Vigna heterophylla A.Rich.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial climbing, or rarely suberect, herb, 0.9–7 m long.

Morphology Stem

Stem pubescent, covered with spreading often dark ferruginous hairs 0.5–2 mm long.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, 4.5–15 × 1–5 cm, oblong or ovate-lanceolate or ovate-oblong to linear-lanceolate, narrowly rounded to acuminate and apiculate at the apex, rounded or subcordate at the base, sparsely to densely pubescent on both surfaces; petiole 4–6 cm long; rhachis 0.7–1.5 cm long; stipules 2–4 × 1–1.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, bilobed at the base, multinerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Peduncle 5–15 cm × 0.5–1.5 mm, pubescent; rhachis 0.7–2 cm long, 4–6-noded, internodes 1–4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower blue to mauve and violet, 11–14 × 12–15 mm; pedicel 1–4 mm long, expanding as the pod matures; bracteoles 1.5–5 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, multinerved, rarely 1- or 3-nerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent; tube 1.5–2.5 mm long; lobes 1–4 mm long, deltate, the lower as long as the laterals, the upper pair united to form an entire or slightly bifid lobe.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard pubescent or velvety outside with appressed hairs, with two U-shaped appendages inside; keel slightly twisted towards the right, with a short beak.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 6–10-ovuled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 3.5–4.5 cm × 4–5 mm, linear-cylindrical, S-shaped, slightly pubescent to densely covered with spreading, dark ferruginous bristly hairs, with a short curved beak.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed 4–5.5 × 2–3.5 × c. 2 mm; hilum excentric; aril very excentric.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; grasslands., Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands, Lake Victoria regional mosaic; bushland and thicket, Guinea-Congolia/Zambezia regional transition zone: bushland and thicket.

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial climbing, scrambling or sometimes even suberect herb, ± 1 m. long.

Morphology Stem

Stems covered with spreading, often dark ferruginous hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, ovate to narrowly oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, 1·7–8·5 cm. long, 0·5–3·3 cm. wide, narrowly rounded to acute and acuminate at the apex, rounded at the base, pubescent on both surfaces; petiole 1–6 cm. long; rhachis 0·4–1·3 cm. long; petiolules 2–3 mm. long; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 3–4 mm. long, bilobed at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary; rhachis 0·7–2 cm. long; peduncles 1–10 cm. long; pedicels 1–4 mm. long; bracteoles sub-persistent, lanceolate, 3 mm. long, slightly produced below the point of attachment.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent with mostly dark ferruginous spreading bristly hairs; tube 2–2·5 mm. long; lobes narrowly triangular-lanceolate, 3–4 mm. long, the upper pair united into a slightly bifid lip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard blue or violet, sometimes tinged green outside, rounded, 1·1 cm. long, 1·2 cm. wide, adpressed velvety outside; wings deep mauve; keel almost white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods linear, compressed, 1·5–4·3 cm. long, 4·5–6 mm. wide, densely covered with spreading, dark ferruginous bristly hairs, particularly noticeable when young.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds stone-grey to dark reddish-brown, with black mottling, longest dimension 4 mm., shorter dimension 2·5–3 mm., 2 mm. thick; aril very eccentric, usually shorter and more cordate than in the next species.

Habitat

Grassland, also a weed in wheat fields; 1680–2010 m.

Distribution

K3 T7 U1