish-green, distinctly darker than the valves which, particularly when immature, have a secondary sutural ridge.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown or blackish, 2–3.3 × 2 mm, 1.5–2 mm thick, ellipsoid or ± spherical with a subcentral hilum in a very small circular pit. Seeds brown or blackish, 2–3.3 × 2 mm, 1.5–2 mm thick, ellipsoid or ± spherical with a subcentral hilum in a very small circular pit.

Distribution

Also in Angola and South Africa (North-West, Limpopo and Gauteng Provinces).

Ecology

Swampy ground, damp grassland and sandy river banks; on black clays and granitic soils; 900–1450 m.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 15–26(32)-ovulate, glabrous; style glabrous.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/185274/8379911

Conservation

LC - least concern