Sophora inhambanensis Klotzsch

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 1–2 m. high.

Morphology Branches

Young branches, leaves, inflorescences and calyces densely whitish to silvery or golden pubescent, the calyces and both surfaces of the leaflets strongly sericeous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole and rhachis together 7–12(–16) cm. long and with (3–)5–7(–8) pairs of leaflets; lateral leaflets elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate, 1.8–4(–5) cm. long, 0.7–l.5(–2) cm. wide, cuneate and slightly asymmetrical at the base, obtuse to subacute at the apex; terminal leaflet 1.5–2 times as long as the lateral ones, cuneate and equal-sided at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers many in terminal racemes up to 25 cm. long; bracts narrowly triangular to linear, up to 14 mm. long, often persistent, sometimes fused with the base of the pedicel; pedicels 5–12 mm. long; bracteoles apparently absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate, 4–6 mm. long, with 5 shallow teeth up to 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow; standard 17–22 mm. long, 15–18 mm. wide, the limb suborbicular, cordate, the claw ± distinct; wings and keel-petals slightly shorter than the standard.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary densely appressed pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits developing 1–3(–5) seeds.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subglobose, 8–9 mm. long, brownish.

Figures

Fig. 8, p. 45.

Habitat

Sandy foreshores

Distribution

K7 T3 T6

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 1–2 m high. Shrub 1–2 m high.

Morphology General Indumentum

Young branches, leaves, inflorescences and calyces densely whitish to silvery or golden pubescent, the calyces and both surfaces of the leaflets strongly sericeous. Young branches, leaves, inflorescences and calyces densely whitish to silvery or golden pubescent, the calyces and both surfaces of the leaflets strongly sericeous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves (rachis and petiole) 7–12(16) cm long, with (3)5–7(8) pairs of leaflets; lateral leaflets 1.8–4(5) × 0.7–1.5(2) cm, elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate, cuneate and slightly asymmetrical at the base, obtuse to subacute at the apex; terminal leaflet 1.5–2 times as long as the lateral ones, cuneate and equal at the base. Leaves (rachis and petiole) 7–12(16) cm long, with (3)5–7(8) pairs of leaflets; lateral leaflets 1.8–4(5) × 0.7–1.5(2) cm, elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate, cuneate and slightly asymmetrical at the base, obtuse to subacute at the apex; terminal leaflet 1.5–2 times as long as the lateral ones, cuneate and equal at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal many-flowered racemes up to 25 cm long; bracts up to 14 mm long, narrowly triangular to linear, often persistent, sometimes fused with base of pedicel; pedicels 5–12 mm long; bracteoles apparently absent. Flowers in terminal many-flowered racemes up to 25 cm long; bracts up to 14 mm long, narrowly triangular to linear, often persistent, sometimes fused with base of pedicel; pedicels 5–12 mm long; bracteoles apparently absent.

Distribution

Also in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal) and on the W coast of Madagascar.

Ecology

Apparently occupying the same ecological position on sandy foreshores as S. tomentosa; 0–20 m.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–6 mm long, campanulate, with 5 shallow teeth up to 1 mm long. Calyx 4–6 mm long, campanulate, with 5 shallow teeth up to 1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow; standard 17–22 × 15–18 mm, the limb suborbicular, cordate, the claw ± distinct; wings and keel petals slightly shorter than the standard. Petals yellow; standard 17–22 × 15–18 mm, the limb suborbicular, cordate, the claw ± distinct; wings and keel petals slightly shorter than the standard.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary densely appressed-pubescent. Ovary densely appressed-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods moniliform, with 1–3(5) seeds developing. Pods moniliform, with 1–3(5) seeds developing.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 8–9 mm long, subglobose, brownish. Seeds 8–9 mm long, subglobose, brownish.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/179513/1581016

Conservation

LC - least concern

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