Fabaceae
Vigna

Vigna comosa Baker

First published in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 2: 202 (1871)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Africa. It is a scrambling annual or perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Leguminosae, B. Mackinder, R. Pasquet, R. Polhill and B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:5. 2001

Morphology General Habit
Perennial prostrate or climbing herb, 0.4–1.2 m long.
Morphology Stem
Stem rather graceful to somewhat robust, covered with dense short white pubescence.
Morphology Leaves Leaflets
Leaflets 3, 0.8–6 × 0.4–3.5 cm, ovate to lanceolate, often hastately lobed, rounded to subacute at the apex, cuneate or rounded at the base, pubescent or glabrescent; petiole 0.6–3.5 cm long; rhachis 0.2–1 cm long; stipules 1.5–3 mm long, filiform, 1-nerved, truncate and not prolonged at the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Peduncle 4–25 cm × 0.2–1 mm, pubescent; rhachis slightly zigzag, 0.5–2.5 cm long, 5–12-noded, internodes 1–2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flower yellow or sometimes described as mauve and yellow, 6–13 mm long; pedicel 0.5–2 mm long, expanding as the pod matures; bracteoles 1.5–5 mm long, lanceolate, 1-nerved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx sparsely pubescent; tube 1.5–2 mm long; lobes triangular, the lowest apiculate and as long as the laterals, the upper pair united into an emarginate or bidentate lip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard with 2 centrally placed appendages; keel with a short scarcely incurved beak, slightly twisted towards the left.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 2–6-ovuled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods 1.5–4 × 0.4–0.5 cm, oblong-falcate, compressed, sparsely pubescent, with a short curved beak.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed 3–5 × 2–3.5 × c. 2 mm; hilum excentric; aril rugulose, markedly excentric.
[FZ]

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]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/170430/1313652

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Sudanian bushland and thicket, Zambezian grassland, Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; bushland and thicket., Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; grasslands., Zambezian bushland and thicket, Lake Victoria regional tran
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

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

Morphology General Habit
Perennial prostrate or climbing herb, 0·4–1·2 m. long.
Morphology Stem
Stems rather graceful or more robust, covered with dense short white pubescence.
Morphology Leaves
Leaflets 3, ovate to lanceolate, 0·8–3·5(–6) cm. long, 0·4–2(–3·8) cm. wide, often hastately lobed, rounded to subacute at the apex, cuneate or rounded at the base, pubescent or glabrescent; petioles 0·6–2·5(–3·5) cm. long; rhachis 2–10 mm. long; petiolules ± 1 mm. long; stipules persistent, filiform, 2–3 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary; rhachis slightly zigzag, 0·4–6·5 cm. long, pubescent, characteristically nodulated by the persistent glandular fascicle-bases after flowers have fallen; peduncle 2–15(–20) cm. long; pedicels 1–2 mm. long; bracts deciduous, lanceolate, 2–3 mm. long, 1-nerved; bracteoles persistent, similar, 3–4 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx sparsely pubescent; tube 1·5–2 mm. long; lobes triangular, 0·6–1·5 mm. long, the lowest apiculate, the upper pair united into an emarginate or bidentate lip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla yellow or sometimes described as mauve and yellow; standard oblate, (0·5–)0·8–1(–1·4) cm. long, 0·95–1·4 cm. wide, emarginate, glabrous; keel with short scarcely incurved beak.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods oblong-falcate, with a short curved beak, 1–2·5 cm. long, 4–5 mm. wide, sparsely pubescent, 1–3-seeded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds reddish-brown, mottled black, narrowly oblong or ovoid, longest dimension 3–5 mm., shorter dimension 2–3·3 mm., ± 2 mm. thick; aril rugulose, markedly eccentric, 2–3 mm. long.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • 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/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/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