Fabaceae
Spathionema

Spathionema kilimandscharicum Taub.

First published in H.G.A.Engler, Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas, C: 224 (1895)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is E. Tropical Africa. It grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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
[AERP]

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

Morphology General Habit
Climbing or scrambling subshrub, 2–10 m. long.
Morphology Stem
Stems becoming woody, at first pubescent, later glabrescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves often fasciculate on abbreviated branchlets, often appearing after flowering and fruiting; leaflets somewhat glaucous, ovate, ovate-oblong, elliptic or rhomboid, the laterals somewhat oblique, 0·9–5·5 cm. long, 1–5 cm. wide, rounded or emarginate at the apex but sometimes minutely apiculate, cuneate, truncate or rounded at the base, almost glabrous; petiole 0·8–7 cm. long; rhachis 0·3–1·2 cm. long; petiolules 1·5–2 mm. long; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 2–3 mm. long, ribbed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences with rhachis 4–10 cm. long; peduncle 1–2 cm. long; pedicels 4 mm. long; bracts 1·5 mm. long, ribbed; paired bracteoles deciduous, ±1 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers scented.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx sparsely pubescent or glabrescent; tube ±4 mm. long; lobes rounded, 2–3 mm. long, usually hairy along the margins, particularly of the upper lip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard greenish to violet outside, greenish-cream to mauve inside, the auricles and claw white, broadly elliptic, 1·7–2·5(–3) cm. long, 1·6–2·4 cm. wide, emarginate, glabrous save for the bearded auricles; wings mauve; keel greenish-cream to mauve.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods oblong-falcate, 3–4·2 cm. long, 1–1·7 cm. wide, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds brown, often mottled, longest dimension 7–10·5 mm., shorter dimension 6–8 mm., 1·5–2·5 mm. thick.
Figures
Fig. 99, p. 665.
Habitat
Very mixed deciduous bushland ( Acacia, Terminalia orbicularis, Commiphora, Sesamothamnus ,etc.), also Acacia semi-desert grassland; 350–1470 m.
Distribution
K4 K7 T2 T3 T5 T6 not known elsewhere, but may occur in Somali Republic (S.) and adjoining parts of Ethiopia
[FTEA]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai grasslands
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0